Anand V Natarajan is the ITT Career Development Professor in Computer Technology and Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) at MIT, with affiliation to the Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL). He holds a PhD in Physics from MIT (2018), advised by Aram Harrow, and previously served as a postdoc at Caltech's Institute for Quantum Information and Matter. His research focuses on theoretical quantum information, emphasizing quantum complexity theory (e.g., MIP* and QMA(2) classes), nonlocality (Bell inequalities, nonlocal games), and semidefinite programming hierarchies. He teaches courses such as Quantum Cryptography, Quantum Systems Engineering, and Introduction to Algorithms at MIT. Notable contributions include resolving the MIP* = RE problem and the FOCS 2019 Best Paper Award for NEEXP ⊆ MIP*. He advises PhD students in quantum computing topics and collaborates extensively on quantum verification protocols and entanglement testing.
Henry Yuen is the Srivani Family Associate Professor of Computer Science at Columbia University, with affiliations in the CS Theory group, Data Science Institute, and Columbia Quantum Initiative. His work bridges theoretical computer science and quantum information, focusing on the computational foundations of quantum systems. Yuen received his BA in Mathematics from the University of Southern California (2010) and PhD in Computer Science from MIT (2016). His research explores quantum complexity theory, quantum cryptography, and quantum information through both theoretical frameworks and practical applications. His recent publications reveal a strong focus on quantum pseudorandomness, quantum circuit complexity, and quantum cryptographic primitives. The research trajectory demonstrates increasing sophistication in connecting quantum computational models with fundamental questions in complexity theory, particularly through the lens of quantum interactive proofs and quantum state complexity. His work frequently intersects with operator algebras and quantum information theory, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern quantum computing research. NSF CAREER award Sloan Fellowship Yuen actively mentors graduate students, with several PhD students having graduated to postdoctoral positions or faculty roles. His service includes co-organizing the Columbia CS Theory Seminar and serving on program committees for major conferences including QIP, STOC, and ITCS. He has organized multiple workshops on quantum computing challenges and cryptography. As a member of the Columbia Quantum Initiative, Yuen contributes to Columbia's growing quantum ecosystem, collaborating across departments to advance both theoretical foundations and potential applications of quantum information processing.
Sushmita Ruj is an Associate Professor in the School of Computer Science and Engineering at the University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney. She serves as the Faculty of Engineering Lead for the UNSW Institute for Cybersecurity (IfCyber) and as the Taste of Research (ToR) Coordinator within the School of Computer Science and Engineering. Her academic journey includes previous positions as a Senior Research Scientist at CSIRO's Data61 (2019-2022), Associate Professor at the Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, and Assistant Professor at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Indore. Dr. Ruj's primary research interests focus on applied cryptography, post-quantum cryptography, cybersecurity, blockchains, and data privacy. She designs practical, efficient, and provably secure protocols for real-life applications, with particular emphasis on critical infrastructure including smart grids, cloud computing, ad hoc networks, and data sharing frameworks. As quantum technology advances, her work increasingly focuses on developing quantum-safe algorithms to ensure a more secure Internet infrastructure. Her research spans multiple domains including cryptographic key management, proofs of storage, verifiable computation, vector commitments, and privacy-enhancing technologies for cloud and IoT environments. Her recent publications demonstrate a strong trend toward post-quantum cryptography solutions, with particular emphasis on blockchain applications, DNS security, and privacy-preserving protocols for industrial IoT. The research shows increasing focus on practical implementations of theoretical cryptographic concepts, with applications across multiple sectors including finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. Her work bridges the gap between theoretical cryptography and real-world security challenges, with growing emphasis on the transition from classical to quantum-resistant systems. Best Paper Award at ACISP 2024 JNCA Best Survey Award (2023) NSW Innovation Award (iAward) Merit Winner (2022) Women in Science Award from CSIRO (2020) ACM Senior Member (2016) IEEE Senior Member (2015) Samsung GRO award (2014) Dr. Ruj has successfully mentored numerous PhD and Master's students, with many of her former students now holding academic positions at institutions like IIT Indore, TU Wien, and CISPA Helmholtz Center. She has secured significant competitive funding including multiple Australian Research Council (ARC) grants, Samsung GRO Award, NetApp Faculty Fellowship, Cisco Academic Grant, and IBM Research grant. Her current research portfolio includes projects on blockchain-based quantum-safe digital medical passports, embedding trust in digital IDs, and resilience of supply chain unstructured data. As Faculty of Engineering Lead for IfCyber, Dr. Ruj plays a key role in UNSW's cybersecurity research initiatives. She has served on editorial boards for prestigious journals including IEEE Transactions on Information Forensics and Security and has held leadership positions in major conferences such as ACISP 2021 and Indocrypt 2020. She was also a member of the working group on "Blockchain For Cybersecurity" for the National Blockchain Roadmap of Australia and the first Blockchain Working group set up by the Reserve Bank of India.
David Jao is a Professor in the Department of Combinatorics and Optimization at the University of Waterloo. His research focuses on post-quantum cryptography, particularly leveraging isogenies of supersingular elliptic curves for secure cryptographic protocols. He is renowned for co-developing the Supersingular Isogeny Key Encapsulation (SIKE) protocol, a leading candidate for post-quantum cryptography standards. His work spans theoretical foundations and practical implementations, including optimizing isogeny-based systems for embedded devices and ARM processors. Research interests include isogeny-based cryptosystems, elliptic curve cryptography, zero-knowledge proofs, and cryptographic security against quantum attacks. He explores applications of expander graphs and Ramanujan graphs in cryptography, alongside algorithmic improvements for cryptographic protocols such as SIDH (Supersingular Isogeny Diffie-Hellman). Key contributions include advancements in key compression techniques for SIKE, side-channel attack mitigation, and formalizing security models for post-quantum key exchange. His publications analyze cryptographic hardness assumptions, such as the discrete logarithm problem in finite groups and the semidirect product structure in isogeny-based systems. Jao’s work bridges theoretical mathematics and applied cryptography, with a focus on ensuring practical security in next-generation cryptographic systems. His research addresses challenges in quantum-resistant authentication, key establishment, and digital signatures, often emphasizing efficiency and resistance to both classical and quantum attacks.
Alex Lombardi is an Assistant Professor of Computer Science at Princeton University, specializing in cryptography and theoretical computer science. His work explores cryptographic proof systems, post-quantum security, and quantum cryptography. Princeton University (Current) Simons-Berkeley Postdoctoral Fellow (Former) MIT (Graduate Training) Visiting Scientist, Cryptography 10 Years Later Program (2025) Education: PhD in Computer Science from MIT (advised by Vinod Vaikuntanathan) Master's Thesis on Provable Instantiations of Correlation Intractability and the Fiat-Shamir Heuristic Dr. Lombardi's research spans foundational cryptography, with a focus on indistinguishability obfuscation, worst-case assumptions, and quantum cryptographic protocols. His work on SNARGs and PPAD hardness has advanced cryptographic proof systems, while his recent projects address quantum verification and post-quantum security. He encourages prospective cryptography students to apply to Princeton's PhD program. His publications highlight advancements in LWE-based cryptography, quantum protocols, and complexity-theoretic foundations. Key themes include secure computation, hash function design, and cryptographic reductions under quantum assumptions. Scientific Awards: Simons-Berkeley Postdoctoral Fellowship Dr. Lombardi serves on program committees for STOC 2025, EUROCRYPT 2025, and other conferences. He has taught courses like COS 433/533 (Cryptography) and COS 533 (Advanced Cryptography) at Princeton.
Professor Peter Y. K. Cheung is a Professor of Digital Systems at Imperial College London, holding dual affiliations within the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering and the Dyson School of Design Engineering. His work focuses on reconfigurable systems, FPGA architectures, and high-level synthesis tools. He co-founded one of the UK's leading FPGA research groups with Professor Wayne Luk, addressing challenges in variability mitigation, reliability, and application-specific FPGA deployments. His research spans Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) Reconfigurable computing Neural network acceleration Cryptographic protocols Embedded systems He has pioneered techniques such as logic shrinkage for FPGA-based neural networks and developed frameworks like LUTNet for efficient inference. His contributions also include fault-tolerant FPGA designs and methodologies for distributed computation protocols. Key collaborations include work with the Department of Computing on FPGA-based AI acceleration and cybersecurity applications. His recent work explores edge computing, secure decentralized systems, and pandemic modeling using adaptive control strategies. Notable projects include the DSCS protocol for secure distributed computation, acceleration of gravitational wave detection algorithms, and energy-efficient CNN implementations. His research bridges hardware-software co-design with real-world applications in healthcare, finance, and aerospace.
Juan Garay is a Professor in the Department of Computer Science & Engineering at Texas A&M University, affiliated with the College of Engineering. His research focuses on cryptography, information security, and distributed systems, with notable contributions to cryptographic protocols, blockchain technologies, and consensus mechanisms. He holds a leadership role in advancing theoretical and applied aspects of secure computation and network security. Research Interests: Cryptography and Information Security Secure Multiparty Computation Cryptocurrencies and Blockchain Protocols Consensus Algorithms Distributed Computing Game Theory in Cryptography Publications highlight his work on the Bitcoin Backbone Protocol, secure multiparty computation, and post-quantum cryptographic systems. He actively contributes to conferences and workshops in cryptography and distributed systems. He advises graduate students in computer science and engineering, though specific advisee names are not listed. His work is supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other institutions, focusing on secure protocols and distributed systems. Office: Peterson Building (PETR 429) Contact: garay@cse.tamu.edu
Yan Huang is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at Indiana University Bloomington, focusing on security and cryptography. His work bridges theoretical foundations with practical systems, emphasizing cryptographic protocols with strong security guarantees for generic computation. University: Indiana University Bloomington School: College of Arts and Sciences Department: Computer Science Academic Rank: Associate Professor His research combines theoretical computer science , program analysis , artificial intelligence , and software engineering to address real-world security problems. Key areas include secure computation , zero-knowledge proofs , and privacy-preserving technologies . Recent publications, such as Phecda (SP'25) and Dubhe (USENIX Security'23), highlight advancements in post-quantum cryptography , AES verification , and privacy-preserving deep packet inspection , reflecting his focus on scalable and practical cryptographic solutions. He has advised notable students including Changchang Ding (PhD, Computer Science) and Ruiyu Zhu (PhD, now at Facebook), and served on program committees for top conferences like ACM CCS and CRYPTO .
Tanja Lange is a Full Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Technische Universiteit Eindhoven. She chairs the Coding Theory and Cryptology group and serves as scientific director of the Eindhoven Institute for the Protection of Systems and Information (Ei/Ψ). Additionally, she holds a visiting professor position at Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Research & Teaching Her research focuses on cryptography and number theory , with leadership in post-quantum cryptography (including code-based, lattice-based, hash-based, and isogeny-based systems). She has taught courses like Introduction to Cryptology and Selected Areas in Cryptology at TU/e, covering quantum algorithms, cryptographic protocols, and mathematical foundations. Key Contributions Co-author of 5 recent publications (2023-2025) on differential addition chains, ROLLO-I analysis, CSIDH fault injection, and KpqC evaluations Recipient of the Best Master Lecturer 2016 award Active in NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography competition (e.g., NTRU Prime) Affiliated with the Center for Quantum Materials and Technology Eindhoven Contact MetaForum 5.062, TU/e Email: tanja@hyperelliptic.org (primary) | t.lange@tue.nl (TU/e)
Brandon Reagen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering, with affiliations in Computer Science, the Center for Advanced Technology in Telecommunications (CATT), and the NYU Center for Cybersecurity (CCS). He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Harvard (2018) and undergraduate degrees in Computer Systems Engineering and Applied Mathematics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2012). His research focuses on computer architecture, hardware acceleration for deep learning and privacy-preserving computation, and VLSI design. He pioneered efficient deep learning accelerator designs through unsafe optimizations and contributed to benchmarking frameworks like Aladdin and MachSuite. His work spans privacy-preserving machine learning, secure computing systems, and hardware-software co-design for cryptographic protocols. Key achievements include the NSF CAREER Award (2024) and Siebel Scholar recognition (2018). His research centers on advancing secure computing through innovations like zero-knowledge proof accelerators (e.g., zkSpeed), fully homomorphic encryption frameworks (Orion), and entropy-guided privacy techniques for large language models. He leads interdisciplinary efforts at CATT and CCS to bridge hardware design and cybersecurity challenges. Reagen's contributions include over 50 publications in top-tier conferences (e.g., ISCA, ASPLOS, MLSys) and industry collaborations at Facebook AI. His work emphasizes practical solutions for encrypted computation efficiency, privacy-preserving inference, and scalable secure systems.
Seth Lloyd is a Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), with adjunct appointments at the Santa Fe Institute since 1988 and as a Fellow at the Institute for Scientific Interchange since 2000. His research spans quantum information science, quantum control theory, and complex systems analysis. His educational background includes: B.A. from Harvard University (1982) M. from the University of Cambridge (1984) Ph.D. from Rockefeller University (1988) Lloyd's work focuses on quantum computation, quantum communications, and quantum limits to control and sensing. He has pioneered research in quantum algorithms, quantum metrology, and applications of quantum information to complex biological and physical systems. His research bridges theoretical physics, computer science, and engineering, with over 200 publications and two patents in quantum information processing. Analysis of his recent publications reveals dominant trends in quantum machine learning, quantum metrology, and quantum communication protocols, with increasing interdisciplinary applications in quantum biology and quantum gravity. His work consistently explores fundamental limits of quantum information processing. His scientific awards include: Lindbergh Fellow (1994) Finmeccanica Professorship (1996) Edgerton Prize (2001) Fellow of the American Physical Society (2007) Quantum Communication, Measurement, and Computation Prize (2012) Lloyd serves on the editorial board of Quantum Information Processing and holds significant MIT service roles including Course 2 Undergraduate Committee coordinator and membership on the Institute Foreign Scholarships Committee. He teaches advanced courses in quantum information, dynamics, and computational methods, shaping the next generation of quantum scientists and engineers. As a member of the American Physical Society, he maintains active research collaborations across quantum information science, with ongoing work in quantum algorithms and quantum-enhanced sensing technologies.
Timo Minssen is Professor of Law at the University of Copenhagen (UCPH) and the Founding Director of UCPH's Center for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law (CeBIL). He also holds affiliations as an LML Research Affiliate at the University of Cambridge and an Inter-CeBIL Research Affiliate at Harvard Law School's Petrie-Flom Centre. With extensive expertise in Intellectual Property, Competition, and Regulatory Law, Minssen focuses on the legal aspects of emerging health and life science technologies, including genome editing, big data, artificial intelligence, and quantum technology. His educational background includes a German law degree (Staatsexamen) from Georg-August-University in Göttingen, and Swedish biotech & IPR related LL.M., LL.Lic., and LL.D. degrees from Lund University and Uppsala University. His PhD thesis on the patentability of biopharmaceutical technology in the US & Europe received the prestigious Swedish King Oscar award. 2024: TUM Global Visiting Professor, Technical University of Munich (Germany) 2016: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Cambridge (UK) 2014: Visiting Research Fellow, University of Oxford (UK) 2013-14: Visiting Scholar, Harvard Law School (US) 2012: LL.D. - Doctor of Laws (Swedish "juris doktor"), EU/US patent law, Lund University, Sweden Minssen's research spans AI & Big Data in Health & Life Sciences, Sustainable and responsible innovation & tech transfer, Pharmaceutical-, Life Science- & Biotech Law, Comparative European & US Patent Law, Intellectual Property Law & Open Innovation, and EU Competition- & US Antitrust Law. His work addresses legal issues throughout the lifecycle of health and life science products and processes, from R&D regulation to technology transfer and commercialization. His extensive publication record includes 7 books and over 200 articles and book chapters published in leading journals such as Science, Nature Biotechnology, JAMA, and Harvard Business Review. His research has been featured in The Economist, Financial Times, and other major media outlets. Minssen's recent work shows a strong focus on AI regulation, quantum technology law, and data governance in health contexts, reflecting the evolving landscape of technology and law. Scientific Awards and Recognition King Oscar award for best Jur. Dr. thesis (2014) Jorcks Fonds Forsknings Pris (Jorck's Foundation Research Prize) (2017) Awapatent Research Prize (2009) Max Planck Research Scholarship (2005) Visiting Scholar appointments at Harvard Law School, University of Oxford, and University of Cambridge Recipient of a Novo Nordisk Foundation Grant for a "Collaborative Research Program in Biomedical Innovation Law" (2018) As an advisor, Minssen serves international organizations including the WHO, WIPO, and EU Commission. He has supervised numerous PhD students in areas including pharmaceutical law, biotechnology patents, and antimicrobial resistance. His current research projects include the Novo Nordisk Foundation's International Collaborative Bioscience Innovation & Law (Inter-CeBIL) Programme (50 million DKK), CLASSICA: EU Horizon Project on AI-assisted surgery, and AI@Care: Law and Ethics and Algorithmic Bias in Healthcare. Minssen leads the Center for Advanced Studies in Bioscience Innovation Law (CeBIL), which serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research on the intersection of law, technology, and innovation in the health and life sciences. The center collaborates with institutions worldwide to address pressing legal challenges in emerging technologies.
Joachim Rosenthal is a Professor of Applied Mathematics at the University of Zurich's Department of Mathematics, leading the Applied Algebra Group. His research integrates coding theory, cryptography, and algebraic geometry with applications in communications and security systems. His primary research explores algebraic coding theory including convolutional codes, subspace codes, and post-quantum cryptography. He develops algorithms for error correction, code optimization, and cryptographic protocol analysis, with emphasis on mathematical structures in finite fields and rings. Professor Rosenthal serves as President of the Swiss Mathematical Society (2024-2025) and sits on IEEE Information Theory Society's Board of Governors. He has organized multiple international conferences on coding theory and cryptography, including the Zurich COST Meeting and Workshop on Convolutional Codes. His editorial contributions include roles at Archiv der Mathematik and SIAM Journal on Applied Algebra and Geometry. Recent publications focus on code construction methods, complexity analysis in group-based cryptography, and algebraic approaches to error-correcting codes.
Stanislaw Jarecki is an Associate Professor of Computer Science at the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS) at the University of California, Irvine (UCI). He joined UCI in 2003 after earning his Ph.D. in Computer Science from MIT in 2001 under Prof. Shafi Goldwasser. His research focuses on applied and distributed cryptography, with significant contributions to threshold cryptography, secure computation, and password-authenticated key exchange (PAKE) protocols such as OPAQUE, which secures 2 billion WhatsApp users. He also worked at Intertrust’s StarLab and Stanford’s applied cryptography group under Prof. Dan Boneh. Education: Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2001. Research Interests: Distributed cryptography, secure multi-party computation, privacy-preserving protocols, threshold security, blockchain applications, and efficient cryptographic primitives. His work emphasizes practical solutions for real-world systems, including protocols resilient to server compromises and scalable encryption methods. Awards: 2023 IACR Fellow for contributions to distributed cryptography and efficient secure computation. Advising and Grants: Jarecki’s research has been supported by grants including NSF SaTC programs. He advises students on cryptographic protocol design and security mechanisms. His work on OPAQUE and CHIC protocols exemplifies his focus on bridging theoretical cryptography with practical implementation. Labs/Teams: Leads a research group focused on applied cryptography and security within ICS at UCI, collaborating on projects like secure computation, privacy-preserving data processing, and cryptographic protocol development.
Prof. Dr. Tobias Gemmeke is a University Professor at RWTH Aachen University's Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, leading the Chair of Integrated Digital Systems and Circuit Design. His work focuses on neuromorphic computing, hardware accelerators, and energy-efficient electronics. He has pioneered advancements in FPGA-based computational neuroscience simulators, neuromorphic processor architectures, and sensor integration for industrial and medical applications. Research interests include time-domain computing, ReRAM reliability, and co-optimization of neural networks with hardware. Notable contributions include the neuroAIx framework for accelerated neuroscience simulations and energy-efficient ASIC designs for post-quantum cryptography. He actively explores memristive devices and domain generalization techniques for edge computing. Recent publications highlight innovations in spiking neural networks, sensor systems for plain bearings, and time-domain compute-in-memory engines. His work bridges theoretical neuroscience with practical hardware implementations, emphasizing scalability and real-time performance.
