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Ricardo User

@ricardouser13

Cryptography researcher at Universidad del Norte studying post-quantum security and co-authoring cryptanalysis of the SNOVA signature scheme.

Colombia

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At Universidad del Norte, I contribute to research and teaching in post-quantum cryptography, cryptanalysis, and the practical security of cryptographic implementations. I also supervise undergraduate and graduate students and teach cryptography, cybersecurity, algorithms, and computational complexity.

At Technology Innovation Institute, I implemented BLAKE2 and Argon2 in C, developed key agreement protocols, and audited cryptographic libraries. I also co-authored fault-based and structural algebraic attacks on SNOVA and implemented Rank Syndrome Decoding and MinRank modules for the Cryptographic Estimators Project.

My Ph.D. research at Royal Holloway, University of London examined cold boot attacks on post-quantum schemes, including NTRU, BLISS, Rainbow, and McEliece. Earlier, I implemented an elliptic curve cryptography library in Java and worked on teaching, software development, and cybersecurity projects.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Professor

Current

Universidad del Norte

Jun 2025 - Present (1 year 5 months)

As an Assistant Professor in the Department of Systems and Computing Engineering at Universidad del Norte, I contribute through research, teaching, and the supervision of graduate and undergraduate students. My work focuses primarily on post-quantum cryptography, cryptanalysis, leakage-assisted key recovery, fault and side-channel attacks, and the practical security of cryptographic implementation

Senior Cryptography Engineer

Technology Innovation Institute

Jan 2023 - Apr 2025 (2 years 3 months)

Worked on the implementation and cryptanalysis of cryptographic primitives and protocols, with emphasis on post-quantum cryptography.

🔐 Cryptographic Engineering

– Implemented BLAKE2 and Argon2 in C for secure hashing and password protection.
– Developed key agreement protocols aligned with NIST SP 800-56 recommendations.
– Performed in-depth security audits and memory-hardening of critical cryp

Assistant Professor

Universidad del Norte

Jan 2019 - Dec 2022 (3 years 11 months)

At the Department of Systems and Computing Engineering, I integrated teaching, research, and consulting across cryptography, cybersecurity, and applied software development.

🔹 Teaching & Curriculum Development
- Delivered undergraduate and postgraduate courses including Cryptography, Cryptographic Protocols, Computer Security, Artificial Intelligence, Computer Networks, Algorithms, and Informatio

Doctoral Student

Information Security Group - Royal Holloway, University of London

Jun 2014 - Sep 2018 (4 years 3 months)

Conducted research on applied cryptography under the supervision of Professor Kenneth Paterson, with a focus on cryptographic protocols and side-channel attacks targeting cryptographic implementations. My doctoral research specifically explored the feasibility of cold boot attacks on post-quantum cryptographic schemes, including NTRU, BLISS, Rainbow, and McEliece. The work aimed to evaluate the re

Professional Freelancer

Freelance

Aug 2013 - May 2014 (9 months)

Worked on short-term freelance engagements focused on system evaluation, architecture design, and application testing.

Key Engagements:
🔹 Hypersoft (Nov 2013 – Feb 2014)
- Consulted on the design of a high-availability architecture using AWS.
- Supported the development of business process modeling software.
- Conducted code reviews and designed abuse cases for new applications.
🔹 Colombian Parli

Instructor

Universidad Simon Bolivar de Barranquilla

Aug 2011 - Jul 2013 (1 year 11 months)

Held a Full-Time Academic Role at the Department of Systems and Computing Engineering, with a focus on undergraduate teaching, curriculum development, mentorship, and applied research.

🔹 Teaching & Curriculum Development
- Delivered core undergraduate courses: Logic, Discrete Mathematics, Algorithms and Programming, Software Engineering, Artificial Intelligence, Knowledge Engineering, Computer Ne

Instructor

Universidad del Norte

Jul 2012 - Nov 2012 (4 months)

Served as an instructor at the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, where I taught the course Fundamentals of Statistics for Psychology, Politics, and Social Sciences, tailored to students in the social sciences with a focus on applied statistical reasoning and data interpretation.

Software Engineer

Hypersoft.co

Aug 2011 - Oct 2011 (2 months)

Worked on the design and development of medical admin software, focusing on patient management, scheduling, and workflow automation.

Quality Control Analyst

Colombia Movil

Nov 2010 - Jul 2011 (8 months)

Combined operational process management with technical development to support national service operations and enhance decision-making through data-driven tools.

In this dual-role position, I ensured that service operations across the country adhered to corporate process frameworks, while actively contributing to quality assurance and continuous improvement initiatives. Concurrently, I led the dev

Graduate Assistant

Universidad de Los Andes

Jan 2009 - Jul 2010 (1 year 6 months)

As a graduate assistant, I had two roles: computer network lab assistant and research assistant.

As a lab assistant, I designed, configured, and installed computer networks for both undergraduate and graduate courses to promote an optimal learning environment.

As a research assistant, under the supervision of Dr. María Del Pilar Villamil Giraldo, we focused on exploring the quality attributes

Assistant Project Professional at the Research Center of the Faculty of Engineer

Universidad de Los Andes

Oct 2008 - Jan 2009 (3 months)

European Community Project EELA–2
Responsibilities:

Configuration of network tools and services on Linux operating systems.
Testing and verification of network services in Linux environments.

Young Researcher

Universidad del Norte

Jul 2007 - Jun 2008 (11 months)

Under the supervision of Dr. Ismael Gutiérrez García, I implemented a performant elliptic curve cryptography library in Java. This included key components such as finite field arithmetic, elliptic curve operations, point compression, and public-key algorithms like ECIES, ElGamal, and ECDSA. I also developed optimized algorithms for NIST-recommended curves, gaining hands-on experience in advanced c