We are looking for a motivated, ambitious PhD student to join the Cryptography Group in the Cybersecurity Engineering Section at DTU Compute (Copenhagen region, Denmark).
This 3-year PhD position (starting on 1 January 2026) will focus on secure Multi-Party Computation and Zero-Knowledge Proofs.
You’ll join a growing, collaborative team of cryptographers at DTU, and you’ll get the chance to connect and work with leading researchers in the Copenhagen region and abroad. As part of the project, you will also have the opportunity to spend some months under the supervision of Assistant Professor Elena Pagnin at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Chalmers University.
Responsibilities and qualifications
The focus of the PhD project is on advancing the theory and practice of secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC) and Zero-Knowledge (ZK) Proofs. You will investigate the formal design and security analysis of MPC protocols and ZK proofs, with a particular emphasis on foundational aspects. The project will also explore efficiency and post-quantum security, aiming to bridge theoretical advances with their relevance to practical applications.
You will join the growing cryptography team at DTU and have the chance to collaborate with researchers both within the Copenhagen region and across Denmark, as well as with international partners. As part of the project, you will have the opportunity to spend some months at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at Chalmers University of Technology, under the supervision of Assistant Professor Elena Pagnin, thereby benefiting from an extended international research environment.
We are looking for candidates with strong analytical skills, curiosity, and enthusiasm for cryptographic research. A solid background in theoretical computer science, mathematics, or a related field will be considered an asset. The position requires the ability to work independently as well as in collaboration with colleagues in a dynamic and international research environment.
You must have a two-year master's degree (120 ECTS points) or a similar degree with an academic level equivalent to a two-year master's degree.
Approval and Enrolment
The scholarship for the PhD degree is subject to academic approval, and the candidate will be enrolled in one of the general degree programmes at DTU. For information about our enrolment requirements and the general planning of the PhD study programme, please see DTU's rules for the PhD education
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Assessment
The assessment will be conducted through online interviews.
We offer
DTU is a leading technical university globally recognized for the excellence of its research, education, innovation and scientific advice. We offer a rewarding and challenging job in an international environment. We strive for academic excellence in an environment characterized by collegial respect and academic freedom tempered by responsibility.
Salary and appointment terms
The appointment will be based on the collective agreement with the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations. The allowance will be agreed upon with the relevant union.
The period of employment is 3 years. The latest starting date is 1 January 2026 or according to mutual agreement.
You can read more about career paths at DTU here .
You may apply prior to obtaining your master's degree but cannot begin before having received it.
Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
All interested candidates irrespective of age, gender, disability, race, religion or ethnic background are encouraged to apply. As DTU works with research in critical technology, which is subject to special rules for security and export control, open-source background checks may be conducted on qualified candidates for the position.
DTU Compute
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science – is an internationally recognised academic environment with over 400 employees and 10 research sections. We broadly cover digital technologies within mathematics, data science, computer science, and computer engineering, including artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, internet of things (IoT), chip design, cybersecurity, human-computer interaction, social networks, fairness, and data ethics. Our research is rooted in basic research and centres on mathematical models of the physical and virtual world, as a basis for the analysis, design, and implementation of complex systems. We focus on ensuring that our research results contribute to creating a better society by supporting areas such as health, green transition, energy supply, and life science. We collaborate with universities, public and private organisations, and companies in Denmark and abroad, and through DTU’s startup ecosystem, we encourage innovation and entrepreneurship. We have a strong ethical, human, and sustainable approach that ensures integrity in our work. Therefore, we strive for and take responsibility for driving the democratisation of digital technologies, so that everyone has the opportunity to actively participate in the development, and we ensure a continued open, democratic, and inclusive society for the benefit of all. At DTU Compute, we value diversity, inclusion, and a flexible work-life balance. Read more about us at
www.compute.dtu.dk
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Technology for people
DTU develops technology for people. With our international elite research and study programmes, we are helping to create a better world and to solve the global challenges formulated in the UN’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Hans Christian Ørsted founded DTU in 1829 with a clear mission to develop and create value using science and engineering to benefit society. That mission lives on today. DTU has 13,500 students and 6,000 employees. We work in an international atmosphere and have an inclusive, evolving, and informal working environment. DTU has campuses in all parts of Denmark and in Greenland, and we collaborate with the best universities around the world.