Maria Eichlseder
Assoc.Prof. Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn. BSc BScCryptology & Privacy, Associate Professor

Research
My research interests include the design and cryptanalysis of symmetric cryptographic algorithms, such as hash functions and authenticated encryption algorithms and their underlying primitives: permutations, (tweakable) block ciphers, etc. In my research, I am particularly interested in their "practical security", which includes robustness against misuse and implementation attacks in addition to cryptanalytic security. I enjoy exploring mathematical aspects of cryptanalysis, useful tools and heuristics, and connections between cryptanalytic and physical attacks.Online resources on selected research topics:
- Ascon, a family of authenticated ciphers and hash functions selected in the NIST lightweight crypto standardization process (NIST SP 800-232) and winner in the "lightweight" category of the CAESAR competition
- ISAP, a lightweight authenticated cipher designed for robustness against side-channel attacks and finalist in the NIST lightweight crypto standardization process
- CASTLE tools, some of my research team's cryptanalysis tools and source code for our papers
- Malicious SHA-1
For my recent publications, check DBLP or Google Scholar.
Teaching
I teach cryptography as part of several undergraduate and graduate courses (see TUGRAZonline):- Information Security (lecture: winter term 2023/24, 2022/23, 2021/22, 2020/21, 2019/20)
- Cryptography (lecture and practicals: winter term 2023/24, 2022/23 (awarded the Prize for Excellence in Teaching), 2021/22, 2020/21)
- Cryptanalysis (lecture/seminar and practicals: summer term 2023/24, 2022/23, 2021/22 2020/21)
- Introduction to Scientific Working (seminar: winter term 2023/24, 2020/21–2022/23)
You can find many of my lectures on Youtube.
Looking for a bachelor's thesis, master's thesis, or project in symmetric cypto, cryptanalysis, and practical security? Let me know, I’m always happy to discuss open topics!
Previously offered courses:
- Applied Cryptography (lecture and practicals: 2014/15–2019/20, see "Cryptography")
- Applied Cryptography 2 (lecture/seminar and practicals: 2014/15–2019/20, see "Cryptanalysis")
- Computermathematik (lecture with integrated practicals: 2013/14, 2014/15, 2015/16)
- Diskrete Stochastik und Informationstheorie (practicals: 2013/14)
- Erstellung wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten mit LaTeX (Interne Weiterbildung: 2014/15–2017/18)
Service
Reviewing
Peer-reviewing as a Program Committee or Editorial Board member:
2025: CRYPTO 2025, ACM CCS 2025, FSE 2025 / ToSC 24/25, CT-RSA 2025, SAC 2025, IWSEC 2025, DCC
2024: Eurocrypt 2024, FSE 2024 / ToSC 23/24, DCC; co-chair of SAC 2024
2023: Eurocrypt 2023, Asiacrypt 2023, DCC, CT-RSA 2023, SAC 2023; organizer of Austrian Computer Science Day 2023
2022: Asiacrypt 2022, FSE 2022 / ToSC 21/22, DCC, SAC 2022, PQCifris 2022; co-organizer of Frisiacrypt 2022
2021: ToSC 20/21, SAC 2021, CFail 2021
2020: Eurocrypt 2020, FSE 2020 / ToSC 19/20, SAC 2020, Indocrypt 2020, IWSMR 2020
2019: FSE 2019 / ToSC 18/19, Latincrypt 2019
2018: FSE 2018 / ToSC 17/18, SAC 2018
LaTeX Templates
TikZ: Cryptographic circuits (git)
TU Graz Corporate Design (restricted access): Thesis titlepage and affidavit (TU4U, git) Presentations (TU4U, git) Documents and reports (TU4U, git)
ISEC Templates: Presentations (git - restricted) Master's theses/projects, bachelor's theses, ISW reports (git - restricted) Student project topics (git - restricted)