Serge Vaudenay

Serge Vaudenay is a Full Professor at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), leading the Security and Cryptography Laboratory (LASEC). He holds appointments in the School of Computer and Communication Sciences (IC), the School of Engineering (SSC), and the School of Electrical Engineering (SIN). His research focuses on cryptographic analysis, lightweight cryptography, and secure communication channels, emphasizing both theoretical foundations and practical applications.

Education: Vaudenay earned his PhD in Computer Science from the University of Paris 7 in 1995 and completed his habilitation at EPFL. He joined EPFL in 1999, founding LASEC, which has become a global hub for cryptographic research.

Research: His work spans cryptanalysis, protocol security, post-quantum cryptography, and privacy-preserving systems. Notable contributions include the analysis of Bluetooth encryption vulnerabilities, attacks on format-preserving encryption standards, and advancements in distance-bounding protocols. Recent efforts focus on quantum-resistant algorithms and secure contact tracing systems like SwissCovid.

Teaching: He instructs courses on cryptography and communication security, emphasizing practical implementation and theoretical rigor. Over 25 PhD students have completed under his supervision, many contributing to industry and academia.

Grants & Labs: He chairs the Doctoral Program in Computer and Communication Sciences and leads projects funded by Swiss National Science Foundation and EU Horizon programs. LASEC collaborates with industry partners on secure hardware and protocol development.