Research Fellow/Research Associate in Cryptography

Job id: 076525. Salary: The salary will be paid at Grade 6, £42,405 - £49,785 per annum or at Grade 7, £51,174 - £60,221 per annum, including London Weighting Allowance.

Posted: 11 October 2023. Closing date: 31 January 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 Research Associate or Research Fellow to work in the area of cryptography. 

The candidate 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 who have not yet completed a PhD will be appointed at the top of grade 5 as per King’s HR regulations). 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. 

To be considered for Grade 7 (Research Fellow) the candidate should additionally have a track record of setting their own research goals, planning their research, coordinating the works of others. 

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, not exceeding 31st December 2028. 

This is a full-time post

• Conducting 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;
• In addition, at grade 7 - Devising and coordinating research projects

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 – Research Associate(Grade 6)

1.       PhD in relevant discipline

2.       Publication track record in top cryptographic venues

3.       Effective communication: written and verbal

Essential criteria – Research Fellow  (Grade 7)

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 -  Both levels

1.       Ability to work independently

2.       Willingness and ability to collaborate

3.       Creativity and originality in research

* Please note that this is a PhD level role but candidates who have submitted their thesis and are awaiting award of their PhDs will be considered. In these circumstances the appointment will be made at Grade 5, spine point 30 with the title of Research Assistant. Upon confirmation of the award of the PhD, the job title will become Research Associate and the salary will increase to Grade 6.