Biography

Dilshani Mallikarachchi is an Assistant Professor and the Assistant Dean for Student Affairs at the School of Computing and Data Science, Xiamen University Malaysia, where she has been a faculty member since 2023. She obtained her PhD (IT) from Monash University Malaysia is 2022 and her Bachelor (Eng) in Electrical and Electronic Engineering from SEGi University in 2018. She has taught a variety of courses, including Introduction to Cyber Security, Advanced Network Attack and Defence Technology, Computer Architecture, Discrete Mathematics and Fundamental Academic Research. Her current research interests focus on intrusion detection, machine learning, data hiding/steganography and UAV network communication. She regularly engages in research activities that include serving as a reviewer for international journals and conferences and hosting undergraduate research groups to promote research interest in students. She has recently obtained the certification of HCIA (Huawei Certified ICT Associate) – AI. 

Research Interest

Data hiding/Steganography, Intrusion detection, Network security, Machine learning 

Educational Background

• PhD (Information Technology), Monash University, Malaysia (2022)

• BEng (Hons) Electrical & Electronics Engineering, SEGi University, Malaysia (2018)

Working Experience

• Assistant Professor, School of Computing and Data Science, Xiamen University Malaysia, Malaysia (2025 – Present)

• Lecturer, School of Computing and Data Science, Xiamen University Malaysia (2023 – 2025)

Research Experience

• As Project Leader:

  1. Data Hiding-based Lightweight Authentication in the Multi-UAV Network Domain, Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS), Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, 2024 - 2026, MYR 75,200

  2. A Unified Hybrid Intrusion Detection System for UAV Networks Using MAVLink and UAVCAN Protocols, Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (XMUMRF), 2025 - 2028, MYR60,000

  3. Secure and Energy-efficient Data Hiding in Flying Ad-hoc Networks, Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (XMUMRF), 2024 - 2026, MYR30,000

• As Co-researcher:

  1. A Lightweight Computer Vision Approach for Robotics and Automation Applications under Low Light Conditions, Xiamen University Malaysia Research Fund (XMUMRF), 2025 - 2028, MYR60,000

Representative Publications

• Dilshani Mallikarachchi, Wong Kok Sheik and Joanne Lim Mun Yee, “Data hiding-based message verification scheme”. – Multimedia Tools and Applications, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11042-024-18342-5

• Dilshani Mallikarachchi, Wong Kok Sheik and Joanne Lim Mun Yee, "Covert Communication in Multi-hop UAV Network" – Ad Hoc Networks, 2022. 
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.adhoc.2022.102788

• Dilshani Mallikarachchi, Wong Kok Sheik and Joanne Lim Mun Yee, “Data hiding-based payload authentication scheme” – Journal of Information Security and Applications, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jisa.2023.103559 

• Preethi, B., Krishnamoorthy, P. S., Nair, S., Sarobin, V., & Mallikarachchi, D. (2025, June). Energy Efficient SVELM for SWIPT based WPSN. In 2025 IEEE Wireless Power Technology Conference and Expo (WPTCE) (pp. 1-6). IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/WPTCE62521.2025.11062205