PhD project in Enhancing Arithmetic Efficiency in Lattice-Based Post-Quantum Cryptography Hardware Accelerators

Computer arithmetic involves representing numbers and executing arithmetic operations on them. It has driven innovations across various domains, from machine learning to security applications. Application-specific computer arithmetic is increasingly being developed to meet the demands of modern applications such as post-quantum cryptography (PQC). PQC has been developed to protect the integrity and confidentiality of information communications against quantum attacks. However, PQC operates slowly on software and requires specially tailored hardware accelerators. Effective implementation of PQC computational components, such as the number theoretic transform (NTT), residue number systems (RNS), and polynomial arithmetic, is crucial for efficient hardware accelerators. Thus, making full use of Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) accelerators requires the redesign of their complex computational arithmetic structures to enable efficient use with real-time performance.

The aim of this project is to enable high arithmetic efficiency in Lattice-Based Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC) by developing new implementations that address the overheads of conventional PQC hardware accelerators. This project will extract and profile the inefficient arithmetic structures used in implementing PQC and redesign them with compact number representations. This enables high utilization of accelerator datapaths without losing precision. Throughout this project, a variety of techniques, including approximate computing and customized residue number systems, will be utilized to achieve high-performance and practical hardware implementations of PQC.

This work is best suited for someone who is familiar with general concepts of cryptography, computer arithmetic (floating-point number formats, add, multiply, …) and hardware description languages (Verilog, VHDL).

Funding Information

To be eligible for consideration for a Home DfE or EPSRC Studentship (covering tuition fees and maintenance stipend of approx. £19,237 per annum), a candidate must satisfy all the eligibility criteria based on nationality, residency and academic qualifications.

To be classed as a Home student, candidates must meet the following criteria and the associated residency requirements:

• Be a UK National,
or • Have settled status,
or • Have pre-settled status,
or • Have indefinite leave to remain or enter the UK.

Candidates from ROI may also qualify for Home student funding.

Previous PhD study MAY make you ineligible to be considered for funding.

Please note that other terms and conditions also apply.

Please note that any available PhD studentships will be allocated on a competitive basis across a number of projects currently being advertised by the School.

A small number of international awards will be available for allocation across the School. An international award is not guaranteed to be available for this project, and competition across the School for these awards will be highly competitive.

Academic Requirements:

The minimum academic requirement for admission is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI Higher Education provider in a relevant discipline, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University.

Entrance requirements

Graduate
The minimum academic requirement for admission to a research degree programme is normally an Upper Second Class Honours degree from a UK or ROI HE provider, or an equivalent qualification acceptable to the University. Further information can be obtained by contacting the School.

International Students

For information on international qualification equivalents, please check the specific information for your country.

English Language Requirements

Evidence of an IELTS* score of 6.0, with not less than 5.5 in any component or equivalent qualification acceptable to the University is required (*taken within the last 2 years).

International students wishing to apply to Queen’s University Belfast (and for whom English is not their first language), must be able to demonstrate their proficiency in English in order to benefit fully from their course of study or research. Non-EEA nationals must also satisfy UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) immigration requirements for English language for visa purposes.

For more information on English Language requirements for EEA and non-EEA nationals see: www.qub.ac.uk/EnglishLanguageReqs.