PhD-Cryptographic primitives for symmetric cryptography
PhD @Loughborough University posted 21 hours agoJob Description
Project details
Encrypting data is essential for ensuring the security of our electronic communications. The ciphers in current use are built from smaller components, one of them being a cryptographic Boolean function. Such functions must satisfy several properties in order to withstand cryptographic attacks: high non-linearity, high algebraic degree, low differential uniformity etc. This project will look mostly at differential uniformity as well as generalisations of this parameter. It aims to answer questions like: What are the optimal values that can be achieved for these parameters? How many optimal functions are there? How to construct such functions? How to test if proposed or existing functions (from currently existing ciphers) are optimal or close to optimal from this point is view? These results will feed into the design and analysis of future ciphers.
Your main supervisor will be Dr Ana Salagean, who has a long track record of research in the area of mathematical aspects of cryptography. The work will involve weekly meetings and opportunities to present the work in the Department and at international conferences and workshops. The PhD student will be free to develop their research in new directions, according to their own interests, as the work progresses. While the total working hours are expected to be similar to a full-time job, there is flexibility on when and where the work is done.
94% of Loughborough’s research impact is rated world-leading or internationally excellent. REF 2021
Supervisors
Primary supervisor:Â Ana Salagean
Entry requirements
Our entry requirements are listed using standard UK undergraduate degree classifications i.e. first-class honours, upper second-class honours and lower second-class honours.
Entry requirements for United Kingdom
Students are expected to have obtained, or about to graduate with at least a BSc 2:1 (or international equivalent) in Computer Science or Mathematics.
English language requirements
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.
Applicants must meet the minimum English language requirements. Further details are available on the International website.
Fees and funding
Tuition fees for 2024-25 entry
UK fee
£4,786 Full-time degree per annum
International fee
£27,500 Full-time degree per annum
Tuition fees for 2025-26 entry
UK fee
£5,006 Full-time degree per annum
International fee
£28,600 Full-time degree per annum
Fees for the 2024-25 academic year apply to projects starting in October 2024, January 2025, April 2025 and July 2025.Fees for the 2025-26 academic year apply to projects starting in October 2025, January 2026, April 2026 and July 2026.
Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, IT equipment and other support services. University fees and charges can be paid in advance and there are several methods of payment, including online payments and payment by instalment. Fees are reviewed annually and are likely to increase to take into account inflationary pressures.
How to apply
All applications should be made online. Under programme name, select School of Science/Department of Computer Science. Please quote the advertised reference number: CO/AS-SF1/2025 in your application.
To avoid delays in processing your application, please ensure that you submit the minimum supporting documents.
The following selection criteria will be used by academic schools to help them make a decision on your application.
