Pihla Karanko

I am a PhD student in theoretical cryptography. My research interests include derandomization, oracle separations and fine-grained cryptography.

My background is in mathematics and I enjoy especially the mathematical side of theoretical cryptography. For example, I find the following techniques/concepts super cool: coding theory, expander graphs, averaging arguments, counting, entropy, logic, diagonalization arguments...

I have also studied computer science and programming and worked two summers as a software developer at Nokia Networks. I have also done cryptographic protocol verification using an automated tool, Tamarin. I like the problem solving aspect of programming and I like to delegate hard and boring tasks to a computer if possible.