International Association
for Cryptologic Research

I am looking for Ph.D. students in the area of analysing and preventing physical side channels in embedded devices. Two positions are available, which, as usual in the UK, enable the post holder to cover their tuition fees as well as enable them to cover their living expenses.

The research topics that I am recruiting for are:

• Pre-silicon modelling and analysis: you should be familiar with utilising a typical HW design flow, power simulation tools, and you should have an interest in developing skills in leakage modelling as well as analysis.
• Statistical detection and analysis methods: you should be comfortable with probability theory and statistics, and you should have an interest in exploring sophisticated statistical approaches in the context of exploiting and detecting leakage. This research may also touch on statistical learning methods.
• Implementation and analysis of post-quantum schemes: you should be familiar with low level software implementations (aka Assembly programming), and have an interest in exploring implementation options (potentially also considering dedicated hardware, e.g. the impact of dedicated instructions) to develop secure and reasonably efficient post-quantum implementations.

If you feel that you fit with one (or several) of the three topics, or, if you believe that you can make a good case for another topic, then please get in touch (see contact info below). Please send me a transcript of records, and a short (1 page) statement explaining why you want to do a PhD with me). If I think that you are a viable candidate, I will guide you through the application process.

I am now a faculty member and thus part of the Birmingham Centre for Security and Privacy. You can find information about this research group here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/centre-for-cyber-security-and-privacy. This is a sizeable research group, which offers companionship via other PhD students and staff members, as well as opportunities via many good relationships with industry.

Closing date for applications:

Contact: Prof. Elisabeth Oswald (sca-research@pm.me, or m.e.oswald@bham.ac.uk).