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PhD Position in Applied Cryptography and Privacy-Preserving Computation (m/w/d)

70 - 100 % (limited by 01.04.2026 until 31.03.2030)

Your tasks

The position offers the opportunity to design and analyze cryptographic protocols with provable security guarantees, focusing on efficiency and scalability in real-world deployments.
Key Responsibilities:
  • Conduct innovative research in applied cryptography and information security.
  • Contribute to the development of secure and privacy-preservingContribute to the development of secure and privacy-preserving protocols.
  • Support and assist in teaching courses on computer security and cryptography.

Your profile

  • The PhD student is expected to have a MSc degree or equivalent, and strong background in cryptography, network security and mathematics.
  • We welcome candidates with strong foundations in cryptography and an interest in provable security, MPC, and privacy-preserving computation. Prior experience in protocol design or secure computation is a plus.
  • Strong programming skills.
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English.
The research group for Cybersecurity & Applied Cryptography Research Group, https://cybersecurity.unisg.ch/, is a part of the Institute of Computer Science (ICS) at the University of St. Gallen. The group was established in autumn semester 2020 and is led by Prof. Dr. Katerina Mitrokotsa. Our research interests are centered around information security and applied cryptography, with the larger goal of safeguarding communications and providing strong privacy guarantees. We are currently active in multiple areas including the design of provably secure cryptographic protocols and cryptographic primitives that can be employed for reliable authentication, outsourcing computations in cloud-assisted settings, network security problems as well as secure and privacy-preserving machine learning. As a doctoral student you will be a part of the Doctoral School of Computer Science (DCS), https://dcs.unisg.ch.
If you are excited about building cryptographic solutions that combine rigorous security proofs with practical efficiency, we would love to hear from you. 
We are looking forward to your online-application stating the job ID
apply here
Inspirational Work Environment

Inspirational Work Environment

Executive Education

Executive Education

Network

Network

Family & Career

Family & Career

Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunities

Fit and Healthy

Fit and Healthy

Inspirational Work Environment

Inspirational Work Environment

At the HSG, as Europe's leading business university, we operate in an entrepreneurial environment where you will meet highly qualified, ambitious experts - both regionally and internationally. For example, you benefit from a modern IT infrastructure and, in our library via HSGswisscovery, from nationwide access to the wealth of scientific information available.

Executive Education

Executive Education

We support internal and external executive education opportunities. Our internal executive education programme offers you a practical, dedicated and didactically mature transfer of knowledge in the form of seminars, e-learning, coaching and collegial advice. We support task-specific external training and executive education financially as well as with regard to the time required.

Network

Network

We promote our culture of cross-functional collaboration and create space for forging valuable relationships - also with external partners. Regular exchanges and internal events help to strengthen these relationships and make them long-lasting.

Family & Career

Family & Career

We provide our employees with flexible work time models with a variable number of hours per week. As a family-friendly employer, we offer part-time positions, 16 weeks of maternity leave and a subsidised crèche, as well as support with childcare during the vacations.

Equal Opportunities

Equal Opportunities

The University enables equal opportunities for all employees and students. This applies to degree courses and work, as well as academic careers, university management positions and the reconciliation of studies, work and private commitments. We are committed to this with various measures in the areas of teaching, research, administration and the Presidency.

Fit and Healthy

Fit and Healthy

We help you stay fit and healthy. In addition to our diverse range of sports activities at the university, most of which are free of charge, and campaign weeks for corporate health management, we also offer you fruit in the workplace. In our canteen you will find a wide selection of freshly prepared meals - from vegetarian to fish dishes - at discounted prices.

Further information on working at the HSG can be found here.

For job-related questions

Prof. Dr. Katerina Mitrokotsa

I look forward to welcoming you to our Cybersecurity group and introducing you to our research at the University of St. Gallen, located in a historic city in eastern Switzerland.


Angelina Makri

If you are passionate about information security and cryptography, we would be delighted to receive your application.
 

Your place of work

University of St.Gallen

«A place where knowledge is created» - As one of Europe's leading universities of economics and business administration, the University of St.Gallen (HSG), Switzerland, is committed to the education of over 10'000 students. The HSG is one of the largest employers in the region and provides an attractive and innovative environment for more than 3'500 researchers, educators and professional staff.