We are looking for a PhD student Researcher to work in Quantum Cybersecurity and Communication Group at the International Centre for Theory of Quantum Technologies (ICTQT), hosted by the University of Gdansk – a pioneering and leading center of quantum information research in Poland.

The position is offered within the “Modern Device Independent Cryptography (MoDIC)” project. The project is financed by the National Science Center under the Chist-ERA Call 2022 program.

About the “Modern Device Independent Cryptography (MoDIC) “project
Quantum cryptography offers unprecedented levels of security but is susceptible to implementation level attacks, which exploit the differences between the theoretical model of the devices and their physical realization. Moreover, some hacking attacks can artificially induce such differences. This results in a situation in which the current generation of quantum technology is less trustworthy than the well-tested classical solutions. A new version of quantum cryptography – device independent can solve this problem as it is, by definition, impervious to physical flaws. Its name stems from the fact that inner workings of the hardware are not taken into account when testing security. The probability distribution of outputs being the only figure of merit.
Unfortunately, state-of-the-art device independent experiments are many orders of magnitude too slow and work at much shorter distances than required for practical purposes. The aim of the project is to improve the theoretical background that device independent quantum cryptography is based on, to such a level that it becomes feasible in real life applications. We will achieve this by investigating new nonclassicality tests which are the foundation of whole quantum cryptography, streamlining security proofs and inventing new experimental setups.

The goal of the PhD student will be designing efficient methods for numerical estimation of security parameters in device independent cryptography.

Keywords: Device independent quantum information; quantum protocols; tests of nonclassicality; quantum cryptography; randomness generation.

About the group
The broad aim of the Quantum Cybersecurity and Communication Group would be to perform research concerning quantum phenomena which could be used for quantum methods for information transfer, coding and processing, aimed towards applied physics and possible commercialization.

The goals of the group are:
- Development of self-testing protocols
- Security analysis of information processing protocols
- Research towards increasing efficiency and reliability of quantum protocols
- Studies of general rules for information processing
- Studies on quantum hacking and cryptanalysis to identify possible attacks and ways of preventing them
- Investigations of the role of information processing protocols as a tool to analyze the fundamental laws of Nature
- Finding experimental, applied physics, and industrial partners and collaborating with them towards building commercial quantum devices, prototypes, or obtaining patents.

About ICTQT

The International Centre for Theory of Quantum Technologies (ICTQT) is a joint research unit of the University of Gdańsk (UG) and the Institute of Quantum Optics and Quantum Information of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IQOQI-Vienna) subordinated to the UG Rector. ICTQT was established in 2018 as a part of the International Research Agendas program co-financed by the Foundation for Polish Science. The founders of ICTQT are Marek Zukowski and Pawel Horodecki. ICTQT is a pioneering and leading quantum information research center in Poland, focused on quantum communication and new computing techniques. The purpose of the ICTQT is to conduct scientific research and development works under the adopted ICTQT Research Agenda, in an international academic environment and at the highest academic level, with due regard for high ethical standards, good academic practice in particular, and to disseminate knowledge.
The Centre consists of 6 groups: Multiphoton Quantum Optics for Quantum Information (leader Marek Żukowski); New Quantum Resources (leader Paweł Horodecki); Foundational Underpinnings of Quantum Technologies (leader Ana Belen Sainz); New Quantum Resources and Thermodynamics (leader Michał Horodecki); Quantum Cybersecurity and Communication (leader Marcin Pawłowski); Quantum Open Systems in Relation to Quantum Optics (leader Łukasz Rudnicki).

More information at: https://ictqt.ug.edu.pl.