About Me
Steven Hofmeyr, Ph.D
Chief Scientist and Founder
Sana Security, Inc.
My Ph.D is in Computer Science from the University of New Mexico (UNM). I was with Steph Forrest's research group, investigating immunological approaches to computer security. You can find my academic home page and a list of all my academic publications here. I've always been fascinated by the crossover between biological and computation, hence it was great for me to spend time at the Santa Fe Institute during my studies - a fascinating multidisciplinary research institute dedicated to understanding Complex Systems and Complexity (with a capital 'C'!). I also spent a year at the Artificial Intelligence Lab at MIT during my studies, and met some really interesting folks, such as Matt Williamson, who I currently work with.
After I finished the Ph.D in 1999, I founded a company to commercialize some of the earlier work we had done on host-based immunological intrusion detection systems. The startup was originally known as "Company 51", but after we emerged from stealth mode, it became Sana Security, where I am currently the Chief Scientist, doing ongoing research on Computer Security and related issues.
I've had my share of geek recognition - in 2003 MIT's Technology Review named me as one of the top 100 innovators under 35, which was a very pleasant suprise, and in 2004 I was named one of the top 12 innovators of the year by InfoWorld.