M. Kaihara

About me

I am a hardware and software algorithm designer for cryptology and security assessment. My fields of specialization include cost-effective algorithms for Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI), the Cell processor and Graphic Processing Units (GPUs).

Work Experience

Postdoctoral Researcher

École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Switzerland (Jul. ’06 - Jun. '11)

  • As part of my research work, I investigated the possibility of speeding up RSA-2048 on Graphics Processing Units (GPUs). I designed and implemented fast parallel arithmetics and showed that RSA-2048 on GPUs can be a cost-effective solution compared to CPU implementations.
  • As part of a team to investigate the security of ECC, I designed fast arithmetic algorithms for the PlayStation 3s (PS3s). These algorithms were used to speedup the Pollard Rho method for solving the 112-bit prime ECDLP on a cluster of 200 PS3s. A world record was set by solving this mathematical problem using this implementation. This experiment showed that the 112-bit prime ECC standard was no longer secure.
  • As part of a team to analyze the NIST recommendation for key transitioning on cryptographic standards, I analyzed the vulnerabilities of the RSA-1024 and ECC-160 to an open community attack effort, concluding that the risk of using RSA-1024 is small until 2014, and that ECC-160 can safely be used until 2020.
  • In order to compare the performance of a modular multiplication method that I proposed during my Ph.D., I designed a multiplier using Verilog-HDL and simulated the performance showing that considerable speed up can be obtained through this novel method.
  • In order to improve my organizational skills and expand my professional network, I organized the 11th Workshop on Cryptographic Hardware and Embedded Systems - CHES 2009. (Brochures)
  • As teaching assistant in Algorithms for Public-Key Cryptology and Advanced Topics in Cryptology, I provided lectures, supervised implementation of algorithms on PCs and was responsible for grading reports. (Animated slides for Montgomery Arithmetic)

Researcher

Nagoya University, Japan (Apr. ’00 - Mar. '06)

  • Sponsored by the Japanese Government, I worked as a researcher during my master and Ph.D. studies under the Mombusho scholarship program.
  • As part of my research activities, I developed three fast and compact VLSI algorithms for public-key cryptography suitable for RSA and ECC. One of the results, a novel modular multiplication algorithm, was awarded at the 7th International Workshop on Cryptographic Hardware and Embedded Systems - CHES 2005.
  • As teaching assistant in Discrete Mathematics, Algorithms and Programming and Information Theory, I prepared problem sets and was responsible for grading reports. I prepared and supervised weekly programming activities on PCs.
  • During my Ph.D., I received a research grant from "The Hori Information Science Promotion Foundation.”

Teaching Assistant

University of Buenos Aires, Argentina (Aug.’94 - Sep.'95)

  • As teaching assistant in Circuit Analysis, Electronic Circuit Theory, I provided lectures and was responsible for grading reports.

Education

  • Dr. Eng. in Information Science, Nagoya University, Japan, Apr.03 - Mar.06. Thesis entitled: "Studies on Modular Arithmetic Hardware Algorithms for Public-Key Cryptography"
  • M.E. in Information Engineering, Nagoya University, Japan, Apr.01 - Mar.03. Thesis entitled: "A VLSI Algorithm for Modular Multiplication/Division"
  • Eng. in Electronics Engineering, Specialization in Telecommunications, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina. (Diploma Cum Laude, Percentile rank: Top 1-5%), Mar.94 - Mar.99.

Professional Services

  • Regular reviewer of IEEE Transactions on Computers, IEEE Transactions of Very Large Scale Integration Systems, IACR Conferences and Workshops.

Memberships

  • IEEE, IEEE Computer Society, IACR

Languages

  • Spanish: Bilingual
  • Japanese: Bilingual (Japanese-Language Proficiency Test, Level 1-Kyu)
  • English: Full professional proficiency (TOEIC: 955 - Percentile rank: 99.3%)
  • French: Professional proficiency (Level B2)
  • Italian: Elementary proficiency

Hobbies