Rate My Professor Sebastian Zander

Dr. Sebastian Zander is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Information Technology at Murdoch University, where he also serves as the Academic Chair for Cyber Security and Forensics. He earned his PhD in Telecommunications Engineering from Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia, completing his doctoral studies from 2006 to 2010. Prior to his current roles at Murdoch University since approximately 2015, Zander was a Research Fellow and Lecturer at Swinburne University of Technology. With over 20 years of experience in internationally recognized research in industry and academia, software development, and research project acquisition, he has established himself as a key figure in information technology education and research.

Zander's research specializations encompass cyber security, network security, covert channels, IPv6 transport protocols, traffic classification, and software-defined networking. He has produced over 85 publications, amassing thousands of citations on Google Scholar. Among his most influential works are 'A preliminary performance comparison of five machine learning algorithms for practical IP traffic flow classification' (2006, ACM SIGCOMM Computer Communication Review, cited 1016 times), 'Automated traffic classification and application identification using machine learning' (2005, IEEE LCN, cited 836 times), 'A survey of covert channels and countermeasures in computer network protocols' (2007, IEEE Communications Surveys & Tutorials, cited 784 times), 'Pattern-based survey and categorization of network covert channel techniques' (2015, ACM Computing Surveys, cited 263 times), and the book 'Information hiding in communication networks: fundamentals, mechanisms, applications, and countermeasures' (2016, John Wiley & Sons, cited 230 times). Recent publications include 'A survey on the cyber security of small-to-medium businesses: challenges, research focus and recommendations' (2022, IEEE Access, cited 250 times). Zander supervises PhD students, teaches units such as Foundations of Data Communications, and delivered the keynote speech at the School of Information Technology's inaugural annual public lecture in 2026, titled 'Act Now - Stay Secure.' His contributions have significantly impacted network protocol analysis, machine learning applications in traffic management, and cybersecurity practices for businesses.