Luca Nizzardo
About Luca Nizzardo
Luca Nizzardo is a Cryptography Research Scientist with extensive experience in blockchain-related cryptography and protocol design. He has worked at various institutions, including Protocol Labs and IMDEA Software Institute, and has a strong academic background in mathematics and cryptography.
Work at Protocol Labs
Luca Nizzardo has been employed at Protocol Labs as a Cryptography Research Scientist since 2018. His role involves contributing to the development of cryptographic protocols, specifically for Filecoin, as part of the CryptoNet team. This position is based in the Madrid Area, Spain, where he has focused on blockchain-related problems that intersect with cryptography and protocol design.
Education and Expertise
Luca Nizzardo holds a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Software, Systems, and Computing from Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, which he completed from 2014 to 2018. He also obtained a Master's degree in Mathematics from Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, studying from 2011 to 2013, and a Bachelor's degree in Mathematics from the same institution from 2007 to 2011. His educational background is complemented by participation in various specialized training programs, including the COST CryptoAction Symposium and the COST CryptoAction Training School.
Background
Luca Nizzardo began his academic journey at Liceo Scientifico Statale P. Frisi, where he studied from 2002 to 2007. He has gained extensive research experience through various roles, including a Postdoctoral Researcher and Predoctoral Researcher at IMDEA Software Institute in Madrid. He has also served as an External Research Fellow at Input Output (IOHK) and provided consultancy services to blockchain startups during his PhD studies.
Previous Work Experience
Prior to his current role, Luca Nizzardo worked in several research and consulting positions. He was a Cryptography Researcher/Consultant at Tendermint in New York for four months in 2017 and a Visiting PhD Student at City University of New York City College, focusing on cryptography research. He also interned at IBM in Global Business Services and held various research positions at IMDEA Software Institute, contributing to his expertise in cryptography.
Research Interests
Luca Nizzardo has a broad interest in blockchain-related problems, particularly those involving cryptography and protocol design. His research activities have included studying cryptographic attacks and fully homomorphic encryption. He has actively engaged in academic training and symposiums, enhancing his knowledge and skills in the field of cryptography.