Hybrid full-hardware implementation of NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography KEM and Digital Signature H/F

General information

Organisation

The French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) is a key player in research, development and innovation in four main areas :
• defence and security,
• nuclear energy (fission and fusion),
• technological research for industry,
• fundamental research in the physical sciences and life sciences.

Drawing on its widely acknowledged expertise, and thanks to its 16000 technicians, engineers, researchers and staff, the CEA actively participates in collaborative projects with a large number of academic and industrial partners.

The CEA is established in ten centers spread throughout France
  

Reference

2024-33728  

Description de l'unité

The LIST institute is part the CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) Technology Research Division. CEA-LIST brings together nearly 1,000 scientists, engineers and technicians, expert in smart digital systems. We are committed to developing high-added-value innovations that respond to the major challenges facing our economy and society. This internship will take place in the Grenoble site of the CEA-List institute, in a research team focused on integrated circuits design for a variety of applications (e.g., cybersecurity, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies).

Position description

Category

Electronics components and equipments

Contract

Internship

Job title

Hybrid full-hardware implementation of NIST Post-Quantum Cryptography KEM and Digital Signature H/F

Subject

The National Institute for Standard and Technology (NIST) has recently emitted (on August 2024) the new standards for Key Encapsulation Mechanism (KEM) and digital signature based on lattice-based cryptography (CRYSTALS-Kyber and CRYSTALS-Dilithium) and hash-based cryptography (SPHINCS+). The proposed internship will focus on the full-hardware implementation of the NIST's newly standardized post-quantum cryptographic algorithms. The primary objective is to design and optimize hybrid hardware architectures that efficiently support multiple cryptographic schemes while minimizing resource usage. By mutualizing key hardware components, such as arithmetic units and memory blocks, the project aims to achieve a flexible and scalable solution for FPGA and ASIC platforms.

Contract duration (months)

6

Job description

Internship description
The National Institute for Standard and Technology (NIST) has recently emitted (on August 2024) the new standards for Key Encapsulation Mechanism (KEM) and digital signature based on lattice-based cryptography (CRYSTALS-Kyber and CRYSTALS-Dilithium) and hash-based cryptography (SPHINCS+). The proposed internship will focus on the full-hardware implementation of the NIST's newly standardized post-quantum cryptographic algorithms. The primary objective is to design and optimize hybrid hardware architectures that efficiently support multiple cryptographic schemes while minimizing resource usage. By mutualizing key hardware components, such as arithmetic units and memory blocks, the project aims to achieve a flexible and scalable solution for FPGA and ASIC platforms.

Desired skills and experience
This offer is dedicated to master students looking for an ambitious research-oriented internship. If you are looking for an experience in ASIC design with industrial-grade tools and processes, this internship is perfect for you! It is required to have graduate-level experience in ASIC-oriented design and be familiar with arithmetic circuit microarchitectures, RTL modelling (VHDL or Verilog/SystemVerilog) and synthesis (Synopsys Design Compiler).

Conditions
This internship is intended for master (or engineering school) students in their last year. It is possible to base the master’s thesis on the subjects treated during the internship. A funded PhD position will be opened at the end of the internship. The student will have a 6-month remunerated stage contract, plus benefits for accommodation in Grenoble and public transportation.

Applicant Profile

 

 

Conformément aux engagements pris par le CEA en faveur de l’intégration de personnes en situation de handicap, cet emploi est ouvert à tous et toutes.

Position location

Site

Grenoble

Job location

France, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Isère (38)

Location

  Grenoble

Candidate criteria

PhD opportunity

Oui

Requester

Position start date

01/01/2025