Pratham Hegde

Cybersecurity isn’t as flashy as people think.

“It’s not someone typing rapidly and breaking into systems in seconds,” says Pratham Hegde. “It’s a detailed, methodical process that requires patience and persistence.”

That mindset — curiosity, precision and a willingness to dig deep — has defined Hegde’s time at Arizona State University.

This spring, he graduates from the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at ASU, with a bachelor’s degree in computer science and a concentration in cybersecurity. An Impact Award recipient and Grand Challenges Scholar, Hegde has combined research, entrepreneurship and service to tackle complex problems at scale.

His interest in cybersecurity began with a simple question: How do systems break? That curiosity grew into hands-on exploration through coursework, including a challenge-based class where he completed more than 180 cybersecurity problems, an experience that confirmed his passion for the field.

In the Fulton Schools, Hegde focused on building and testing systems in real-world conditions. In Barrett, The Honors College, he won a Barrett Gold Standard Award and completed a thesis under the supervision of Associate Professor Yan Shoshitaishvili. The work presented automated attack simulations to stress test web applications and identify missing safeguards that can leave systems exposed.

At the same time, he applied his skills to building new tools. Through Venture Devils, he contributed to Axel, a platform powered by artificial intelligence, or AI, designed to reduce student workload by integrating academic tools into a single, streamlined system. He also helped develop an AI-powered sustainability tool that earned first place in the HackHarvard 2025 competition.

Hegde’s impact extends beyond technical work. As president of the Indian Students’ Association, he led one of the largest cultural events on campus, coordinating more than 3,000 attendees and collaborating across multiple organizations. Through Engineering Projects in Community Service, or EPICS, he also headed a team developing solutions to improve independence for individuals using wheelchairs.

In the Grand Challenges Scholar Program, an initiative of the National Academy of Engineering, Hegde approached engineering through a global lens to address some of society’s most pressing challenges.

After graduation, Hegde will continue at ASU to complete his master’s degree in computer science with a cybersecurity focus in the Accelerated Master’s program. Looking ahead, he plans to pursue a doctoral degree and focus on securing large-scale, AI-driven systems, ensuring that as technology advances, the systems people rely on remain safe.

Favorites

Hobby: Going to the gym
Performer: Eve
TV show: One Piece
Movie: The Amazing Spider-Man 2
Geeky possession: A One Piece retractable mini sword keychain

Read about other exceptional graduates of the Fulton Schools’ spring 2026 class.

Written by Kelly deVos