Me
I am passionate about mathematics, cryptography, and the social value they generate. Several educational, scientific, and engineering roles gave and give me the opportunity to put this passion into practice.
Previously, I have been a university lecturer and (post-)doctoral researcher in the area of symmetric cryptography. Currently, I work as cryptography engineer on privacy-preserving technologies.
As proof of personhood, I hereby certify that I am a unique human being.
2025 – Today
Currently I am working with Shielded, a spin-off from Input Output, as cryptographic engineer on the implementation and performance improvement of zero-knowledge proof systems for Midnight.
2024
After my PhD graduation and subsequent work as post-doctoral cryptography researcher in the Cryptology & Privacy group at ISEC, I ventured to traverse the Andean mountains by bicycle. From Chile to Colombia.
2019 - 2023
In 2019, I started my doctoral research in the Cryptology & Privacy group at ISEC. Under the supervision of Christian Rechberger I researched symmetric cryptography, in particular, the design and analysis of arithmetization-friendly cryptographic primitives. I graduated with Highest Honors sub auspiciis praesidentis rei publicae as PhD in 2023.
As part of my doctoral research, I co-designed the following cryptographic primitives:
- Hades, the cryptographic permutation underlying the Poseidon hash function,
- the hash-function Reinforced Concrete, and
- the hash function Monolith.
For a detailed list of my peer-reviewed scientific publications, please see the Digital Bibliography and Library Project, a standard reference and tracker for publications in the field of computer science.
2017 - 2019
I graduated with Highest Honors as MSc in Mathematics from Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg in 2017. Right after, I joined the Institute for Information Security (ISEC) at Graz University of Technology where I worked on the implementation of cryptographic algorithms until 2019.
Cryptography
Cryptography addresses the digital equivalent of one of our most basic human needs: (personal) integrity and protection.
More concretely, cryptography protects the integrity and confidentiality of our digital data. This data might represent personal or confidential communication, sensitive documents, or financial assets. For this purpose, cryptography uses (the language of) mathematics. By doing so, it not only inherits the beauty of mathematics but also brings mathematics to the intersection of information security and privacy.
In its capacity as a technological safeguard, cryptography also strengthens our integrity as individuals, society, and economic community. I argue that the net benefit of (properly designed and implemented) cryptographic technology provides a substantial social and economic good.