Research Fellow/Research Associate in Cryptography

Job id: 090126. Salary: Grade 6: £43,205 - £50,585 or grade 7: £51,974 to £61,021 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 24 May 2024. Closing date: 07 July 2024.

Business unit: Natural, Mathematical & Engineering Sci. Department: Informatics.

Contact details:Martin Albrecht. [email protected]

Location: Strand Campus. Category: Research.

The department of Informatics is looking to appoint a post-doctoral researcher to work in the area of cryptography. 

The postdoc will work alongside Prof. Martin Albrecht and other cryptographic researchers in the department on topics in lattice-based cryptography and related fields. The post is funded by an ERC/UKRI Frontier Research grant on investigating practical advanced post-quantum cryptography from lattices. 

The applicant will work in the cryptography lab in the Cybersecurity group (CYS) in the department. The cryptography lab currently consists of Martin Albrecht, Ngoc Khanh Nguyen, Eamonn Postlethwaite and Yixin Shen. The mission of the cryptography lab is to conduct word-class research to address research and practical challenges in cryptography. 

Applicants should have already completed, or be close to completing, a PhD in a relevant discipline. Applicants should have an outstanding research track record in cryptography. Applicants should be able to demonstrate scientific creativity, research independence, and the ability to communicate their ideas effectively in written and verbal form. Appointment can be made either at Grade 6 (Research Associate) or Grade 7 (Research Fellow) based on the experience of the candidate 

Diversity is positively encouraged with a number of family-friendly policies, including the operation of a core hours policy, the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example maternity leave. The Department of Informatics is committed to ensuring an inclusive interview process and will reimburse up to £250 towards any additional care costs (for a dependent child or adult) incurred as a result of attending an interview for this position.  

For further information about the Department of Informatics at King’s, please see https://nms.kcl.ac.uk/luc.moreau/informatics/overview.pdf .  

This post will be offered on an a fixed-term contract for 2 years 

This is a full-time post

• Conducting and (co-)leading research in lattice-based cryptography in collaboration with Prof. Albrecht and the other team members;
• Authoring papers, reports and presentations;
• Attending conferences, workshops, and summer schools to disseminate the research;
• Coordinating project meetings and workshops;

The above list of responsibilities may not be exhaustive, and the post holder will be required to undertake such tasks and responsibilities as may reasonably be expected within the scope and grading of the post.

Essential criteria

1.       PhD in relevant discipline 

2.       Publication track record in top cryptographic venues 

3.       Effective communication: written and verbal 

4.       Ability to co-ordinate the work of other staff 

5.       Track record of active participation in the planning of research projects 

Desirable criteria

1.       Ability to work independently 

2.       Willingness and ability to collaborate 

3.       Creativity and originality in research