Professor Craig Costello
Faculty of Science,
School of Computer Science
Biography
I am a Professor in the School of Computer Science at Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and a Chief Investigator in the MathQuEST ARC Centre of Excellence. My research focuses on post-quantum cryptography and computational number theory.Visit my personal website for my full publication list, research talks, tutorials and media appearances.
Research
I develop and study the mathematics and algorithms behind secure digital communication. My interests include isogeny-based and lattice-based cryptography, quantum algorithms, elliptic and hyperelliptic curves, cryptographic pairings and computational problems involving abelian varieties. I work across mathematical foundations, cryptographic design, efficient implementation and cryptanalysis.My contributions include co-inventing the Frodo post-quantum key-exchange scheme and the FourQ elliptic curve, as well as developing complete addition formulas for prime-order elliptic curves. My collaborative work includes an early implementation of post-quantum key exchange for the TLS protocol and contributions to SIKE, an isogeny-based submission to the NIST post-quantum cryptography standardisation process.
Teaching and supervision
At QUT I teach algorithms, cryptography and cyber security. My approach is intuition before mathematics and examples before definitions: I connect mathematical ideas with the systems people use every day. I coordinate and lecture CAB340 Cryptography, and lecture CAB301 Algorithms and Complexity and IFB240 Cyber Security.I welcome enquiries about PhD, Masters and Honours projects in my research areas. Please get in touch only if your existing studies or research demonstrate a relevant background in mathematics, computer science or cryptography, together with a clear interest in my research areas.
Career highlights
- Professor at QUT since January 2025, following more than twelve years at Microsoft Research in Redmond, most recently as a Principal Researcher.
- Australian-American Fulbright Scholar at the University of California, Irvine, in 2010–2011.
- Co-author of the PKC 2024 Best Paper Award-winning research on detecting (N,N)-splittings.
- Program Co-Chair of CANS 2026 and editorial board member of IACR Communications in Cryptology.
- Invited speaker at TEDxSydney 2019 on the relationship between quantum computers and cryptography.
Personal details
Positions
- Professor
Faculty of Science,
School of Computer Science
Qualifications
- Doctor of Philosophy (Queensland University of Technology)
Teaching
I teach algorithms, cryptography and cyber security, connecting mathematical ideas with the systems people use every day. My teaching philosophy is intuition before mathematics and examples before definitions.
Teaching at QUT
- CAB340 — Cryptography: Unit Coordinator and Lecturer.
- CAB301 — Algorithms and Complexity: Lecturer.
- IFB240 — Cyber Security: Lecturer.
My teaching interests include cryptology, cyber security, number theory, discrete mathematics, algebraic geometry, algebraic curves and quantum algorithms.
Research supervision
My current principal PhD students at QUT are Yintong Luo and Subhradip Palchaudhuri. I am also an associate supervisor for several PhD students.
While at Microsoft Research I co-supervised Gaurish Korpal (University of Arizona, completed 2025) and Jonathan Komada Eriksen (NTNU, completed 2024). I also supervised three-month summer research projects with the interns listed below; their institutions are those at the time of the internships.
- Gaurish Korpal — University of Arizona (2024)
- Maria Corte-Real Santos — University College London (2023)
- George Mitchell — City University of New York (2022)
- Jia (Jane) Shi — University of Waterloo (2021)
- Fernando Virdia — Royal Holloway (2018)
- Joost Renes — Radboud University (2016, 2017, 2018)
- Eric Crockett — Georgia Tech (2015)
- Brian Chung — University of Cambridge (2015)
- Andrea Miele — EPFL (2013)
- Alyson Deines-Schartz — University of Washington (2013)
I welcome enquiries about PhD, Masters and Honours projects in post-quantum cryptography, computational number theory and quantum algorithms. Please get in touch only if your existing studies or research demonstrate a relevant background in mathematics, computer science or cryptography, together with a clear interest in my research areas.
Open teaching resources
Supersingular isogenies for beginners introduces supersingular isogenies, with a companion webinar. It is a historical introduction to SIDH, which is no longer secure.
Pairings for beginners is a tutorial on cryptographic pairings, with accompanying Magma scripts.
Experience
Research, industry and public engagement
My work connects computational number theory and cryptographic research with software, standards and practical security. At Microsoft Research I contributed to the development, implementation and analysis of post-quantum and elliptic-curve cryptography. My collaborative work includes Frodo, FourQ, complete addition formulas and post-quantum key exchange for TLS. I now contribute to research and training for the quantum era through QUT and MathQuEST.
Employment
- Professor, QUT, Brisbane — January 2025–present.
- Principal Researcher, Microsoft Research, Redmond — September 2020–January 2025.
- Senior Researcher, Microsoft Research, Redmond — September 2019–September 2020.
- Researcher, Microsoft Research, Redmond — August 2014–September 2019.
- Postdoctoral Researcher, Microsoft Research, Redmond — November 2012–August 2014.
- Postdoctoral Researcher, Eindhoven University of Technology — June–November 2012.
- Research Intern, Microsoft Research, Redmond — March–June 2012 and April–July 2011.
- Australian-American Fulbright Scholar, University of California, Irvine — July 2010–April 2011.
Education
- PhD studies, QUT — 2008–2012. Thesis: Fast formulas for computing cryptographic pairings.
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Mathematics), Honours, First Class, QUT — 2007.
- Bachelor of Applied Science (Mathematics), QUT — 2005–2006.
Honours and awards
- PKC 2024 Best Paper Award — International Association for Cryptologic Research.
- Australian-American Fulbright Scholarship in Technology and Communication — 2010.
- Queensland Government Smart State Fellowship — 2008.
Editorial and conference service
IACR Communications in Cryptology — Editorial board member.
CANS 2026 — Program Co-Chair.
Program committees:
- 2027: EUROCRYPT; CRYPTO
- 2026: ACISP
- 2025: CRYPTO (Area Chair); ACISP
- 2024: CRYPTO; EUROCRYPT
- 2023: ACISP
- 2022: ASIACRYPT; PKC
- 2021: CT-RSA
- 2020: CRYPTO
- 2019: SAC; PKC
- 2018: WAIFI; FC
- 2016: PST
- 2015: ACISP; PST
- 2013: SAC
Research talks and keynotes
I speak to research, industry and public-sector audiences about cryptography and the transition to post-quantum security. My talks include keynotes at TEDxSydney 2019, Selected Areas in Cryptography 2019, SPACE 2016 and the ACS Tech Summit 2025, and invited addresses at ECC 2012, ECC 2014 and ECC 2017.
Recent research and industry talks:
- The promise of isogeny-based cryptography — Workshop on Elliptic Curves, Sydney. October 2, 2026
- An introduction to hyperelliptic curve cryptography — Workshop on Elliptic Curves, Sydney. October 1, 2026
- An introduction to elliptic curve cryptography — Workshop on Elliptic Curves, Sydney, October 1, 2026
- The Future of Encryption: Higher Education and Preparing for the Post-Quantum Shift — AHECS Cybersecurity Summit, September 15, 2026
- The Future of Encryption: Preparing Government for the Post-Quantum Shift — QLD Government Cybersecurity Showcase, September 10, 2026
- Quantum-Safe Queensland: A practical post-quantum cryptography roadmap to 2030 and beyond — BrisSec, April 29, 2026
- Safeguarding the future with post-quantum cryptography — Keynote at ACS Tech Summit, Brisbane, May 2025
The complete research-talk archive includes slides and recordings for all talks listed on my personal website.
Media and public commentary
Selected appearances and coverage on quantum computing, encryption, cyber security, data breaches and technology education. Browse the full watch and listen archive and written-media archive on my website.
Watch and listen
- Preparing for the Post-Quantum Deadline: Why Governments Need to Upgrade Encryption Now — Public Sector Network (2026)
- Quantum Computing Meets AI Implications for the Future of Intelligence Practice — AIPIO Round Table (2026)
- Quantum Safe Queensland: a Practical Roadmap — AISA · Cyber Voices (2026)
- Radio Interview on Post-Quantum Cryptography — 3RRR · Byte into IT (2026)
- World-Leaders in Cryptography — World-Leaders in Cryptography (2026)
- Radio Interview with Ellen Fanning — ABC Radio Brisbane (2025)
- Scam awareness week — FiveAA Radio (2025)
- Radio Interview with ABC Brisbane — ABC Radio Brisbane (2025)
- Cryptography for Dummies — The You Project Podcast (2022).
- Post-quantum cryptography: Supersingular isogenies for beginners — Microsoft Research Webinar (2020)
- News from the front in the post-quantum crypto wars — Microsoft Research Podcast (2019)
- In the war for information, will quantum computers defeat cryptographers? — TEDxSydney · TED (2019)
- Keeping things private in the age of quantum computing — Osher Günsberg Podcast (2019).
In print
- IT leaders warn AI could erode vital technical skills — IT Brief Australia (2026)
- 153 million driver licenses exposed on dark web — ACS Information Age (2026)
- Women’s Cyber Underrepresentation Deepens as AI Grows — Security Brief Australia (2026)
- Origin Energy probes alleged cyber incident over data. — Security Brief Australia (2026)
- NSW nurse charged over alleged data breach — ACS Information Age (2026)
- What the Origin Energy hack means for Australian consumers and businesses — Cyber Daily (2026)
- Origin Energy Investigating Possible Data Breach — ACS Information Age (2026)
- Quantum computers are coming to break our codes faster than anyone expected — The Conversation (2026)
- The quantum threat to your data and our race to stop it — QUT · Real Focus (2025)
- The industry speaks: Scam Awareness Week 2025 — Cyber Daily (2025)
- AI Isn’t Coming For Jobs — Education Today (2025)
- Qantas breach sparks national push for stronger cyber resilience — Security Brief Australia (2025)
- Future workforce needs curious minds — Education Matters Magazine (2025)
- Quantum computers threaten to break online security in minutes — Cosmos Magazine (2025)
- IT Workers Will Thrive in the AI Era — Education Today (2025)
- Microsoft throws crypto foes an untouchable elliptic curveball — The Register (2015)
- Cryptographers aim to future-proof protocol — The Australian (2015)
- Securing Today’s Data Against Tomorrow’s Quantum Computers — MIT Technology Review (2015)
Publications
Filter publications:
A complete list of publications is available at: https://www.qut.edu.au/about/our-people/academic-profiles/craig.costello
Supervision
Looking for a postgraduate research supervisor?
I am currently accepting research students for Honours, Masters and PhD study.
You can browse existing student topics offered by QUT or propose your own topic.