IACR News item: 18 June 2025
MuseMatrix
Unpaid, part-time fellowship (3–6 months), with potential to evolve into a fully-funded, startup-style venture
We invite applied cryptographers to join a part-time, unpaid pilot fellowship focused on zero-knowledge proofs, MPC, and secure data pipelines for biosecurity. No prior biosecurity experience is required—just strong crypto skills and curiosity. You’ll work collaboratively with fellow cryptographers, developers, and biosecurity experts to develop tangible, economically sustainable prototypes, with the goal of launching a funded venture by program’s end. This role is designed to run alongside your current commitments—no need to pause full-time work.
Fellow Responsibilities
- Design zk‑SNARK/STARK or MPC circuits to verify epidemiological data integrity and outbreak modeling
- Prototype privacy-preserving alert systems for decentralized biosurveillance
- Collaborate with peer cryptographers and cross-disciplinary fellows on open-source proof-of-concept systems
- Co-author deliverables: circuit specs, threat models, implementation evaluations
Qualifications:
- Master’s or PhD in cryptography, computer science, mathematics, or related field
- Strong programming and mathematical background
- Experience with zk frameworks (e.g., Circom, snarkjs, arkworks) or MPC is a plus
- No prior biosecurity/domain expertise required—we’ll provide domain support
-Available to work part-time alongside existing commitments
Program Structure & Benefits:
- Unpaid and part-time: built to fit around ongoing work or study
- Goal-driven: produce a self-sustaining prototype or venture by program end
- Collaborative environment: work alongside other cryptographers with mentorship from senior crypto and domain experts
- Opportunity to transition into a funded startup or project launch post-fellowship
Application Instructions:
Send us an email with a brief overview of your background and skills
Fellow Responsibilities
- Design zk‑SNARK/STARK or MPC circuits to verify epidemiological data integrity and outbreak modeling
- Prototype privacy-preserving alert systems for decentralized biosurveillance
- Collaborate with peer cryptographers and cross-disciplinary fellows on open-source proof-of-concept systems
- Co-author deliverables: circuit specs, threat models, implementation evaluations
Qualifications:
- Master’s or PhD in cryptography, computer science, mathematics, or related field
- Strong programming and mathematical background
- Experience with zk frameworks (e.g., Circom, snarkjs, arkworks) or MPC is a plus
- No prior biosecurity/domain expertise required—we’ll provide domain support
-Available to work part-time alongside existing commitments
Program Structure & Benefits:
- Unpaid and part-time: built to fit around ongoing work or study
- Goal-driven: produce a self-sustaining prototype or venture by program end
- Collaborative environment: work alongside other cryptographers with mentorship from senior crypto and domain experts
- Opportunity to transition into a funded startup or project launch post-fellowship
Application Instructions:
Send us an email with a brief overview of your background and skills
Closing date for applications:
Contact: bharat@causality.network
More information: https://musematrix.xyz/
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