Research Fellow in Public Key Cryptanalysis

The University of Surrey is a global community of ideas and people, dedicated to life-changing education and research. 

We are ambitious and have a bold vision of what we want to achieve - shaping ourselves into one of the best universities in the world, which we are achieving through the talents and endeavour of every employee.  

Our culture empowers people to achieve this aim and to collectively, and individually, make a real difference.  

The role

Applications are invited for Postdoctoral Research Fellow, to work on the EPSRC-funded project “PKC-Sec: Security Analysis of Classical and Post-Quantum Public Key Cryptography Assumptions”. The successful post holder is expected to start as soon as possible after accepting the position and will be based in the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science and its highly regarded Surrey Centre for Cyber Security (SCCS), working with Dr. Robert Granger.

The aim of the project is to research and develop algorithms for solving computational problems that are foundational to the security of public key cryptography, both now and in the future. In particular, it will study: the discrete logarithm problem in finite fields of fixed characteristic, for which an efficient classical algorithm is potentially on the horizon; the security of the Legendre pseudo-random function, which is extremely well suited for multi-party computation and is used in the proof of custody construction within Ethereum, but is not so well-studied; and finally the security of supersingular isogeny-based post-quantum cryptography, which although a relatively young field offers many very promising applications. Due to their nature, any cryptographic assumptions based on mathematical constructions are potentially weaker than currently believed, and the project will deepen our understanding and assess the hardness of these natural and fundamental problems. 

The post-holder will be responsible for conducting research into the three aforementioned areas, working alongside Dr. Granger and in collaboration with the official project partners, namely, the Ethereum Foundation, PQShield and K.U. Leuven.

For informal inquiries about the position, please contact Dr. Robert Granger (r.granger@surrey.ac.uk).

About you

The successful applicant is expected to have a PhD (gained or near completion), or equivalent professional experience in computer science or a related subject, in technical areas relevant to the envisioned research. 

Please see the full list of essential and ideal skills required in the Job Purpose Addendum.

How to apply

Please submit your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the Person Specification in the Job Purpose Addendum.

Closing date is 23.59 hours GMT on Wednesday 5th June 2024. Interviews are expected to be held remotely via MS TEAMS towards the end of the week commencing 10th June 2024.

Please note, it is University Policy to offer a starting salary equivalent to Level 3.6 (£34,980) to successful applicants who have been awarded, but are yet to receive, their PhD certificate.  Once the original PhD certificate has been submitted to the local HR Department, the salary will be increased to be within the stated range.

Advert information