*All data correct as of mid-January 2024
Yes, it’s that time of the week again, with another piece on specialists in the quantum computing industry. Today, we focus on quantum cryptographers.
Usually, the demands of this job mean you will have to have combined expertise in fields such as quantum information, cryptography, mathematics and experimental physics. This is to ensure you are able to build out quantum-based solutions to problems in cryptography.
Again, when it comes to qualifications, a Ph.D. in a STEM subject is always desired, but — for the right candidate with the right motivation and intelligence — a Master’s will suffice as they move forward.
1. Rafael del Pino: Cryptography Researcher, PQ Shield
Rafael del Pino is a Cryptography Researcher at PQ Shield, a UK quantum startup formed as a spinout of the University of Oxford by cryptography researchers and specialists. Del Pino holds a Ph.D. in Lattice-based Cryptography from ENS Paris/IBM Zurich.
His interests include Zero-Knowledge proofs, End-to-end Encryption, FHE, and advanced cryptographic protocols in general.
2. Daniel Shiu: Chief Cryptographer, ARQIT
A Chief Cryptographer at ARQIT, a London-based startup focused on cybersecurity, space, telecoms, encryption, quantum, and QKD, Daniel Shui worked for GCHQ, the UK’s intelligence, cyber and security agency for 20 years. He was the UK’s Head of Cryptographic Design and Quantum Information Processing, part of the initial National Technical Authority function assumed by the new National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). In this role, he was responsible for briefing the Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser in cryptomathematical matters. Shui also served as Head of the Heilbronn Institute for Mathematical Research (HIMR), which is a linchpin of the government’s “Advanced Mathematics” strategy.
Shui represented GCHQ in helping to found and direct the National Quantum Technologies Programme. During his career, Shui’s results and expertise have earned him multiple prizes, including an international award for best crypto-mathematician, and on three separate occasions an international award for the year’s best cryptanalytic achievement.
Shui obtained a DPhil in Mathematics from the University of Oxford.
3. Jon Geater: Advisor, Crypto Quantique
An expert in cryptography, cybersecurity and blockchains, Jon Geater is an Advisor for Crypto Quantique. Geater has held senior technical roles at Thales e-Security, Trustonic, ARM and nCipher driving chip-to-cloud solutions.
4. Axel Foery: Executive VP Quantum-Safe Security, ID Quantique
Axel Foery is Executive VP for Quantum-Safe Security at ID Quantique, a Swiss startup and global leader in Quantum-Safe Security and Quantum Sensing. Foery joined ID Quantique in February 2020 bringing deep experience in the IT, telecommunications and security fields. He started his career in the telecommunications market working for Deutsche Telekom, Nokia and later Cisco where he built the IP Infrastructure we everyday use. During 16 years at Cisco, he successfully held leadership roles throughout Europe and was responsible for the launch of new technologies and go-to-market approaches for major global markets and verticals.
After working at Cisco, Foery became the CEO of Keymile, a Swiss and German network infrastructure vendor, serving the energy, railway, authority and carrier markets. There, he implemented a new company strategy focusing on the mission-critical market. To cover the strong security needs of this market, he drove the joint development of a new product with IDQ and Keymile/ABB in 2016.
Later, he moved into the Utility market to build the Global B2B Solution Business GTM for E.ON, a major European Utility company. Before joining ID Quantique, Foery was a strategic technology advisor in different Private Equity investments.
Foery obtained a Dipl.Ing (FH) in Electronics from the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences.
5. Thomas Prest: Senior Cryptography Researcher, PQ Shield
Thomas Prest is a Senior Cryptography Researcher at PQ Shield. Prest is a Co-submitter of FALCON, a NIST PQC finalist. He leads the Advanced Cryptography Protocols team at PQShield.
He holds a Ph.D. degree from ENS Paris.
6. Cai Jiren: Chief Scientist, Qasky
Cai Jiren is Chief Scientist at Chinese quantum company, Qasky. A well-known cryptographer in China, responsible for promoting the integration and application of quantum cryptography and conventional cryptography technology, Jiren is the main academic leader in the field of computer information security in the country, and the chief scientist of the “information and network security” project of the national key basic research development plan.
7. Yevgeniy Dodis: Chief Cryptographer, Qrypt
Yevgeniy Dodis is the Chief Cryptographer at Qrypt, an NYC-based startup protecting data from the threat of quantum computers and those machines and mathematics yet to be invented.
Dodis is a Fellow of the IACR (International Association for Cryptologic Research), and a Professor of Computer Science at New York University. Dodis received his Ph.D. degree in Computer Science from MIT. Dodis was a post-doc at IBM T.J.Watson Research center in 2000 and joined New York University as an Assistant Professor in 2001. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2007 and Full Professor in 2012.
Dodis’ research is primarily in cryptography and network security. He worked in a variety of areas, including random number generation, secure messaging, leakage-resilient cryptography, cryptography under weak randomness, cryptography with biometrics and other noisy data, hash function and block cipher design, protocol composition and information-theoretic cryptography.
In addition to being an IACR Fellow, Dodis is the recipient of 2021 and 2019 IACR Test-of-Time Awards for his work on Fuzzy Extractors and Verifiable Random Functions, National Science Foundation CAREER Award, Faculty Awards from Facebook, Google, IBM and VMware, and Best Paper Award at 2005 Public Key Cryptography Conference. As an undergraduate student, he was also a winner of the US-Canada Putnam Mathematical Competition in 1995.
8. Kosta Vilk: Security, Quantum Thought
A Specialist on Security at Quantum Thought, a Menlo Park, California-based startup focused on quantum application development including AI, logistics and post-quantum security, Kosta Vilk is also the CTO and Founder of QuSecure. With more than twenty years in cyber security, infosec, communications, AI, quantum computing, and post-quantum cryptography, Vilk is a Forbes Contributor and Member of the Forbes Technology Council.
Vilk obtained a BS in Business Management from Monash University.
9. Sarah McCarthy: Cryptography, QuSecure
Sarah McCarthy works as a Cryptographer at QuSecure and a researcher of post-quantum cryptography. Mentioned already once before in TQI in 52 Wonder Women Working In Industry As Quantum Scientists & Engineers, McCarthy received her Ph.D. in lattice-based crypto at the Centre of Secure Information Technologies, Queen’s University Belfast and continued her postdoctoral research at the University of Waterloo, Ontario.
10. Florian John Curchod: Head of Quantum Cryptography Research, Cambridge Quantum Computing (now Quantinuum)
Florian John Curchod is Head of Quantum Cryptography Research at Cambridge Quantum Computing, now after the merger with Honeywell Quantum Solutions known as Quantinuum.
Curchod received a Ph.D. in Quantum Information Theory from ESEIAAT-UPC, Barcelona.
11. Amit Deo: Senior Cryptography Researcher, Crypto Quantique
A Senior Cryptography Researcher, Crypto Quantique, Amit Deo completed a Ph.D. as part of the CDT in cyber security at Royal Holloway, University of London.
Deo has co-authored a paper in malware classification using ML methods, but his main area of research is in cryptography. In particular, he has co-authored papers in the area of post-quantum cryptography i.e. cryptography that is believed to remain secure in the age of quantum computing.
The Quantum Insider (TQI)
Just in case this list hasn’t satisfied your cravings for data on hardware specialists in the quantum space, you can pop on over to The Quantum Insider (TQI), TQD’s very own data platform. Here you can find deep and insightful information on all aspects of the QIS industry.
TQI is an invaluable resource for journalists, researchers, investors, companies, and government agencies looking to extend their knowledge of the growing quantum tech ecosystem!
Deep Tech Insider (DTI)
Interested in other niches of deep tech? Good, TQD team has that covered, too: Check out the Deep Tech Insider, the best place for news on all that is happening in the world of deep tech.
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