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Mert Şide - Ph.D. in Computer Science

Mert Şide, Ph.D.

Security Reviewer (Software Engineer) @ Apple

I work on Secure Design for Security Engineering & Architecture (SEAR) at Apple. Specializing in system-level security design, threat modeling, and architectural review across large-scale software systems.

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About Me

I am passionate about advancing the frontiers of computer science.

Technical Skills

Programming Languages

I have expertise in a variety of programming languages, including:

C
C++
C#
Python
Assembly
Java
Swift
JavaScript
SQL

Parallel & GPU Computing

My experience in parallel and GPU computing includes tools like:

CUDA
PTX
MPI
OpenSHMEM
ROCm
Pthreads

Frameworks & Tools

I am proficient in frameworks and tools such as:

TensorFlow
Keras
Scikit-Learn
Pytorch
NumPy
Pandas
Git
Singularity
Linux

Languages

I am multilingual, with proficiency levels as follows:

Turkish Native
English C1
Portuguese A2
Spanish A1

Fun Facts

I find joy in creating well-formatted Excel sheets and perfectly labeled charts.
I am certified in First Aid, CPR, and Emergency Response.
As a PADI Rescue Scuba Diver, I enjoy exploring the underwater depths.
I am a film enthusiast on IMDb. Curious about my recent watches? Check out my ratings.

Research Publications

My research focuses on the intersection of computer architecture, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing.

LockedDown: Exploiting Contention on Host-GPU PCIe Bus for Fun and Profit

Mert Side, Fan Yao, Zhenkai Zhang

IEEE European Symposium on Security and Privacy (EuroS&P), 2022

Paper Talk Slides Artifacts Cite

Optimal GPU Frequency Selection using Multi-Objective Approaches for HPC Systems

Ghazanfar Ali, Sridutt Bhalachandra, Nicholas Wright, Mert Side, Yong Chen

IEEE High Performance Extreme Computing Conference (HPEC), 2022

Paper Cite

Towards xBGAS on CHERI: Supporting a Secure Global Memory

Mert Side, Brody Williams, John Leidel, Jonathan Woodruff, Simon W. Moore, Yong Chen

IEEE International Symposium on Parallel and Distributed Processing Workshops and Phd Forum (IPDPSW), 2023

Paper Talk Slides Cite

Performance-aware Energy-efficient GPU Frequency Selection using DNN-based Models

Ghazanfar Ali, Mert Side, Sridutt Bhalachandra, Nicholas Wright, Yong Chen

ACM International Conference on Parallel Processing (ICPP), 2023

Paper Cite

An automated and portable method for selecting an optimal GPU frequency

Ghazanfar Ali, Mert Side, Sridutt Bhalachandra, Nicholas Wright, Yong Chen

Elsevier Journal of Future Generation Computer Systems (FGCS), 2023

Paper Cite

Understanding the Efficacy of Power Profiles: A Case Study of AMD Instinct MI100 GPU

Ghazanfar Ali, Mert Side, Sridutt Bhalachandra, Tommy Dang, Alan Sill, Yong Chen

IEEE High Performance Extreme Computing Conference (HPEC), 2024

Paper Slides Cite

ICEAGE: Intelligent Contextual Exploration and Answer Generation Engine for Scientific Data Discovery

Chenxu Niu, Wei Zhang, Mert Side, Yong Chen

ACM International Conference on Scalable Scientific Data Management (SSDBM), 2025

Paper Cite

Professional Experience

A journey of growth through research, teaching, and industry exposure.

Dec 2025 - Present

Security Reviewer (Software Engineer)

Apple Inc., Cupertino, CA (USA)

Security Engineering & Architecture (SEAR)

  • My work focuses on system-level security design, threat modeling, and architectural security reviews for complex software systems prior to release.
  • I collaborate with engineering teams to analyze design decisions, identify security risks early in the development lifecycle, and recommend mitigations that balance security, reliability, and usability at scale.

Aug 2022 - Dec 2025

Research Assistant

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (USA)

Department of Computer Science

Secure High-Performance Computing Architectures

  • Enhanced parallel programming runtime for experimental OS and architectures.
  • Designed an address extension technique for secure distributed memory systems.
  • Collaborated on global address space extension for RISC-V and ARM platforms.

Energy-Efficient GPU Computing

  • Achieved up to 30% energy savings through GPU optimization.
  • Developed analytical and deep learning models for energy-performance trade-offs.
  • Ensured model portability across NVIDIA and AMD GPUs using CUDA, ROCm, and Python.
Sep 2021 - Jul 2022

Teaching Assistant

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (USA)

Department of Computer Science

  • Led lab sessions for ENGR1330 - Computational Thinking with Data Science [Python].
  • Designed and graded assignments and quizzes.
  • Provided tutoring and office hours for student support.
Jan 2021 - Aug 2021

Research Assistant

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (USA)

Department of Computer Science

GPU Cybersecurity: Side-Channels and Covert-Channels

  • Developed a cross-VM covert channel for virtualized GPUs.
  • Discovered a website fingerprinting vulnerability using CUDA.
  • Proposed mitigations for GPU side-channel vulnerabilities.
Sep 2019 - Dec 2020

Teaching Assistant

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (USA)

Department of Computer Science

  • Supported undergraduate and graduate courses in computer science.
  • CS1412 - Programming Principles II [C].
  • CS2413 - Data Structures [C++].
  • Designed and graded assignments, quizzes, and exams.
Aug 2017 - Sep 2017

Industrial Engineering Intern

ENTES Elektronik, Istanbul (Turkey)

Observed manufacturing processes and proposed optimization strategies.

Jun 2017 - Jul 2017

Computer Science Research Intern

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (USA)

Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) Program.

Conducted research on "Malware Signatures in Android Apps" in software security.

Aug 2016 - Sep 2016

Computer Engineering Intern

AIR Telecommunication Solutions, Istanbul (Turkey)

Gained insights into the telecommunication industry and developed a web-based interface using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.

Academic Background

A diverse academic journey spanning continents and disciplines.

Jul 2019 - Dec 2025

Ph.D. in Computer Science

Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX (USA)

Research Interests: Computer architecture, cybersecurity, and high-performance computing

Disseration title: Secure and Energy-Efficient High-Performance Computing

Sep 2014 - Jun 2018

Bachelor's in Computer Engineering

Istanbul Okan University, Istanbul (Turkey)

Graduated 1st in the Faculty of Engineering and 2nd in the University.

Awarded Full Scholarship.

Sep 2015 - Jun 2019

Bachelor's in Industrial Engineering

Istanbul Okan University, Istanbul (Turkey)

Completed as part of a Double Major Program.

Sep 2016 - Jan 2017

Erasmus Exchange Program

University of Minho, Guimarães (Portugal)

Focused on Industrial Engineering under the Erasmus+ mobility program.

Community Engagement

Supporting communities and fostering international connections.

President & Local Member

ESN Okan - Erasmus Student Network

Local Member: Feb 2017 - May 2017 • President: Jun 2017 - Jun 2019.

Actively supporting international students and promoting cultural exchange under the motto "Students Helping Students."

Co-founder

Okan University Computer Engineering & Software Society

Established a platform for students passionate about technology and software development to collaborate and grow.

Get in Touch

Based in Bay Area and open to connections worldwide.

San Francisco Bay Area, CA (USA)
mert.side@ttu.edu

Feel free to reach out for opportunities, research discussions, or just to say hello!