IACR News
If you have a news item you wish to distribute, they should be sent to the communications secretary. See also the events database for conference announcements.
Here you can see all recent updates to the IACR webpage. These updates are also available:
16 October 2023
University of South Florida
The Department of Mathematics & Statistics of the University of South Florida seeks to fill a nine-month, full-time and tenure-earning Assistant Professor position in Applied Algebra to begin August 7, 2024. A Ph.D. in Mathematics or a closely-related field is required, with preference for applications of algebra to Cryptography, Coding Theory, and Quantum Computing.
The Department is home to the USF Center for Cryptographic Research (usf-crypto.org), which is run in collaboration with the Department of Computer Science & Engineering. The Department of Mathematics & Statistics offers vertically-integrated programs in Applied Algebra at all levels: postdoctoral supervision in Applied Algebra, a graduate sequence in Applied Algebra, an undergraduate certificate in Cryptography, a Research Undergraduate Experience ( REU Site : usf-crypto.org/reu-program) program in Cryptography and Coding Theory, as well as a K–12 summer program in cybersecurity (codebreakhers.org).
Applications from individuals who are ABD will be accepted, but the degree must be conferred by the start date of the appointment. We seek applicants with a strong record of research productivity, the potential to secure external funding, and experience teaching university undergraduates. Special consideration will be given to candidates who possess experience beyond the Ph.D. level and the potential for excellence in teaching at the graduate level. Applications from women and minorities are encouraged. Salary is negotiable. To receive consideration, applications must be submitted no later than November 15, 2023.
To apply, please follow the instructions on the Mathjob advertisement for this position: https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/list/23078
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Jean-François Biasse
More information: https://www.mathjobs.org/jobs/list/23078
12 October 2023
King's College London; UK
We are looking for a postdoc to work with us on lattice-based cryptography. Broadly speaking, this is to build/analyse practical post-quantum privacy-preserving primitives and protocols.
Job ad: https://www.kcl.ac.uk/jobs/076525-research-fellowresearch-associate-in-cryptography
Closing date: 31 January 2024
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Martin Albrecht <[email protected]>
More information: https://martinralbrecht.wordpress.com/2023/10/12/postdoc-positions/
Department of Computer Science, Aarhus University, Denmark
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Kaj Grønbæk, Professor, Head of Department, e-mail: [email protected]
Aarhus University (DK)
Deadline:1 November 2023. https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/open-calls/november-2023/verified-voting-protocols-and-blockchains
The PhD positions include full tuition waiver and a very competitive scholarship. Aarhus University provides international students with a safe and stable environment, a high standard of living and a wealth of social opportunities. Besides having an excellent reputation that enables our PhD graduates to find outstanding employment prospects, Aarhus University offers attractive working conditions, research support and campus resources.
https://cs.au.dk/education/phd/
https://international.au.dk/
This project is supported by the Danish DIREC research center. It is a collaboration between Aarhus University, the Alexandra Institute and Concordium ApS. The aim of the project is work towards secure implementations of Blockchain Voting Governance Protocols and Internet Voting Protocols.
Voting and blockchains are intimately connected. Voting is used in blockchains for consensus, governance, and decentralized organizations. Conversely, elections are based on trust, which means that election systems ideally should be based on algorithms and data structures that are already trusted. Blockchains provide such a technology. They provide a trusted bulletin board, which can be used as part of some voting protocols. Moreover, voting crucially depends on establishing the identity of the voter to avoid fraud and to establish eligibility verifiability. Decades of research in voting protocols have shown how difficult it is to combine the privacy of the vote with the auditability of the election outcome. It is easy to achieve one without the other, but hard to combine both into one protocol. Thus, the topic of this research proposal is to investigate voting protocols and their relation to blockchains. The team will work on security proofs of these protocols and their implementations.
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Bas Spitters
More information: https://phd.nat.au.dk/for-applicants/open-calls/november-2023/verified-voting-protocols-and-blockchains
a16z crypto research, New York, NY, USA
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Joseph Bonneau
More information: https://a16z.com/about/jobs/?gh_jid=5766443003
02 October 2023
Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester MA
Qualifications:
- A solid understanding of the hardware design flow, from system-level down to gate-level, is essential for this position.
- Previous experience in IC tape-out, cryptographic engineering, and implementation attacks is considered a strong advantage.
Inquiries are welcome. Formal applications should go to https://gradapp.wpi.edu/apply/
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Patrick Schaumont ([email protected])
Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
We have an opening for a two-year (1+1) postdoc position in the applied and provable security (APS) group at Eindhoven University of Technology (TU/e). The APS group is working on provable security of cryptographic primitives and protocols considering quantum adversaries as well as the machine checking of such proofs. Recent works range from proposing new NIST standards (SPHINCS+) to new post-quantum secure communication protocols (PQWireGuard, PQNoise), and the formal verification of proofs for recent NIST standards and proposals (XMSS, Dilithium, Saber) in EasyCrypt. The group currently consists of two tenured professors and four PhD students.
The position is funded by a talent program grant of the Dutch Science Foundation (NWO). The successful candidate will carry out independent research in one of the research areas covered by the APS group under the supervision of Andreas Hülsing.
Applicants must hold a PhD and have a background in one of the topics related to the intended research area, including but not limited to: Cryptography, formal methods, or quantum information theory. This background should be demonstrated by relevant publications.
To apply, please visit https://jobs.tue.nl/en/vacancy/postdoc-applied-and-provable-security-1029137.htmlClosing date for applications:
Contact: Andreas Huelsing (email a.t.huelsing[at]tue.nl)
More information: https://jobs.tue.nl/en/vacancy/postdoc-applied-and-provable-security-1029137.html
26 September 2023
University of Birmingham
The successful candidate will be employed on a full-time, fixed-term contract up to September 2026. Full-time starting salary is normally in the range £34,980 to £44,263. (Some) remote work is possible, depending on the circumstances. The University provides a range of employee benefits, as well as opportunities for career development and training. The project includes substantial funding for conference travel.
Applicants should have a PhD, or be close to completing a PhD, in a relevant subject (crypto, computer algebra, maths, etc.). We are particularly keen on applications with a quantum cryptanalysis or quantum algorithm background, but strong candidates with other backgrounds will also be given due consideration. Prior track record on post-quantum cryptography and cryptanalysis is also a plus.
The post-doc will be working in the Centre for Cyber Security and Privacy, which currently has 14 permanent academics as well as 21 postdocs/PhD students.
The application deadline is 16 Oct 2023. Applications have to be made online at: https://edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_6001/job/3185/
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Informal enquiries can be made to Christophe Petit [email protected]
More information: https://edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_6001/job/3185/
University at Albany, SUNY; New York, USA
We are seeking students who are passionate about research, motivated to explore new ideas, and willing to work in a team environment. You will be expected to work diligently, communicate your results in writing, and publish research papers in top conferences/journals in the field of hardware security.
A strong background in one or more of these topics is required: linear algebra, probability theory, cryptography, or digital hardware design. Prior experience with Verilog hardware description language (HDL), electronic design automation (EDA) tools for application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) design, or/and field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) is preferred.
The candidate is expected to have excellent verbal and written communication skills. International applications: check the department website for GPA, TOEFL, and GRE requirements; visa sponsorship will be provided.
Closing date for applications:
Contact: The deadline to apply is January 15, 2024. Please contact Dr. Seetal Potluri ([email protected]) for more information.
21 September 2023
EURECOM; Sophia Antipolis, France
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Antonio Faonio
More information: https://www.eurecom.fr/en/job/zero-knowledge-proofs
NUS-Singapore and the University of Sheffield, UK
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Dr Prosanta Gope ([email protected])
University of Luxembourg, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
The CryptoLux group of the University of Luxembourg has a vacancy for a post-doctoral researcher in the area of security/privacy of blockchains and smart contracts. The successful candidate will contribute to a research project entitled Advanced Cryptography for Finance and Privacy (CryptoFin), which is funded by the Fonds National de la Recherche (FNR). Starting in September 2023, CryptoFin will run over a period of 3 years and be carried out in collaboration with the cryptography teams of Stanford University and Ethereum foundation. The mission of the CryptoFin project is to develop innovative solutions for some of the most pressing research problems in the blockchain domain, especially in the context of layer-2 protocols for off-chain transactions and the design of advanced cryptographic techniques like verifiable delay functions, proof-of-X systems with special features, and new MPC/SNARK-friendly primitives.
Candidates must hold a Ph.D. degree in cryptography, IT security, or a related field. Preference will be given to candidates with a strong publication record that includes at least one paper at an IACR conference/workshop or one of the top-4 security conferences. Experience in blockchains and/or smart contracts is a plus. Candidates with an interest to conduct research in one of the following areas are particularly encouraged to apply:
- Applied cryptography (especially design/analysis of symmetric cryptosystems)
- Cryptofinance and cryptoeconomics
- Privacy and anonymity on the Internet
The position is initially offered for 1 year, but an extension by 2 years is possible. The University of Luxembourg offers excellent working conditions and a highly competitive salary. Interested candidates are invited to send their application by email to Prof. Alex Biryukov before October 15, 2023 (early submission is encouraged). The application material should contain a cover letter explaining the candidate's research interests, a CV (incl. photo), a list of publications, scans of diploma certificates, and contact details of 3 references.
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Prof. Alex Biryukov ([email protected])
AIT Austrian Institute of Technology; Vienna, Austria
Requirements:
- PhD degree in Computer Science, Cyber Security, or a related field, with a specialization on cryptology
- Profound knowledge in (public key) cryptography, including, e.g., federated computation, long-term and post-quantum secure communication, privacy-enhancing technologies, real-world crypto, zero-knowledge proofs and zkSNARKs
- Strong track record with publications at competitive academic conferences or journals (e.g., Crypto, Eurocrypt, Asiacrypt, TCC, PKC, CCS, S&P, USENIX, ESORICS, ...)
- Experience in the acquisition and execution of national and transnational research projects (e.g., H2020) is a plus
- Good knowledge of a programming language (e.g., C/C++, Rust, Java, Python) and software development is a plus
- Very good written and oral English skills; knowledge of German is not a requirement but willingness to learn German is expected
Please submit your application including CV, cover letter, full list of publications, and contact details of at least 2 references via email to: stephan.krenn[at]ait.ac.at
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Stephan Krenn; stephan.krenn[at]ait.ac.at
University of Birmingham, UK
This is an exciting opportunity to join the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Cyber Security and Privacy on the EPSRC funded project "IOTEE: Securing and analysing trusted execution beyond the CPU", led by Prof Oswald and Prof Ryan.
Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) allow users to run their software in a secure enclave while assuring the integrity and confidentiality of data and applications. However, cloud computing these days relies heavily on peripherals (connected through PCIe) such as GPUs and FPGAs. In this project, together with researchers at the University of Southampton, we will thoroughly evaluate the security guarantees of the new TEE support in the PCIe standard. This could involve the use of formal modelling, as well as researching various software and hardware attacks and countermeasures against them.
We are looking for a person with a PhD in cyber security/computer science/electrical engineering. The candidate must have experience areas such as embedded security, binary analysis, physical attacks such as side-channel analysis and fault injection, and/or formal modelling. This needs to be evidenced through publications in highly ranked conferences/journals in the field. We also welcome experience in writing system level or low-level code in programming languages such as C, C++, or Rust.
The successful candidate will be employed on a full-time, fixed-term contract up to August 2026. Full-time starting salary is normally in the range £33,348 to £43,155. (Some) remote work is possible, depending on the circumstances. The University provides a range of employee benefits, as well as opportunities for career development and training. The project includes substantial funding for conference travel and equipment.
The post-doc will be working in the Centre for Cyber Security and Privacy, which currently has 14 permanent academics as well as 21 postdocs/PhD students.
The application deadline is 12 Oct 2023. Applications have to be made online at: https://edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_6001/job/2681/
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Informal enquiries can be made to David Oswald [email protected].
More information: https://edzz.fa.em3.oraclecloud.com/hcmUI/CandidateExperience/en/sites/CX_6001/job/2681/
Paderborn University, Department of Computer Science, Paderborn, Germany
Postdoc (f/m/d) (salary is according to E13 TV-L)
A position with 100 % of the regular working hours is available as of the next possible date. The employment is initially limited to three years and is based on the legal regulations of the Wissen-schaftszeitvertragsgesetzes (WissZeitVG).
Your duties and responsibilities:
• Establishment and expansion of an infrastructure for the integration of quantum computing in high-performance computing.
• Interface of PhoQS to the Paderborn Center for Parallel Computing (PC2) of the Paderborn University
• Supporting users, especially in the natural sciences, in the development and implementation of quantum algorithms
• Optimisation of quantum software platforms for photonic and gate-based quantum computing such as Strawberry Fields, Parceval or Qiskit in collaboration with HPC experts of the PC2
• Organisation and delivery of tutorials and workshops on the use of quantum software plat-forms (basic to advanced)
• Leading a team for the technical integration of quantum computing and high-performance computing
Hiring requirements:
• Completed PhD in computer science, mathematics or physics or comparable qualification
• Solid understanding of many-body quantum mechanics
• Practical experience in high-performance computing and/or in the use of quantum software platforms
• High motivation and willingness for interdisciplinary cooperation between computer science and physics
• Good knowledge of German and English, both written and spoken
• Friendliness, flexibility, ability to work in a team, initiative and willingness to work independently
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Please send your application including a CV (preferably in a single pdf file) using the Ref. No. 6105 by 30th September, 2023 to: [email protected]
More information: https://cs.uni-paderborn.de/en/cuk
18 September 2023
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
The Symmetric Key and Lightweight Cryptography Lab (SyLLab) at NTU Singapore is looking for candidates for several Research Fellow/Post-Doc (from fresh Post-Docs to Senior Research Fellows, flexible contract duration) as well as PhD student positions on various topics:
- symmetric-key cryptography (cryptanalysis, design),
- machine learning,
- side-channels attacks,
- fully homomorphic encryption.
Postdoc candidates are expected to have a proven record of publications in top cryptography/security venues.
The positions will be funded by the 5-year National Research Foundation (NRF) Investigatorship grant from Singapore. Salaries are competitive and are determined according to the successful applicant's accomplishments, experience and qualifications. We offer an excellent research environment with a highly international team, with flexible working conditions, budget for conferences/equipment, etc.
Interested applicants should send their detailed CVs and references to Prof. Thomas Peyrin ([email protected]). The review of applications starts immediately and will continue until positions are filled.
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Thomas Peyrin ([email protected])
16 September 2023
eShard
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Pierre-Yvan Liardet
More information: https://cms.eshard.com/uploads/sujet_cifre_eshard_lirmm_5d622a4c95.pdf
15 September 2023
University of Surrey
The role will be based in the Surrey Centre for Cyber Security (SCCS) within the School of Computer Science and Electronic Engineering at the University of Surrey and we offer the opportunity for hybrid working – some time on campus and some from home. We welcome applicants who wish to pursue the role through flexible working patterns.
You will have the opportunity to conduct research within the context of the Defence Data Research Centre, funded by DSTL, in which SCCS is a partner, alongside the Universities of Exeter and Liverpool, and the Digital Catapult. The Centre is focusing on problems related to the use of data for Artificial Intelligence applications, particularly around the challenges of bringing raw data to the state where it can be used. We consider these problems within a defence context, such as logistics support, object tracking and data wrangling. SCCS is focused on the area of data resilience, security and privacy, considering problems such as the trustworthiness of data and issues around anonymisation. The successful candidate will work under the direction of Professor Steve Schneider together with the support of other colleagues at Surrey and DDRC. The post holder will have exposure to the Centre’s broader research agenda in the areas of trusted computing, data privacy, privacy preserving security, applied cryptography, and a range of cyber security topics and as such provides an excellent opportunity to influence research directions during the course of the appointment.
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Professor Steve Schneider
More information: https://jobs.surrey.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?id=13521
Paderborn University, Department of Computer Science, Paderborn, Germany
Postdoc (f/m/d)
(salary is according to E13 TV-L)
A position with 100 % of the regular working hours is available as of the next possible date. The employment is initially limited to three years and is based on the legal regulations of the Wissen-schaftszeitvertragsgesetzes (WissZeitVG).
Your duties and responsibilities:
• Support in the construction and operation of a (photonic) quantum communication network and its combination with classical communication networks.
• Support for users of a quantum network
• Development and optimisation of quantum communication protocols, e.g. for key exchange protocols
• Organising and running courses on the basics and use of quantum networks and quantum communication protocols (basic to advanced)
• Leading a team for the operation of a quantum network and its integration into classical net-works
Hiring requirements:
• Completed PhD in computer science, mathematics or physics or comparable qualification
• Experience in the operation of communication networks and the design of network protocols (classical and/or quantum)
• High motivation and willingness for interdisciplinary cooperation between computer science and physics
• Good knowledge of German and English, both written and spoken
• Friendliness, flexibility, ability to work in a team, initiative and willingness to work independently
Closing date for applications:
Contact: Please send your application including a CV (preferably in a single pdf file) using the Ref. No. 6106 by 30th September, 2023 to: [email protected]
More information: https://cs.uni-paderborn.de/en/cuk
11 September 2023
University of Leuven (KU Leuven)
Responsibilities:
Specific skills required
To be considered for this position, you should have a PhD degree in computer science or mathematics or cryptography, with a strong publication track record in top venues. In addition, good communication and programming skills are required.
Closing date for applications:
Contact: [email protected]
More information: https://www.esat.kuleuven.be/cosic/vacancies/