Gregor Leander

Prof. Dr. Gregor Leander is a Professor and Head of the Symmetric Cryptography chair at Ruhr-University Bochum, Faculty of Computer Science. He is a leading researcher in the field of symmetric cryptography with significant contributions to both theoretical foundations and practical applications of cryptographic primitives.

Professor Leander has an extensive background in mathematics with a PhD focused on theoretical aspects of Boolean functions. His research spans the entire spectrum of symmetric cryptography, from fundamental theoretical questions to practical implementations deployed in real-world applications. He has been instrumental in designing ciphers that have seen widespread deployment, as well as analyzing and improving existing cryptographic standards.

• Created the symmetric cryptography group at Ruhr University Bochum in 2015
• Founder and managing editor of the IACR Transaction of Symmetric Cryptography journal
• Active participant in numerous prestigious conferences as program co-chair, organizer, and invited speaker

Professor Leander's research interests primarily focus on symmetric cryptography, including the design and analysis of block ciphers, stream ciphers, and cryptographic hash functions. His work bridges the gap between theoretical cryptography and practical security requirements, with particular emphasis on lightweight cryptography for constrained environments. He has made significant contributions to understanding the mathematical foundations of cryptographic primitives while ensuring their practical applicability in real-world systems.

His recent publications demonstrate a continued focus on foundational aspects of symmetric cryptography while expanding into post-quantum cryptography and the intersection of symmetric and asymmetric cryptographic techniques. The research output shows a consistent pattern of addressing both theoretical challenges and practical implementation concerns, with many contributions becoming international standards.

Scientific Awards and Recognition

• 2022: SKINNY is ISO standard (ISO/IEC 18033-7) as a Tweakable Block Cipher
• 2020: IACR CRYPTO 2020, Best Paper Award and invitation to Journal of Cryptology
• 2015: Heisenberg Professorship, a prestigious funding line for upcoming leaders by the DFG
• 2014: IACR FSE 2014, Best Paper Award and invitation to Journal of Cryptology
• 2010: PRESENT is ISO standard (ISO/IEC 29192-2) for Lightweight Cryptography
• 2010: German IT Security Award (worth 100kEUR), first place
• 2011: Erdos Number 2

Professor Leander has successfully advised numerous PhD students who have gone on to make their own contributions to the field of cryptography. His group at Ruhr-University Bochum has received significant research funding, including the prestigious Heisenberg Professorship from the DFG. He has been actively involved in organizing major cryptographic conferences and workshops, contributing to the advancement of the field through community building and knowledge sharing.

The symmetric cryptography group at Ruhr-University Bochum, which Professor Leander founded in 2015, has become a renowned center for cryptographic research. The group maintains strong collaborations with other leading research institutions worldwide and regularly hosts visiting researchers. Through the IACR Transaction of Symmetric Cryptography journal, which Professor Leander founded, the group has also established a significant platform for high-quality research publication in the field.