Halil Ali is a Lecturer in Data Science (Education Focused) at the School of Computing Technologies, RMIT University. His research spans privacy-preserving machine learning, blockchain technologies, and cybersecurity. Key research areas include federated learning , quantum-enhanced AI , secure biometrics , edge unlearning , and privacy in healthcare data . His recent publications focus on resilient AI systems , blockchain applications , and ethical data handling in emerging technologies. His work demonstrates expertise in integrating machine learning with blockchain security across domains like IoT, smart grids, and metaverse healthcare. He contributes to practical frameworks for zero-trust architectures , lightweight consensus protocols , and quantum-classical hybrid models .
Andrea Coladangelo is an Assistant Professor at the Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering , University of Washington , co-leading the Quantum group and contributing to the Theory and Crypto groups. He coordinates the NSF-funded Quantum@UW REU program , fostering undergraduate research in quantum information. Previously, he was a postdoctoral researcher at UC Berkeley and the Simons Institute , advised by Umesh Vazirani , following a PhD in Computer Science at Caltech under Thomas Vidick . His academic journey began with a B.A. in Mathematics from Oxford and a Master in Mathematics from Cambridge . He co-founded qBraid , a platform for quantum computing education. Research Interests : Andrea explores the intersection of quantum computation and cryptography , focusing on foundational questions in entanglement , quantum correlations , and quantum learning theory . His work investigates quantum pseudorandomness , device-independent security , quantum algorithms , and quantum copy-protection , often leveraging computational assumptions to bridge quantum information theory with cryptographic applications. Scientific Awards : 2025 Google Research Scholar Program Award in Quantum Computing 2023 CSE Undergraduate Teaching Award for his course on quantum computation 2019 Best Student Paper Award at QIP Teaching & Outreach : Andrea designed and taught CSE 434: Intro to Quantum Computation (Spring 2023, 2024, 2025), CSE 534: Quantum Information and Computation (Autumn 2023), and CSE 599C: Quantum Learning Theory (Winter 2025). He also delivered lectures at the 22nd Bellairs Crypto Workshop (2024) and led a quantum programming tutorial using qBraid . Labs & Teams : As co-leader of the Quantum group at the Allen School, he collaborates with researchers in Theory and Crypto , advancing quantum computing through interdisciplinary projects and educational initiatives.
Lijie Chen is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences at UC Berkeley, where he is part of the Berkeley Theory Group. Previously, he was a Miller Research Fellow at UC Berkeley, hosted by Avishay Tal and Umesh Vazirani, and earned his Ph.D. from MIT under Ryan Williams. His research focuses on theoretical computer science, particularly computational complexity theory, with applications to quantum physics and AI safety. Education: Ph.D. in Computer Science from MIT (2022), B.Sc. from Yao Class at Tsinghua University. Research Interests: Complexity theory, quantum complexity, derandomization, circuit lower bounds, and foundational aspects of AI safety. Chen has made significant contributions to understanding fundamental questions in complexity theory, including circuit lower bounds and the connections between randomness and computation efficiency. His work often bridges theoretical insights with practical implications in quantum computing and algorithm design. Awards and Honors: Machtey Award for Best Student Paper (2019). Danny Lewin Best Student Paper Award (2019). Invited to SICOMP Special Issues for FOCS and STOC papers. He has organized workshops on complexity theory and derandomization, and his research has been recognized in venues like STOC, FOCS, and the Journal of the ACM.
Ian Goldberg is a Professor at the Cheriton School of Computer Science , University of Waterloo, Canada. He holds the Canada Research Chair in Privacy Enhancing Technologies and leads the Cryptography, Security, and Privacy (CrySP) group . He is affiliated with the Cybersecurity and Privacy Institute and the Institute for Quantum Computing . Research Focus: Security, privacy, and privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) for the Internet, including Off-the-Record (OTR) Messaging , censorship resistance , private information retrieval , and zero-knowledge proofs . Recent Publications: His work addresses metadata protection , deniable authentication , and secure multi-party computation , with applications to anonymous communication and censorship resistance. Scientific Awards: Canada Research Chair in Privacy Enhancing Technologies Students: He advises current and former PhD/Master’s students in projects like Lox , PRSONA , Walkie-Talkie , and SkypeMorph . Notable advisees include Sajin Sasy (Privacy-Preserving Communications), Justin Tracey (PETs Development), and Tao Wang (Website Fingerprinting Defenses). Labs & Teams: Goldberg is a core member of the CrySP group and contributes to the Tor Project and Off-the-Record Messaging open-source initiatives. His research bridges theoretical and applied cryptography, with deployments in real-world systems like Tor and PIR protocols.
Nils Fleischhacker is an Assistant Professor for Cryptography at Ruhr University Bochum, where he leads the Theoretical Cryptography group within the Faculty of Computer Science. His research focuses on foundational aspects of cryptography with particular emphasis on zero-knowledge proofs, digital signatures, and secure computation. Prior to joining Ruhr University, he held postdoctoral positions at Johns Hopkins University and Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Fleischhacker received his PhD in Computer Science from Saarland University in February 2017, advised by Dominique Schröder. During his doctoral studies, he was a research intern at Microsoft Research with Chris Brzuska and a research visitor at the University of Maryland, College Park with Jonathan Katz and Dana Dachman-Soled. His research spans theoretical cryptography with significant contributions to zero-knowledge proofs, multi-signature schemes, property-preserving hash functions, and security proofs for cryptographic primitives. Fleischhacker's work often addresses fundamental questions about the limits and possibilities of cryptographic constructions, with particular attention to black-box separations and lower bounds. His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on lattice-based cryptography and post-quantum secure protocols. Fleischhacker's publications over the past five years reveal a consistent research trajectory focused on improving the efficiency and security of cryptographic primitives, with particular emphasis on signature schemes, zero-knowledge protocols, and secure computation frameworks. His work frequently appears in top-tier cryptography venues including CRYPTO, EUROCRYPT, and CCS. Dr. Fleischhacker actively mentors PhD students, with numerous successful graduations spanning from 2010 to 2024. His former PhD students include Önder Askin (2024), Floyd Zweydinger (2023), and Lars Schlieper (2022), among others. His research is supported through various academic channels and collaborations. He is affiliated with several prominent research organizations including the Horst Görtz Institute (HGI) for Information Security, the DFG Excellence Cluster CASA, the EU Marie Curie Network QSI, and the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR). These affiliations provide a strong institutional framework for his theoretical cryptography research.
Giovanni De Micheli is a Full Professor at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), holding appointments in both the School of Computer and Communication Sciences (IC) and the School of Engineering (STI). He is affiliated with the Integrated Systems Laboratory (LSI) and serves as Scientific Director of EcoCloud. His primary office is located in INF 341 building at EPFL's Lausanne campus where he conducts research and teaching activities. Professor De Micheli's research spans multiple domains in electronic design automation and integrated circuit design. His primary interests include: Integrated Circuit Design and Hardware Synthesis Logic Optimization and Boolean Methods Nanoelectronics and 2D Electronics Quantum Computing and Emerging Technologies Low-Power Electronics and Energy-Efficient Systems Electronic Design Automation for Novel Computing Paradigms His recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on advancing logic synthesis techniques for both conventional and emerging technologies. Professor De Micheli's work bridges theoretical foundations with practical applications, particularly in adapting traditional EDA methods to novel computing paradigms like quantum computing and superconducting electronics. His research group has made significant contributions to the development of efficient algorithms for circuit optimization across multiple technology domains, with particular emphasis on area, power, and delay optimization while maintaining functional correctness. Professor De Micheli has supervised numerous doctoral students throughout his career at EPFL, mentoring over 40 PhD candidates whose research spans various aspects of electronic design automation, circuit design, and emerging technologies. His students have gone on to make significant contributions in both academia and industry. As Scientific Director of EcoCloud, Professor De Micheli leads research initiatives focused on energy-efficient computing systems and sustainable cloud infrastructure. His laboratory, the Integrated Systems Laboratory, serves as a hub for interdisciplinary research connecting computer science, electrical engineering, and materials science, with particular focus on next-generation computing technologies.
Ashley Montanaro is Professor of Quantum Computation in the School of Mathematics at the University of Bristol, and co-founder of the quantum software startup Phasecraft. He is a member of the Quantum Information Theory research group at Bristol. His research focuses on the theory of quantum computing, with particular interest in quantum algorithms, computational complexity, quantum query and communication complexity, and classical algorithms. His work spans both theoretical foundations and practical applications of quantum computing. Montanaro's research output shows significant trends toward quantum algorithms for optimization problems, quantum computational supremacy, and bridging theoretical advances with practical implementation challenges. His publications span foundational quantum information theory to applied quantum algorithms, demonstrating a versatile research program that connects computer science with quantum physics. Among his professional activities, Montanaro served on the QIP steering committee (2016-2018) and was an editor for the Quantum journal until 2019. He has been active in conference organization, serving on program committees for ITCS 2018, AQIS 2017 and 2015, QIP 2015, and TQC 2014 and 2013, reflecting his standing in the quantum computing research community. He has supervised numerous PhD students including Josh Blake, Jorja Kirk, Sheila Perez Garcia, Sami Boulebnane, Jan Lukas Bosse, Lana Mineh, Joao F. Doriguello, Chris Cade, Sam Pallister, and Stephen Piddock. His teaching includes Quantum Computation (MATHM0023) which he has taught since 2014 and Advanced Quantum Information Theory which he taught in 2015 and 2016. As co-founder of Phasecraft, Montanaro is actively translating theoretical quantum computing advances into practical software solutions, positioning him at the intersection of academic research and quantum technology commercialization.
Seth Lloyd is a Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he directs the Center for Extreme Quantum Information Theory (xQIT). His work bridges theoretical physics, quantum information science, and complex systems theory. He has made significant contributions to the foundations of quantum computing and quantum information processing. Lloyd received his education from prestigious institutions: B.A. from Harvard College (1982) M.Phil from Cambridge University (1984) as a Marshall Scholar Ph.D. in Physics from Rockefeller University (1988) Lloyd's research focuses on quantum information science, particularly quantum computation and quantum communications. He has pioneered work in quantum analog computation, quantum error correction, and quantum metrology. His research explores how quantum mechanics can be harnessed for information processing tasks, with applications ranging from quantum computing to understanding biological processes like photosynthesis. Lloyd is also known for his work on complex systems and the relationship between information and physical systems, arguing that the universe itself can be viewed as a quantum computer. His publication record shows a clear progression from foundational quantum computing work to applications in quantum machine learning and quantum biology. The most recent articles reveal a strong focus on quantum algorithms for machine learning, quantum metrology, and the intersection of quantum mechanics with biological systems. His work on the HHL algorithm for solving linear systems has been particularly influential in quantum machine learning, though its practical advantages have been debated following Ewin Tang's classical algorithms. Lloyd has received numerous scientific honors: Lindbergh Fellow (1994) Finmeccanica Professorship (1996) Edgerton Prize (2001) Fellow of the American Physical Society (2007) Quantum Communication Award (2012) International Quantum Communication Award (2012) Throughout his career, Lloyd has mentored numerous students and researchers in quantum information science. He has secured significant research funding for his work in quantum computing and complex systems. His research has been supported by various foundations and government agencies interested in advancing quantum technologies. Lloyd has also been involved in interdisciplinary collaborations, particularly with biologists studying quantum effects in photosynthesis. Lloyd directs the Center for Extreme Quantum Information Theory (xQIT) at MIT, which brings together researchers from physics, computer science, and engineering to tackle fundamental challenges in quantum information processing. His lab has been at the forefront of developing theoretical frameworks for quantum computing and exploring practical implementations of quantum information protocols.
Andrew Childs is a Professor at the University of Maryland, affiliated with the Department of Computer Science and the Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS). He serves as Director of the NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation (RQS) and is a Fellow at the Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS). His research focuses on quantum algorithms for simulating physical systems, algebraic problems, and quantum walk protocols, with applications in quantum computing and computational complexity. University of Maryland Institute for Advanced Computer Studies (UMIACS) Joint Center for Quantum Information and Computer Science (QuICS) NSF Quantum Leap Challenge Institute for Robust Quantum Simulation Childs' research spans quantum simulation, quantum Fourier transform, phase estimation, and Hamiltonian dynamics. He has developed techniques to reduce quantum computational resources for simulating quantum systems and explored limitations of quantum computers through hidden subgroup problems and non-unitary dynamics. His publications cover diverse areas including quantum walk optimization, Hamiltonian simulation methods, and applications to cryptography and condensed matter physics. Recent works address spatial search algorithms, product formulas for commutators, and quantum routing protocols. As an educator, Childs has taught courses on quantum algorithms and information processing at both the University of Maryland and University of Waterloo, with lecture notes and materials spanning multiple years. Contact: amchilds@umd.edu | Office: ATL 3359 | Affiliated with University of Maryland's quantum research institutes.
Ron Steinfeld is an Associate Professor in the Department of Software Systems & Cybersecurity at Monash University, Australia. He holds editorial roles in Designs Codes and Cryptography (since 2017) and has served on technical committees for top-tier conferences like ASIACRYPT, CRYPTO, and EUROCRYPT. His research focuses on quantum-safe cryptography, lattice-based cryptography, and blockchain security, with over 80 refereed publications and AUD$4M+ in research funding. Education: BSc Mathematics and Physics (Monash University, 1998) BE (Hons., First Class) Electrical and Computer Systems (Monash University, 2000) PhD Computer Science (Monash University, 2003) Research Interests: Design and analysis of cryptographic algorithms, quantum-safe protocols, lattice-based security foundations, and blockchain applications. His work underpins NIST standard algorithms like Kyber and Dilithium through structured lattice problem research. Recent Articles Trends: Focus on privacy-preserving blockchain protocols, post-quantum signature schemes, encrypted data search, and cryptographic applications in adversarial AI. Recent work includes fair Bitcoin watchtower schemes and genomic database privacy solutions. Awards: ASIACRYPT 2015 Best Paper Award Advising & Grants: Supervises PhD projects on quantum-safe cryptography and blockchain security. Leads initiatives like the AUD$4M ARC-funded Quantum Information Technology project. Collaborates with industry partners including CSIRO/Data61. Labs/Teams: Key contributor to Monash’s cybersecurity and cryptography research groups, involving interdisciplinary projects on materials discovery ( Æinstein initiative) and post-quantum blockchain security.
Mark Foster is an Associate Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Johns Hopkins University, with a primary appointment in the Whiting School of Engineering. He is also a Fellow of the Hopkins Extreme Materials Institute. His research focuses on developing ultrahigh-speed optical systems at the intersection of photonics and electronics, emphasizing photonic devices and information theory to advance imaging, sensing, and communications technologies. Applications include quantum-optical systems, ultrawide-bandwidth microwave photonics, and terahertz-rate imaging systems. Dr. Foster received his BS (2003), MS (2007), and PhD (2008) in Applied and Engineering Physics from Cornell University. Before joining Johns Hopkins in 2010, he served as a postdoctoral associate there. His work has been funded by the NSF, IARPA, DTRA, and NIH, resulting in over 200 publications and eight patents. He has held leadership roles, including chairing the IEEE Photonics Society’s Baltimore chapter (2011–2014). Research Highlights: World-leading imaging systems achieving terahertz frame rates Quantum-optical platforms and nonlinear photonic materials (e.g., NbTiOx) Secure authentication via physically unclonable functions (PUFs) Applications in fusion energy diagnostics and medical imaging His awards include the NSF CAREER Award (201?), DARPA Young Faculty Award, and ONR Young Investigator Award. Current projects explore machine learning-resistant PUFs, multi-modal imaging systems, and photonics for extreme environments.
Dr. Herb Lin is the Hank J. Holland Fellow in Cyber Policy and Security at the Hoover Institution and Senior Research Scholar for Cyber Policy and Security at the Center for International Security and Cooperation (CISAC), both at Stanford University. He also serves as Chief Scientist, Emeritus for the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board of the National Academies, where he worked from 1990 to 2014, and as Adjunct Senior Research Scholar and Senior Fellow in Cybersecurity at Columbia University's Saltzman Institute for War and Peace Studies. Dr. Lin received his doctorate in physics from MIT, providing him with a strong technical foundation that informs his policy work at the intersection of technology and national security. His academic background bridges the gap between deep technical understanding and policy application in the cybersecurity domain. Dr. Lin's research focuses on the policy dimensions of cybersecurity and cyberspace, with particular emphasis on offensive cyber operations as instruments of national policy, information warfare, and influence operations affecting national security. His work addresses critical challenges at the intersection of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and their implications for nuclear security, election integrity, and democratic processes. He has been instrumental in analyzing how cyber capabilities are transforming traditional security paradigms and how policy frameworks must adapt to these changes. His extensive publication record reveals a consistent focus on the evolving relationship between cyber capabilities and national security strategy. Lin's work demonstrates increasing attention to the implications of artificial intelligence for warfare, the vulnerabilities created by quantum computing for current cryptographic systems, and the growing threat of cyber-enabled information warfare to democratic institutions. His research trajectory shows a progression from traditional cybersecurity issues toward the broader implications of digital technologies for national and international security. Member of Science and Security Board of Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Served on President Obama's Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity (2016) Regular congressional testimony on cybersecurity matters Contributor to Stanford Emerging Technology Review As a mentor and collaborator, Dr. Lin works extensively with policymakers, military officials, and technology experts to translate complex cybersecurity concepts into actionable policy recommendations. His approach emphasizes practical solutions to emerging threats while recognizing the technical limitations and policy constraints that shape real-world security outcomes. Dr. Lin is associated with multiple research initiatives including Stanford's Center for International Security and Cooperation and the Stanford Emerging Technology Review, which aim to connect technological advances with policy considerations for national security decision-makers.
Hyunghoon Cho is an Assistant Professor at Yale School of Medicine in the Department of Biomedical Informatics & Data Science, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Computer Science. He received his PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from MIT (2019) and MS/BS in Computer Science from Stanford University (2013). His research focuses on computational challenges in biomedical data privacy, single-cell genomics, and network biology. Assistant Professor (Primary): Biomedical Informatics & Data Science Assistant Professor (Secondary): Computer Science Appointments: Yale School of Medicine | Broad Institute (Schmidt Fellow) Research Themes: Privacy-Enhancing Technologies for genomic and health data Scalable AI/ML tools for omics data analysis Structured biological modeling for system-level discovery His work includes secure GWAS, transcriptomic privacy assessment, and sfkit - a federated genomic analysis toolkit. He received the NIH Director's Early Independence Award and leads NSF-funded projects on confidential genome analytics. Awards: NIH Director's Early Independence Award Lab Members: Haris Smajlović (Postdoc), Vincent Angelo (CBB MS), Denis Loginov (Senior Software Engineer), Lucy Zheng (CBB PhD)
Stefano Tessaro is a Professor in the Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering at the University of Washington. He holds the Paul G. Allen Career Development Professorship. His research focuses on cryptography, theoretical computer science, and computer security, emphasizing practical applications of cryptographic techniques. He co-leads the cryptography group at UW with Andrea Coladangelo and Huijia Lin, and is part of the theory group. Education: PhD in Computer Science from ETH Zurich (2010) Postdoctoral researcher at MIT CSAIL (2010-2014) and UC San Diego (2014-2019) Joined UW in 2019 as faculty Research Interests: His work spans theoretical cryptography, privacy-preserving systems, cryptographic protocols, and security foundations. He explores practical applications of cryptography, including secure protocols, post-quantum cryptography, and efficient cryptographic constructions. Articles Trends: Recent publications emphasize threshold signatures, memory-tight security proofs, lattice-based cryptography, and privacy-preserving systems. Key themes include adaptive security, formal verification, and efficiency improvements in cryptographic protocols. Awards: NSF CAREER Award Sloan Research Fellowship Hellman Fellowship Research awards from Cisco, JP Morgan, and Microsoft Grants & Advising: His research has been supported by NSF grants and industry partnerships. He advises students in cryptographic theory and applications, though no specific student names are listed in the provided text. Labs & Teams: Co-leads the UW cryptography group, collaborating on projects like LERNA (secure aggregation) and Twinkle (threshold signatures). Engages with interdisciplinary teams in theoretical computer science and security.
Dmitri Strukov is a Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. His work spans material science, electrical engineering, and computer science, focusing on novel computing paradigms using emerging memory devices. Education: PhD in Electrical and Computer Engineering from SUNY Stony Brook, MS in Applied Physics and Mathematics from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology. Research Interests include neuromorphic computing , non-volatile memory applications , and mixed-signal circuits for machine learning and hardware security. His group develops memristive crossbar arrays and 3D NAND flash for energy-efficient systems. Scientific Leadership features Fellow of IEEE and Distinguished Lecturer roles. His work has been recognized with best paper awards at ASPLOS’19 and Computing Frontiers’13. Students: Mentored PhD graduates in neurocomputing, security, and memristor design including Z. Fahimi, S. Larimian, M.R. Mahmoodi, and X. Guo. Grants: Funded by AFOSR, ARO, DARPA, NSF, and industry leaders like Google and Samsung. Labs: Utilizes UCSB’s nanofabrication center and advanced tools for memristor characterization.
