Technical workshops on topics in quantum-safe cryptography - 2016

Spring 2016: QIC 891

These short modules are designed for graduate students in Engineering, Mathematics, and Science participating in the CryptoWorks21 training program (NSERC CREATE Training Program in Building a Workforce for the Cryptographic Infrastructure of the 21st Century). These modules are also open to other students interested in quantum-safe cryptography.

For academic credit

Students taking these modules for academic course requirements must submit a short final assignment at the end of each module. Typically, assignments will be due two weeks after the end of the module.

In order to complete QIC 891 for academic credit, students must complete 3 modules and a project. You may only register in QIC 891 if you intend on completing 3 modules and associated homework and project by August 2016.

Permission numbers are required to enroll in this course. Please contact Chin Lee.

For CryptoWorks21 qualification

Students in the CryptoWorks21 training program may complete any eligible modules order to prepare for a CryptoWorks21 technical skills qualification exam on the module topic. Technical skills qualification exams will take place at the end of each module.

Students may also count these modules, including assignments and final project, towards academic credit as part of QIC 891.

Modules

  1. Post-Quantum Cryptography
    • Instructor: Fang Song
    • Lectures: 10:30-12:00 on May 10, 12, 17, 19. QNC 1201
    • Eligible for technical skill qualification
  2. Quantum Computing for Cryptography Students
    • Instructors: Michele Mosca (lectures 1-2) and Fang Song (lectures 3-4)
    • Lectures: 10:30-12:00 on May 24, 26, 31 (QNC 1501), June 2 (QNC 1501). QNC 1201 unless otherwise noted.
    • Not eligible for technical skill qualification
  3. Cryptography
    • Instructor: David Jao
    • Lectures: 10:30-12:00 on June 21, 23, 28, 30. QNC 1201.
    • Eligible for technical skill qualification
  4. Network Security
    • Instructor: Douglas Stebila
    • Lectures: 1:00-2:00 on June 27, 28, 29, 12:00-2:00 on June 30, QNC 1201
    • Eligible for technical skill qualification
  5. Implementation of Quantum Communication
    • Instructors: Thomas Jennewein (lectures 1-2) and Vadim Makarov (lectures 3-4)
    • Lectures: 1:00-2:30 on July 25, 27, August 3, 5. QNC 1201
    • Eligible for technical skill qualification

Final Project

One possibility for the final project is to prepare a course outline for a future topics course. This could be detailing one 4-lecture module, with some 5-10 page description of what you’d propose covering in each lecture and some sample assignment questions (with sketch solutions). Some rationale for why it would be interesting (so several students would want to attend). Required background knowledge. You could propose 2 or 3 modules instead, with less details. Roughly 5-10 pages is sufficient.

Alternatively, a more traditional 5-10 page report on a research paper. An executive summary of the paper that also highlights the most interesting/important ideas.

Final projects should be submitted to Michele Mosca by August 15, 2016.