International Association
for Cryptologic Research

We have several open positions for PhD students and Postdocs to join our group at the Hasso-Plattner-Institute (HPI) in the area of cryptography and privacy. The HPI is academically structured as the independent Faculty of Digital Engineering at the University of Potsdam, and unites excellent research and teaching with the advantages of a privately financed institute.

Your tasks

• Development and analysis of provably secure cryptographic protocols for real-world problems. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to):
  • Privacy-preserving protocols
  • Hardware-based cryptography
  • User- and privacy-friendly identity management
  • Foundations for real-world protocols
• Publish and present results at top-tier international conferences
• Participate in teaching activities

Your skills

• Master's degree (or PhD for postdoctoral position) in Computer Science, Mathematics, or a related area by the time of appointment
• Strong algorithmic or mathematical background and good knowledge in the area of cryptography (for postdoctoral candidates proven in the form of publications)
• Fluent in English

We look forward to your application including a CV and motivation letter. Applications for the PhD position should also include a list of attended Master courses and grades, whereas applications for the Postdoc position should include contact information for two references.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Anja Lehmann; anja.lehmann [at] hpi.de

More information: https://hpi.de/lehmann/home.html

The Cryptography Research Group at University College Cork (UCC) is looking for a highly motivated Post-Doctoral or Senior Post-Doctoral Researcher in homomorphic encryption. The researcher will be employed on the Horizon Europe project “SECURED”, aimed at scaling up the secure processing of health data, and will focus on homomorphic encryption and secure multi-party computation, and how they can be efficiently used in the e-health context. The Principal Investigator of the project in UCC is Dr. Paolo Palmieri.

The candidate should hold a PhD degree in cryptography or related area, with a good track record of publications. Ideally, they will have experience in homomorphic encryption, or related areas such as lattice-based or other post-quantum cryptography, secure multiparty computation etc. Candidates with a background in other areas of cryptography, but with a strong interest in homomorphic encryption will also be considered. A strong mathematical background is expected, complemented with programming skills. Experience with relevant libraries such as SEAL, HElib etc. is an asset.

The position is for 2 years, with a possibility of extension subject to availability of funding. The successful candidate will be appointed at Post-Doctoral or Senior Post-Doctoral level depending on their experience and qualifications. A budget for travel, equipment, publications and other research expenses is available as part of the project.

The Cryptography Research Group is led by Dr. Paolo Palmieri and consists of 8 researchers at doctoral and post-doctoral level. The hired researcher will be encouraged to collaborate with other members of the group, and to take a mentoring role with some of the more junior researchers. There will also be ample opportunities to work with other partners in the SECURED project (including some of the top research groups in cryptography, both in industry and academia), as well as with the group’s extensive network of international collaborations.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Informal inquiries can be made by e-mail to Paolo Palmieri at [email protected] but applications must be made online at http://ore.ucc.ie/ (reference number 069532) before 12:00 (noon), August 10, 2023.

More information: https://security.ucc.ie/vacancies.html

We are seeking a PhD candidate interested in interdisciplinary research on the development, efficient implementation (hardware and software), use, orchestration, and improvement of privacy-preserving and data anonymization techniques.


What are you going to do?

Carry out original research in the field of implementation and applications of privacy preserving technologies for data analytics in healthcare

Be active in the fundamental and/or applied research area, publishing in high level international journals and presenting at leading conferences

Take part in ongoing educational activities, such as assisting in a course and guiding student thesis projects, at the BSc or MSc level

Collaborate with other groups, institutes and/or companies by contributing expertise to joint research projects

Contribute to activities and deliverables of the SECURED Horizon Europe Project


What do you have to offer?

An MSc degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or Electrical Engineering (or a related discipline)

Strong analytical and technical skills, good problem-solving skills

An interdisciplinary mindset and an open and proactive personality in interacting with researchers from different disciplines

A strong scientific interest in security and privacy, in particular in at least one of the following fields: efficient implementation of cryptographic and privacy preserving primitives, both in hardware and in software application, orchestration, and improvement of privacy-preserving techniques to achieve given data protection objectives

The willingness to work in a highly international research team

Fluency in oral and written English and good presentation skills

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Francesco Regazzoni

More information: https://vacatures.uva.nl/UvA/job/PhD-Position-on-Efficient-Privacy-preserving-Techniques-for-Data-Analysis-and-Machine-Learning/760571702/

The Security and Privacy Research Unit at TU Wien (https://secpriv.wien) is offering a fully funded PhD position within the WWTF project “SCALE2: SeCure, privAte, and interoperabLe layEr 2” (https://www.wwtf.at/funding/programmes/ict/ICT22-045/) under the supervision of Dr. Georgia Avarikioti and Univ.-Prof. Dr. Matteo Maffei.
Your profile:

• Master degree in computer science or equivalent (degree completion by employment start)
• Background in security/blockchain is a plus
• Excellent English, communication, and teamwork skills

Your tasks:

• Conducting world-class research in the design and analysis of scaling protocols for blockchains
• Engaging in research collaborations
• Contributing to teaching blockchain technologies on Masters-level

We offer:

• The Security and Privacy group is internationally renowned, regularly publishes in top security venues, and consists of an international, diverse team with expertise in cryptography, security, privacy, and game theory
• An international English-speaking environment (German not required)
• Personal/professional development, flexible hours
• Central workplace location (U1/U2/U4 Karlsplatz)
• Creative environment in a top-ranked city in livability
• A competitive salary

TU Wien strongly advocates for women, especially in leadership roles, and encourages applications from females and individuals with special needs. If qualifications are equal, female applicants will be prioritized unless specific reasons favor a male candidate.
The application material should include:

• Motivation letter
• Bachelor/Master’s transcripts
• Publication list (if available)
• Curriculum vitae
• Contact information for two referees

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Interested candidates should send the application material to Matteo Maffei ([email protected]) and Georgia Avarikioti ([email protected]). Applications received by August 15th will receive full consideration, but applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

Mysten Labs believes that decentralized and open protocols are the bedrock of the internet of value. This is why at Mysten Labs, we are creating foundational infrastructure to accelerate the adoption of decentralized protocols based on blockchain technologies.

Mysten is looking for a Software Engineer who is interested in cryptographic protocols and their application to blockchain. This person would work with us to design, check and implement mission-critical algorithms on range of topics including; cryptographic primitives such as pairing-based cryptography, distributed cryptographic protocols such as signature aggregation and distributed key generation, and zero-knowledge building blocks such as vector commitments and accumulators. They would then put this cryptography into practice in order to realize the scalability required by the next generation of blockchain networks.

What You'll Have:

5+ years of experience in hands-on software engineering for cryptographic operations, such as signature schemes, accumulators, key management, data encryption and compression.

Understanding of fundamental cryptographic algorithms and underlying math for any of the following: hash functions, finite field arithmetic, polynomials (FFT) and elliptic curves.

Experience implementing high-performance and parallelizable protocols in languages such as Go, Rust Java, or C/C++.

Experience with tools, practices, and programming patterns for ensuring software correctness.

Experience implementing zk-SNARK circuits or proof systems (i.e., Groth16, Halo, Plonk, STARKs, Marlin) is considered a plus.

Understanding, research publications or hands-on experience in any of the following is considered a bonus: zero knowledge proofs, threshold signatures, multi-party computations, efficient accumulators, distributed randomness generation, auditing cryptographic software/smart contracts, lightweight and embedded cryptography.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Please navigate to our job posting if you wish to apply: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/mystenlabs/a3d0da5b-b3cb-45db-9aa8-dc89ba0cee5e

More information: https://jobs.ashbyhq.com/mystenlabs/a3d0da5b-b3cb-45db-9aa8-dc89ba0cee5e

The University of Birmingham's School of Computer Science continues to thrive during a period of sustained growth. We are inviting applications for full professorial positions [1]. If you are a leader with a passion for computer science (and in particular Cyber Security), this is an extraordinary opportunity to shape the future of our academic community.

Areas of interest include (but are not limited to) systems security, artificial intelligence, network/web security, as well as formal methods and cryptography.

As part of the University of Birmingham, you will have access to state-of-the-art facilities, world-class research centres (in particular the Centre for Cyber Security and Privacy [2]), and a growing network of academic and industry collaborations. Our commitment to diversity and inclusion ensures an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.

The deadline for applications is 30 July 2023. Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early once a sufficient number of applications have been received.

[1] https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DBD093/chair-in-computer-science-school-of-computing-science-4-positions-102099

[2] https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/centre-for-cyber-security-and-privacy/index.aspx

Closing date for applications:

Contact: For further information, please contact Aad van Moorsel, [email protected]. For informal enquiries regarding the Centre for Cyber Security and Privacy, please contact David Oswald ([email protected]) and Mark Ryan ([email protected]).

More information: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/DBD093/chair-in-computer-science-school-of-computing-science-4-positions-102099

The responsibilities of this exciting, varied role will include:

• Software security assessment of SoC/IC security architectures and security scope specifications

• Plan, track and execute process, specification as well as software implementation reviews

• Assessment of software security robustness and effectiveness of security mechanisms

• Work with engineering teams and security engineers to innovate solutions to security-related problems

• Manage the NXP’s software secure development lifecycle (SSDLC) applied on product developments to minimize security risks

• Work on continuous improvements to keep up with state-of-the-art security technologies

• Refine software security best practices to assure and efficient and effective application

• Provide consultation on specific areas of security expertise and on the application of the SSDLC

To ensure your successful performance in this role, the following is desired

• Finished a BSEE or MSEE preferred in Security Engineering or Software Engineering

• Have good understanding of embedded software design, programming, documentation, and testing

• Have experience in the design and development of secure software, focus on embedded systems or complete solutions

• Have experience in the security concept/design, thread analysis, risk/threat modelling and mitigation strategies

• Have professional knowledge of software languages (C, Java, Java Card, Python, Rust)

• Knowledge of security compliance and certification processes would be an advantage

• Be familiar with "state of the art" software tools, CI/CD, secure software engineering processes, IoT solutions and service (depending on area of expertise)

• Have excellent communication skills, are willing to listen and adapt

• Are a collaborator with strong soft skills, ideally experienced in multicultural and global working environment

Closing date for applications:

Contact:

Veronika von Hepperger

Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist

([email protected])

We bring to life fast, permissionless, decentralized computation. The Nillion team is looking for talented cryptographers to help build a new paradigm in decentralized computing to redefine network computation on private data. As a Cryptographer at Nillion, you will research, design, and define cryptographic protocols within the larger framework of distributed systems, formally proving their security. You will be responsible for conducting groundbreaking research that will lead to commercially viable and reliable products by analyzing, proposing, and validating cryptography solutions within a decentralized computing environment. We work in an environment where tangibility and flexibility are key attributes that help us innovate. Our engineering team embodies those qualities, bringing clarity and direction to help move new ideas forward. If you enjoy keeping up to speed on current technological trends and have a background in cryptography and security - get in touch! Requirements: - 5+ years of academic research experience in cryptography - Qualified to a PhD or Postdoc degree in cryptography or related field - Several international scientific publications - Deep understanding of multi-party computation (MPC) -Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English -Extensive experience working with internal and external stakeholders -Have highly effective communication, interpersonal and critical thinking skills -Ability to understand, formally describe and prove mathematical concepts in writing -The ability to write formal security proofs in the UC framework -Publications in the domain of MPC (Publications in the domains of ZKP or FHE are a bonus) Responsibilities: -Developing new protocols and their security proofs -Creating variants of existing protocols (synchronous/asynchronous, computational/ITS, passive/active, static/mobile adversaries, boolean/arithmetic, etc.) -Verifying existing NMC protocols and their security proofs -Proof-reading existing written material (e.g. technical whitepaper) -Writing new security proofs for existing NMC protocols.. See full job description below.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Roisin Kavanagh, Head of People and Talent.

More information: https://apply.workable.com/nillion/j/CD9D0CFCD3/

Postdoctoral Fellowship in Cryptography
Applications are invited from qualified candidates for a 2-year postdoctoral fellowship appointment (extendable for one more year) in cryptography. Expertise in cryptography and strong mathematics background are essential, and knowledge of quantum information and computation are important advantages. The focus of the positions is on quantum-resistant cryptography and its application to securing communication in two-party and group settings.

A Ph.D. degree and evidence of excellence in research are required. Successful applicants are expected to maintain an active program of research, and participate in research activities with academic and industry partners in the grant. The annual salary is $55,000 - $65,000 (CAD) depending on the qualifications and experience. The positions are available immediately.

Applicants should include a cover letter describing their interest in the position, a curriculum vitae, a short research statement and at least two contacts for reference letters. Interested individuals should send their application to [email protected]
Inquiries may be addressed to Rei Safavi-Naini, ([email protected]). Applications will be considered as they are submitted until the position is filled.

About the University of Calgary & Calgary
The University of Calgary is Canada’s leading next-generation university. The university has reached its Eyes High goal to be recognized as one of Canada’s top five research universities. The University of Calgary recognizes that a diverse staff/faculty benefits and enriches the work, learning and research experiences of the entire campus and greater community.

Calgary has been named one of the world's most livable cities for years. Calgary is less than an hour’s drive from the Rocky Mountains and boasts the most extensive urban pathway and bikeway network in North America.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Rei Safavi-Naini

What you do? 1. Design and implement the proving system algorithms that are to be used in zkEVM/zkVM solutions. 2. Optimize Elliptic Curve Primitives and proof generation processes. 3. Survey the emerging zkEVM, zkVM, and various ZKP protocols with in-depth understanding on their academic papers and code implementations. Requirements: 1. Strong background in Math, Cryptography, or Zero Knowledge Proof. 2 Solid experience on Plonk & Halo2 proving systems with both BN and BLS Elliptic Curve families. 3. Proficiency in Rust & Go. 4. Ability to pick up new things beyond cryptography (i.e. details of EVM). 5. Experience in blockchain infrastructure development or cryptography preferred.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: mia

We are looking for a PhD candidate in Secure Computation, focusing on Multiparty Computation (and related cryptographic protocols), and its applications to Machine Learning. For a complete description of the position and to apply, please see: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/vacancies/2023/q3eng/23-48013889phd-candidate-privacy-preserving-machine-learning

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Eleftheria Makri: [email protected]

More information: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/vacancies/2023/q3eng/23-48013889phd-candidate-privacy-preserving-machine-learning

We are seeking a highly motivated candidate for a fully funded PhD position in Code-Based Cryptography/Cryptanalysis, focusing on theoretical and practical cryptanalysis of code-based schemes, particularly the current NIST PQC candidates.

This position is a collaboration between Ruhr University Bochum (RUB) in Germany and the Technology Innovation Institute (TII) in Abu Dhabi. You will work closely with renowned experts Dr. Andre Esser from TII and Prof. Alexander May from RUB. The primary office is based at RUB, with generous travel opportunities and a planned multiple months research stay at the partnering TII.

The ideal candidate:

• Master's degree (obtained before the starting date) in mathematics, computer science, or a related field
• Strong knowledge of cryptology, particularly in code-based cryptography / cryptanalysis
• Excellent track record of completed classes in cryptography, cryptanalysis, coding theory, etc.
• Curiosity-driven, self-motivated and open to international exchange
• Proficient in spoken/written English as well as in any programming language
• Prior publications or contributed to research projects

You'll enjoy a fully funded position with a competitive salary (100%, E13) for three years, access to cutting-edge research facilities, collaboration with top experts, and ample travel opportunities. The program provides vibrant workplaces, exceptional networking possibilities, and the chance to conduct original research with direct impact on post-quantum cryptographic standards. Program conducted entirely in English, no German required. Starting date negotiable, ideally fall 2023.

To apply, please send the following documents via email:

• Cover letter expressing your interest in the position and summarizing your qualifications (1-2 pages)
• CV highlighting your educational background, research experience, and publications (if any)
• Copies of bachelor’s and master’s certificates
• Contact information for two or more academic references

We're excited to receive your application!

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Andre Esser ([email protected])

We are looking for a motivated PhD student for a project in provable post-quantum security. The goal of the PhD is to investigate the hardness of mathematical problems supposed to resist quantum attacks. The project is funded by the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) DM117. For further information please visit: https://www.unitn.it/en/ateneo/110103/nrrp-dm117-2023 Online application: https://webapps.unitn.it/Apply/en/Web/Home/dott

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Marco Calderini

The Applied Cryptography Group at Technical University of Darmstadt offers a fully funded post-doc position as part of the ERC project CRYPTOLAYER. The goal of this project is to develop cryptographic tools to improve the privacy, scalability and security of next-generation blockchain protocols. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) threshold cryptography, second-layer protocols, cryptographic wallets, multiparty computation, zero-knowledge and more. You will conduct research and publish/present the results at top venues for research in cryptography and IT Security. The position is to be filled as soon as possible for initially 2 years with the possibility of an extension.

Your profile:

• Completed PhD degree (or equivalent) at a top university in IT security, computer science, mathematics, electrical engineering, or a similar area.
• Publications at top venues for cryptography/IT Security (e.g., EUROCRYPT, CRYPTO, ASIACRYPT, S&P, CCS, TCC),
• Good knowledge in one of the topics mentioned above is a plus.
• Experience in project management and supervising students is a plus.

Your application should contain a CV, list of publications, a short research statement and at least one contact for a reference letter.

TU Darmstadt is a top research university for IT Security, Cryptography, and Computer Science in Europe. We offer an excellent working environment in the heart of the Frankfurt Metropolitan Area, which is internationally well-known for its high quality of life. The review of applications starts immediately until the position is filled.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Sebastian Faust

The Applied Cryptography Group at Technical University of Darmstadt offers a fully funded Ph.D. position in cryptography. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) threshold cryptography, cryptography for blockchains, leakage resilient cryptography, multiparty computation and more. You will conduct research and publish/present the results at top venues for research in cryptography and IT Security. The position is to be filled as soon as possible for initially 3 years with the possibility of an extension.

Your profile:

• Completed Master's degree (or equivalent) with excellent grades in computer science, mathematics, or a similar area.
• Strong mathematical and/or algorithmic/theoretical CS background
• Good knowledge in one of the topics mentioned above is a plus.
• Fluent in English

Your application should contain a CV, record of grades, a short motivation letter and at least one contact for a reference letter.

TU Darmstadt is a top research university for IT Security, Cryptography, and Computer Science in Europe. We offer an excellent working environment in the heart of the Frankfurt Metropolitan Area, which is internationally well-known for its high quality of life. The review of applications starts immediately until the position is filled.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Sebastian Faust

There is an open call for a Postdoc position in the Cyber Security and Applied Cryptograhy research group at the Institute of Computer Science, University of St.Gallen, led by Prof. Katerina Mitrokotsa.

Our research interests are centered around information security and applied cryptography, with the larger goal of safeguarding communications and providing strong privacy guarantees. We are active in several areas, a subset of which include:

• Verifiable computation
• Secure, private and distributed aggregation
• Secure multi-party computation
• Privacy-preserving biometric authentication
• Anonymous credentials
• Distributed and privacy-preserving authentication

Candidates should have a strong background in applied cryptography and provable security, are able to work independently and also collaborate in a team. Applicants must hold a Ph.D., with contributions in the relevant research topics and have publications in good venues.

The starting date for the position is flexible and come with a very competitive salary. The selection process runs until the suitable candidate has been found. The University of St.Gallen conducts excellent research with international implications. The city of St.Gallen is located one hour from Zurich and offers a high quality of life.

Please apply by 20th July 2023 through the job portal (via link).

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Prof. Katerina Mitrokotsa - applications through job portal only.

More information: https://jobs.unisg.ch/offene-stellen/postdoc-fellow-in-cryptography-information-security-m-f-d/25ddb9d0-5c47-41ac-8bde-5789dbaca5c4

We are looking for a bright and motivated PhD student to work in the topics of information security and cryptography.

The student is expected to work on topics that include security and privacy issues in authentication. More precisely, the student will be working on investigating efficient and privacy-preserving authentication that provides: i) provable security guarantees, and ii) rigorous privacy guarantees.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform exciting and challenging research in the domain of information security and cryptography.
• Support and assist in teaching computer security and cryptography courses.

Profile:

• The PhD student is expected to have a MSc degree or equivalent, and strong background in cryptography, network security and mathematics.
• Experience in one or more domains such as cryptography, design of protocols, secure multi-party computation and differential privacy is beneficial.
• Excellent programming skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English

The Chair of Cyber Security, https://cybersecurity.unisg.ch/, led by Prof. Katerina Mitrokotsa, is a part of the Institute of Computer Science (ICS) at the University of St.Gallen. Our research interests are centered around information security and applied cryptography, with the larger goal of safeguarding communications and providing strong privacy guarantees. We are currently active in multiple areas including the design of provably secure cryptographic protocols and cryptographic primitives that can be employed for reliable authentication, outsourcing computations in cloud-assisted settings, network security problems as well as secure and privacy-preserving machine learning. As a doctoral student you will be a part of the Doctoral School of Computer Science (DCS), https://dcs.unisg.ch.

The starting date for the position is flexible and come with a very competitive salary. The selection process runs until the suitable candidate has been found.

Please apply by 20th July 2023 through the job portal (via link).

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Prof. Katerina Mitrokotsa - applications through job portal only.

More information: https://jobs.unisg.ch/offene-stellen/funded-phd-student-in-applied-cryptography-privacy-preserving-authentication-m-f-d/e7a9e90b-02cd-45d0-ad4f-fc02131eaf86

The newly established Young Investigator Group (YIG) “COSYS - Control Systems and Cyber Security Lab” at the Chair of IT Security at the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg has several open PhD positions in the following areas: intrusion detection systems for critical infrastructures, secure cyber-physical systems, artificial intelligence / machine learning for traffic analysis, honeypots, and privacy enhancing techniques. Positions are limited to 31.07.2026, with possibility for extension.

Candidates must hold a Master’s degree or equivalent in Computer Science or related disciplines, or be close to completing it. If you are interested, please send your CV, transcript of records from your Master studies, and an electronic version of your Master's thesis (if possible), as a single pdf file. The positions will remain open until they are filled.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Ivan Pryvalov ([email protected])

The Aarhus crypto group (https://users-cs.au.dk/orlandi/cryptogroup/) is hiring a PhD student to study YOSO MPC. The student will be advised by Sophia Yakoubov, and co-advised by Divya Ravi at the University of Amsterdam. (The student will be primarily located in Aarhus, but will be encouraged to collaborate with others both within Denmark and internationally.) This three-year PhD would ideally start around January 1, 2024, but the start time can be flexible. Application instructions can be found here: https://cs.au.dk/education/phd Please contact Sophia Yakoubov if you are interested in applying.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Sophia Yakoubov ([email protected])

iTrust is a Cyber Security Research Center in SUTD and a National Satellite of Excellence in Singapore for securing critical infrastructure. iTrust hosts the world-class cyber-physical system (CPS) testbeds which are used for research, education, training, live-fire exercise, and technology validation.

We are looking for postdocs / research fellows with expertise on cybersecurity in general and CPS security in particular. The candidates should meet the following requirements.

A PhD in any computer science, computer engineering or related field.

Demonstrated expertise in computer networks and/or software testing and/or software security and/or applied cryptography and/or applied machine learning.

Have track record of strong R&D capability, with publications at leading cybersecurity conferences.

Working knowledge of the C/C++ or Python programming language.

Working knowledge in binary analysis and code reverse engineering is preferred.

Familiar with shipboard OT systems is preferred.

Fresh PhD graduates are welcome to apply. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted for interview. Successful candidates will be offered internationally competitive remuneration. Interested candidates please send your CV to Prof. Jianying Zhou.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Prof. Jianying Zhou [[email protected]]