Scholarship Recipient Samuel Dobson Advances to PhD in Post-Quantum Cryptography

Chillisoft is proud to share that Samuel Dobson, the inaugural recipient of the Chillisoft Scholarship in Cybersecurity, has successfully graduated and is now pursuing a PhD in the emerging and vital field of post-quantum cryptography.

Samuel’s PhD research focuses on Supersingular Isogeny-based Cryptography — a cutting-edge area that differs from classical cryptography by using maps between elliptic curves instead of points on those curves. This area of study is seen as a promising candidate for securing communications in a future where quantum computers might break traditional encryption methods.

Reflecting on his journey, Samuel says, “I was awarded the scholarship in 2018. It is so generous of Chillisoft to fund this scholarship each year to help students like me. As I go into my PhD studies for the next few years, the financial support will be a great help to cover my expenses and cost of living.”

Cybersecurity remains a critically important yet under-represented profession in New Zealand. Samuel emphasizes how vital it is to see companies like Chillisoft investing in the next generation of cyber talent. “Knowing there are companies backing the growth of this area is very encouraging, and I look forward to even more growth both in the industry and university teaching over the coming years.”

Chillisoft’s ongoing support for the scholarship reflects its commitment to strengthening New Zealand’s cybersecurity workforce by encouraging talented individuals to pursue advanced education and careers in the field. As cyber threats evolve, nurturing highly skilled researchers like Samuel is essential to keeping our digital world safe.

“We thank Chillisoft again for their generous support and for helping shape the future of cybersecurity in New Zealand,” Samuel adds.