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Trent Brunson

Trent Brunson

Security engineer, research leader, and applied physicist

Clinton, New York, United States
theorg+1
Joined April 2025
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Summary

Trent Brunson is a seasoned leader in cybersecurity research and engineering, currently heading R&D at Trail of Bits. He directs teams in cutting-edge security advancements, notably guiding his team to the finals of DARPA's AIxCC competition. theorg+2
With a strong academic foundation, Trent earned a Ph.D. in computational physics from Emory University, applying advanced scientific methodologies, such as the renormalization group, to complex problems. This background now underpins his rigorous approach to cybersecurity challenges. theorg+2
He is a notable contributor to the field of symbolic execution, specifically involved in the development of 'Manticore,' an open-source framework for analyzing binaries and smart contracts. This work highlights his expertise in ensuring the security and integrity of software and blockchain systems. arxiv+2
Trent is a published author, sharing insights on project selection in engineering and co-authoring research on the decentralization aspects of blockchain technology. These writings reflect his commitment to advancing both practical wisdom and fundamental understanding in his professional domains. trailofbits+2

Work

Education

Projects

Writing

Are Blockchains Decentralized? Unintended Centralities in Distributed Ledgers

January 1, 2022

A research paper co-authored with Evan Sultanik and others, exploring the actual decentralization of blockchain systems and identifying unintended centralizing factors.

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How to choose an interesting project

November 1, 2021

A blog post sharing personal insights and an exercise to help individuals in research and engineering fields identify and commit to compelling projects.

Favicon imageblog.trailofbits.com

Hobbies

Enthusiast for anything geek, indicating a broad interest in technology and related subjects. github

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