Damien Stehlé is a Professor at the École Normale Supérieure de Lyon (ENS Lyon), affiliated with the Laboratoire LIP (CNRS, ENSL, INRIA, UCBL, U. Lyon) and a member of the AriC team. He is also a member of the Institut Universitaire de France. His research focuses on cryptography, computational number theory, and computer algebra, particularly lattice-based cryptography and its applications in post-quantum security. He has held editorial roles at the Journal of Cryptology and Designs, Codes and Cryptography, and served on committees for major conferences like ASIACRYPT and CRYPTO. His work has led to advancements in lattice reduction algorithms, cryptographic protocols (e.g., signatures, encryption schemes), and security proofs in the quantum random oracle model. Stehlé has supervised numerous PhD students, including Alice Pellet-Mary and Miruna Rosca, and has contributed to open-source lattice reduction software like fplll. His awards include Best Paper Awards at ASIACRYPT 2021 and 2015. He teaches advanced courses on post-quantum cryptography and cryptanalysis at the Master’s level.
Lin Zhong is the Joseph C. Tsai Professor of Computer Science at Yale University, leading the Efficient Computing Lab. He holds a Ph.D. from Princeton University and M.S./B.S. degrees from Tsinghua University. Previously, he served at Rice University from 2005 to 2019. His research focuses on optimizing computing efficiency, quantum error correction, operating systems, and mobile systems. Education: Ph.D., Princeton University M.S., Tsinghua University B.S., Tsinghua University Research Interests: His work spans quantum computing (e.g., decoding algorithms for surface codes), operating systems (safety, correctness, and lightweight kernels), and mobile/networking systems (massive MIMO, energy-efficient designs). Recent trends include integrating large language models (LLMs) into robotics and securing cloud-based AI workflows. Awards: NSF CAREER Award ACM SIGMOBILE RockStar (2014) and Test of Time (2022) Fellowships from IEEE and ACM Best Paper Awards at ACM MobileHCI, IEEE PerCom, ACM MobiSys, and more Lab & Teams: His Efficient Computing Lab explores systems for quantum error correction (e.g., FPGA-based decoders), secure embedded systems, and LLM-driven robotics. Projects include TimelyLLM (real-time LLM serving) and Blindfold (confidential memory management).
Assoc Prof Wu Hongjun is an Associate Professor at the Division of Mathematical Sciences, School of Physical & Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University (NTU). His research focuses on cryptography and information security, with notable contributions to lightweight authenticated encryption algorithms like TinyJAMBU and ACORN, as well as cryptanalysis of stream ciphers (e.g., ZUC, HC-128) and hash functions (e.g., JH, SHA-3 candidates). His academic career includes over 15 years of contributions to cryptographic standards, IoT security frameworks, and secure cloud data management. Key areas of expertise encompass symmetric-key cryptography, algorithm design for resource-constrained devices, and vulnerability analysis of cryptographic primitives. Prof Wu has authored influential papers on authenticated encryption modes (AEGIS, MORUS), lightweight cipher optimizations (ACORN), and cryptanalysis techniques applied to Feistel networks and stream ciphers. His work bridges theoretical cryptography with practical implementations across telecommunications, IoT, and cloud computing domains.
Dimitris Mitropoulos is an Assistant Professor at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA) in the Department of Business Administration, where he teaches courses on Distributed Ledger Technologies, Data Security and Privacy, Algorithms and Business Analytics, and Introduction to Programming. He also serves as Head of the Reliability Engineering Directorate at the National Infrastructures for Research and Technology (GRNET), Greece's national research and education network organization. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Researcher in the Computer Science Department at Columbia University. Dr. Mitropoulos received his Ph.D. degree in Secure Software Development Technologies from the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) in 2014. His doctoral research was supported by the Heracleitus II Scholarship, co-financed by the European Union and Greek national funds. He is a member of prestigious professional organizations including ACM, IEEE, and USENIX. Dr. Mitropoulos conducts pioneering research at the intersection of software engineering and cybersecurity, with particular expertise in secure software development, vulnerability analysis, and blockchain security. His work spans multiple dimensions of software security including code injection attacks, infrastructure as code security, smart contract analysis, and dependency management in software ecosystems. His research methodology combines static and dynamic analysis techniques with empirical studies of real-world software systems, particularly focusing on Java, Python, and Solidity ecosystems. His recent work has made significant contributions to understanding security vulnerabilities in modern software development practices and infrastructure management. Dr. Mitropoulos has received numerous prestigious awards for his research contributions, including the Research Excellence Award from NKUA (2025), Distinguished Paper and Artifact Awards at PLDI '22, Best Data Showcase Award at MSR 2018, and multiple postdoctoral research funding scholarships. His work on "Finding typing compiler bugs" was recognized with both Distinguished Paper and Artifact Awards at PLDI '22, highlighting the significance and reproducibility of his research. He has also received recognition for his service to the academic community, including a Certificate of Appreciation from ESEC/FSE '21 for his contributions to conference organization. Dr. Mitropoulos has been actively involved in securing research funding and leading significant research projects. He currently serves as Principal Investigator for the SecOPERA project (2023-Today), funded by the European Commission under Horizon Europe. Previously, he contributed to several major EU and US-funded projects including eSSIF-Lab (2019-2022), FASTEN (2019-2022), PRIViLEDGE (2018-2021), CERTCOOP (2017-2020), PANORAMIX (2016-2019), and TREDISEC (2016-2018). His research has been supported by diverse funding sources including the European Commission's Horizon 2020 program, the National Science Foundation, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Dr. Mitropoulos plays an active role in the international research community through various leadership positions. He serves on program committees for top-tier conferences including OOPSLA (2026), ICSE (2026), ESEC/FSE (2025), and ISSTA (2025). He has previously served as Workshop Co-Chair for ISSTA 2025 and Student Volunteer Chair for ESEC/FSE 2021. His contributions to mentoring the next generation of researchers include serving as a mentor for the ICSE Student Mentoring Workshop (2022) and supervising Google Summer of Code projects (2017).
Paul Grubbs is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at the University of Michigan. His research focuses on applied cryptography, security, and systems, particularly at the intersection of cryptographic protocols and real-world deployments. Education: PhD in Computer Science (Cornell University), BS in Mathematics and Computer Science (Indiana University) His work explores vulnerabilities in cryptographic systems, the design of secure key-value stores, and the societal implications of information security. Recent publications highlight advancements in zero-knowledge proofs, post-quantum cryptography, and encrypted database analysis. Key trends in his publications include: 1) Zero-Knowledge Proofs and Post-Quantum Security; 2) Privacy in Encrypted Systems; 3) Cryptographic Protocol Vulnerabilities; 4) Interdisciplinary approaches at the intersection of technology and societal impact. Scientific awards: IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy 2023 Distinguished Paper Award USENIX Security 2020 Distinguished Paper Award Cornell Computer Science Dissertation Award Students include current advisees like Jiwon Kim, Anna Pui Yung Woo, and Chad Sharp (co-advised with Chris Peikert), plus former students Yang Du (MSc 2024), Quang Dao (MMath 2022), and Pengxiang Wang (BSE 2023). Grants include DARPA SIEVE (2021), Meta Privacy-Enhancing Technologies (2022), and NSF CAREER (2023). He has served on program committees for CRYPTO, IEEE S&P, and other leading conferences.
Dr. Ava Hedayatipour is an Assistant Professor of Electrical Engineering at California State University at Long Beach (CSULB), where she joined in Fall 2020. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2020), and degrees from Iran University of Science and Technology (B.S., 2012) and Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University (M.S., 2015). Her research focuses on analog/mixed-signal circuit design, bio-implantable devices, low-power systems, and hardware security. Notable contributions include a first-of-its-kind integrated secure multimodal sensor and a flexible paper electrode for remote electrochemical experiments. Education: Ph.D., Electrical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, 2020 M.S., Electrical Engineering, Shahid Rajaee Teacher Training University, Iran, 2015 B.S., Electrical Engineering, Iran University of Science and Technology, 2012 Research Interests: Analog and mixed-signal circuit design Biomedical devices and lab-on-chip applications Low-power, low-noise microelectronics Hardware security for IoT and biomedical sensors Flexible electrodes for wearable systems Awards: University of Tennessee Fellowship Award (2019) Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award (2018) BEST PAPER AWARD at IEEE DCAS 2025 2nd Place Winner at IEEE BIOCAS 2023 Innovation Challenge Advising & Grants: Lead CSULB LEAP program project on medical imaging braces Funded NSF project on chaotic analog security (2018–present) Collaborated with industry partners like Applied Medical and Synaptics Labs & Teams: Next Generation Wearable Lab at CSULB Focus on sensor design, hardware security, and biomedical applications
Vipul Goyal is an Associate Professor at the Computer Science Department of Carnegie Mellon University and a Senior Scientist at NTT Research in California. He is on leave from CMU since joining NTT Research in June 2020 after a 7-year tenure at Microsoft Research. His research focuses on Cryptography , Quantum Cryptography , Security & Privacy , and Theoretical Computer Science , supported by grants from NSF, DARPA, Department of Energy NETL, JP Morgan, Cisco, PNC, Ripple, and CyLab initiatives.
Shahid Raza is a Professor of Cybersecurity at the University of Glasgow's School of Computing Science. He previously led the RISE Cybersecurity Unit in Sweden, establishing it as a leading research group. His expertise spans IoT Security, PKI, AI-driven cybersecurity solutions, and hardware/data security. Raza holds a PhD and Docentship from Uppsala University, alongside a Bachelor's with a Gold Medal for academic excellence. Education: B.Sc. (Computer Science, 3.99/4.0 CGPA, Gold Medal), Licentiate, PhD, and Docentship in Cybersecurity from Sweden. He leads EU-funded projects like H2020 CONCORDIA and Horizon Europe CUSTODES, coordinating initiatives such as the Cyber Node and Cyber Range. Active in cybersecurity policy, he serves on the EU SCCG, ECSO, and EARTO Security & Defence Research working groups. Research Interests Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) for IoT AIAgent-Driven Cybersecurity Solutions IoT Certification Standards Hardware Security for Low-Power Devices Grants & Projects Coordinator: Horizon Europe CUSTODES Technical Leader: H2020 Arcadian-IoT Founder: RISE Cyber Range (Sweden's largest cybersecurity test facility) Awards & Memberships IEEE Senior Member Gold Medal for Academic Excellence (Bachelor's)
Rajeev Balasubramonian is a Professor and Associate Director at the School of Computing, University of Utah. He specializes in computer architecture, with a focus on memory systems, emerging technologies, and energy-efficient computing. His research addresses challenges in DRAM/NVM architectures, security, and acceleration for big data and machine learning workloads. Education: PhD in Computer Science (University of Rochester, 2003), M.S. (University of Rochester, 2000), B.Tech in Computer Science (IIT Bombay, 1998). Research Interests: Memory reliability, near-data processing, cache hierarchies, transactional memory, and hardware-software co-design for emerging technologies. He has led projects on crossbar accelerators, secure memory systems, and resistive memory architectures. Recent Trends in Publications: Focus on encrypted inference (Hyena), data prefetching (PATHFINDER), and neuromorphic computing (SpinalFlow). His work bridges hardware and software, emphasizing practical acceleration and security solutions. Awards: IEEE Fellow (2021), Google Faculty Awards (2019/2020), Intel Research Award (2017), and multiple best paper awards (ISCA, ISPASS, PACT). Grants & Students: Over $4M in NSF/industry funding. Advised 15+ PhD students (e.g., Ali Shafiee, Karl Taht) and currently mentors researchers in resistive memory and security accelerators. His lab includes teams like Utah Arch Research Group. Labs & Teams: Leads the Utah Arch Research Group , organizing workshops on near-data processing and memory systems (e.g., ISCA, HPCA).
Dr. Amir Keyvan Khandani is a Professor and Senior Ciena-NSERC Industrial Research Chair in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He holds prestigious research chairs including Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Wireless Communications and former Senior NSERC Chairs with Blackberry and Nortel. His research focuses on information theory, wireless and optical communications, and signal processing, emphasizing foundational principles and practical applications. Dr. Khandani earned his BEng and MEng from Tehran University (1985) and PhD from McGill University (1992). He joined Waterloo in 1993, supervising over 45 PhD students, 35 master’s candidates, and numerous postdoctoral researchers. His alumni work globally in academia and industry. Research interests include Network Information Theory , Media-Based Modulation , Full-Duplex Systems , and Quantum-Safe Encryption . Recent work explores secure key generation, interference management, and next-generation wireless innovations. Notable awards include NSERC/Ciena Industrial Research Chair and multiple Canada Research Chairs. His publications span foundational and applied topics in communications, with recent focus on cybersecurity and 5G/6G technologies. Dr. Khandani actively contributes to conferences, consults for industry/government, and teaches ECE 307 - Probability Theory and Statistics . His lab develops cutting-edge solutions in wireless networks, optical systems, and secure communication protocols.
Artur Konrad EKERT is a Research Professor at the National University of Singapore , a Lee Kong Chian Centennial Professor , and a Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) . His work bridges theoretical and experimental quantum physics, computer science, and information theory, with a focus on quantum cryptography and quantum computing. Education: DPhil from the University of Oxford (1991). His research explores the foundational principles of quantum information processing, emphasizing secure communication protocols and algorithmic efficiency. Key contributions include advancing entanglement-based cryptography and analyzing quantum privacy limits. His publications span quantum key distribution, relativistic quantum effects, and computational complexity, reflecting interdisciplinary collaborations. Scientific awards include: Fellow of the Royal Society (FRS) Lee Kong Chian Centennial Professorship He has mentored researchers in quantum cryptography and contributed to experimental implementations of quantum communication technologies.
Angshuman Karmakar is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, India. His research focuses primarily on Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Computation On Encrypted Data (COED), which are critical areas in modern cryptography and computer security. Dr. Karmakar received his Ph.D. from Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Belgium, where he worked under Prof. Ingrid Verbauwhede in the COSIC research group. He was awarded the prestigious Erasmus Mundus fellowship for his doctoral studies and the FWO (Fonds voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek – Vlaanderen) fellowship for his post-doctoral research at KU Leuven. His research spans theoretical development of cryptographic schemes, implementation algorithms, side-channel and fault attack analysis, and countermeasure development. Dr. Karmakar has established extensive international collaborations with researchers and engineers worldwide to address complex challenges in cryptography and security. Recent publications demonstrate a strong focus on practical post-quantum cryptographic implementations with particular attention to hardware and software efficiency, side-channel resistance, and novel attack methodologies. His work bridges theoretical cryptography with real-world implementation challenges across diverse platforms from IoT devices to high-performance computing systems. Erasmus Mundus fellowship for doctoral studies at KU Leuven FWO fellowship for post-doctoral study at KU Leuven Google India Research Award for work on practical transition to post-quantum cryptography Dr. Karmakar is actively seeking graduate students and postdoctoral researchers to collaborate on cutting-edge research in cryptography and computer security. His work has significant implications for securing future communication systems against quantum computing threats, with applications spanning blockchain technologies, IoT security, and general-purpose computing systems.
Wenfeng Zhao is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Binghamton University. He holds a PhD from the National University of Singapore (2014) and BS/MS degrees from Huazhong University of Science and Technology (2007-2009). Prior to this role, he conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Minnesota's Biomedical Engineering Department. His research focuses on neural engineering, compressed sensing, ultra-low-power VLSI systems, and in-memory computing. Key areas include hardware security, biomedical signal processing, and energy-efficient computing architectures. His work spans applications in neural interfaces, cryptographic hardware, and IoT edge devices. Recent publications highlight advancements in block-cipher-in-memory architectures, emotion recognition via EEG analysis, and energy-efficient FPGA accelerators for neural networks. His research also addresses challenges in cryogenic memory systems and MRI-compatible neural recording devices. Zhao's contributions emphasize interdisciplinary approaches at the intersection of hardware design, signal processing, and cybersecurity. His lab develops novel solutions for low-power embedded systems and trustworthy IoT infrastructure.
Aayush Jain is an Assistant Professor in the Computer Science Department at Carnegie Mellon University. Previously, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow at NTT Research and a PhD student at UCLA, advised by Professor Amit Sahai. His work bridges theoretical and applied cryptography with core computer science principles. Education PhD in Computer Science, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Postdoctoral Fellowship, NTT Research Research Focus His research explores: foundational cryptography, indistinguishability obfuscation, functional encryption, lattice-based cryptography, secure multi-party computation, and post-quantum security. Work emphasizes rigorous theoretical frameworks with practical implications. Publication Trends Recent articles (2021-2024) demonstrate consistent focus on cryptographic primitives, obfuscation techniques, and security reductions. Dominant venues include CRYPTO, EUROCRYPT, FOCS, and STOC with emerging work in machine learning interfaces. Awards Best Paper Award at STOC 2021 for foundational contributions to indistinguishability obfuscation Advising and Collaboration Current PhD advisees: Alper Cakan, Quang Dao (co-advised), Sagnik Saha, Noah Singer (co-advised). Mentored postdocs: Mitali Bafna (2022-2023) and Rex Fernando (2022-2023). Teaches graduate courses in cryptography and theoretical tools. Leadership Leads the CMU Cryptography research group; organized the CMU Cryptography Workshop. Program committee member for FOCS, TCC, ITCS, and ICALP.
Vinod Vaikuntanathan is the Ford Foundation Professor of Engineering in the MIT EECS department and a principal investigator at MIT CSAIL. He holds a BTech from IIT Madras (2003), and SM/PhD degrees from MIT (2005/2009). His research focuses on cryptography, particularly fully homomorphic encryption (FHE), lattice-based cryptography, and quantum-resistant systems. He co-founded Duality Technologies as Chief Cryptographer. **Education:** BTech in Computer Science (2003), Indian Institute of Technology Madras SM in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science (2005), MIT PhD in Computer Science (2009), MIT **Research Interests:** His work spans FHE (enabling computations on encrypted data), lattice-based cryptography (post-quantum security), and intersections with quantum computing, machine learning, and privacy. He explores applications in secure computation, algorithm design, and cryptographic protocols. **Awards:** Recipient of the Gödel Prize (2022), Simons Investigator (2023), and MacVicar Faculty Fellow (2024). His work on FHE and lattice algorithms has earned widespread acclaim in cryptography and theoretical computer science. **Teaching & Mentorship:** Advanced cryptography courses at MIT (e.g., 6.5630, 6.876J) Advised PhD students (e.g., Sergey Gorbunov, Tianren Liu) and postdocs (e.g., Nir Bitansky, Mark Zhandry) now leading positions in academia and industry **Collaborations:** Organizer of the Charles River Crypto Day and MIT Cryptography Seminar Principal investigator on grants from NSF, DARPA, and Microsoft
