Florida Atlantic University has received a $400,000 grant from the National Science Foundation to develop new cryptographic protocols designed to help secure digital communications and systems against future threats from quantum computers.
The NSF-funded project, “Collaborative Research: SaTC 2.0: RES: Post-Quantum Cryptographic Protocols with Advanced Functionalities,” is led by principal investigator Edoardo Persichetti, Ph.D., professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics and director of the Center for Cryptology and Information Security within FAU’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Science . Co-principal investigator is Veronika Kuchta, Ph.D., an assistant professor in FAU’s Department of Mathematics and Statistics.
The project will develop the mathematical foundations for post-quantum cryptographic protocols with advanced capabilities. Most of today’s public-key cryptography relies on mathematical problems that are difficult for conventional computers to solve but could be efficiently solved by sufficiently powerful quantum computers. Post-quantum cryptography seeks to develop new cryptographic methods based on mathematical problems believed to remain difficult even for quantum computers.
While recent efforts to prepare for the quantum era have focused on foundational technologies such as encryption and digital signatures, many emerging applications require more sophisticated cryptographic capabilities. The FAU research will address this gap by designing and analyzing post-quantum protocols that can provide advanced functions for applications such as decentralized systems and privacy-preserving technologies.
“This NSF support gives us an opportunity to take the next step in post-quantum cryptography by moving beyond basic encryption and signatures toward more advanced protocols that can address the increasingly complex security needs of emerging technologies,” said Persichetti. “The grant will allow us to develop new cryptographic constructions, rigorously analyze their security and investigate how they can be made more efficient and scalable. It also will help us train the next generation of researchers in an area that will be increasingly important as quantum computing advances.”
The research will focus on algebraic structures arising from mathematical frameworks including lattices, error-correcting codes and group actions, as well as isogeny-based cryptography. The researchers will investigate protocols capable of supporting advanced cryptographic functions, including blind signatures, threshold signatures, multisignatures and verifiable random functions. These capabilities can enable multiple parties to participate securely in digital transactions and systems while protecting sensitive information and verifying the integrity of digital processes.
A vital component of the work will be the development of rigorous security proofs based on well-defined computational assumptions. The researchers also will use zero-knowledge proofs and group-action frameworks to develop and analyze the protocols, with a focus on improving their efficiency, security and scalability.
The project builds on FAU’s growing national leadership in post-quantum cryptography. Persichetti has played a significant role in the national effort to prepare cryptographic systems for the quantum era. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) selected his Hamming Quasi-Cyclic (HQC) algorithm for standardization as part of its Post-Quantum Cryptography project. HQC is designed to provide secure key exchange while protecting communications against attacks from future quantum computers.
Persichetti submitted four algorithms to NIST’s post-quantum cryptography competition, with three advancing to the final round before HQC was selected. FAU is the only university in the United States represented among the authors of the two key-encapsulation mechanisms selected by NIST for standardization, HQC and ML-KEM. FAU faculty also have contributed to other major developments in the field, including the CRYSTALS-DILITHIUM digital signature algorithm, which was selected by NIST for standardization.
“This new NSF award builds directly on the expertise and research foundation we have developed through our work in post-quantum cryptography,” said Persichetti. “The selection of HQC for standardization demonstrated the importance of developing cryptographic systems that can withstand quantum threats. This project expands that effort into advanced functionalities that will be needed to protect increasingly sophisticated digital systems in the years ahead.”
The research will also support training and mentoring students through research experiences and outreach activities, helping prepare the next generation of cryptographers and cybersecurity researchers to address emerging challenges in digital security.
“This award reflects Florida Atlantic’s growing strength at the intersection of mathematics, cryptography, cybersecurity and emerging technologies,” said Valery Forbes, Ph.D., dean of the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science. “Our faculty are not only contributing to the development of technologies designed to protect the nation’s digital infrastructure but are helping shape the next generation of post-quantum security. With nationally recognized research such as the work of Dr. Persichetti and our cryptography team, FAU is at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field.”
FAU continues to advance its position as Florida’s first quantum university, making strategic investments in research, education and infrastructure to drive innovation in next-generation computing. Through the FAU Center for Quantum Technologies, the university brings together faculty, students and industry partners to advance quantum research and prepare the workforce for the emerging quantum economy. FAU’s investment includes the installation of a D-Wave Advantage2™ annealing quantum computer on its Boca Raton campus, giving researchers and students access to leading-edge quantum technology and helping position Florida at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field.
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About Florida Atlantic University:
Florida Atlantic University is one of the nation’s fastest-rising public research universities, serving more than 32,000 students in South Florida. Ranked among the Top 100 Public Universities by U.S. News & World Report, Florida Atlantic is also one of only 13 institutions nationwide to hold Carnegie Foundation designations for R1 research, opportunity and community engagement. Guided by its strategic plan, “2031FAU: Where Tomorrow Begins,” the university is focused on delivering career-ready education and experiential learning, driving scholarly inquiry that creates healthier, safer and more prosperous communities, strengthening institutional excellence, and elevating its impact across South Florida and beyond. Florida Atlantic continues to advance its position as Florida’s first quantum university, integrating research, education and industry partnerships around next-generation computing technologies. Through other signature strengths in neuroscience and healthy aging, environmental, ocean and coastal innovation, and national defense and autonomous systems, Florida Atlantic expands knowledge, fuels economic opportunity and fulfills its mission as South Florida’s hometown university.