Master's thesis topics
Below is a list of available Master's thesis topics at the Selmer Centre for secure communications.
Advanced Space Cryptography
Advanced cryptographic techniques such as Secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC) and Zero-Knowledge (ZK) proofs are key enablers for next-generation space services. They allow trustworthy autonomy and decentralized service exchange between satellites and operators without relying on fully trusted third parties. For example, zero-knowledge provenance proofs over raw sensor data could enable on-board data processing that significantly reduces satellite communication bandwidth while preserving verifiable data origin and integrity. Similarly, MPC can enable fair and privacy-preserving collaboration between satellite operators, such as joint collision-avoidance or service exchange, without revealing sensitive operational data.
However, both ZK proofs and MPC protocols are computationally intensive and pose significant challenges in low-SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) environments typical of small satellites.
The goal of this thesis is to investigate the practical feasibility of deploying ZK and MPC schemes on small satellite platforms, with a focus on real-world constraints and applications. The thesis will:
• Identify and analyze concrete small-satellite use cases where ZK proofs or MPC provide clear benefits.
• Survey state-of-the-art ZK and MPC protocols and evaluate their suitability for small-satellite environments.
• Analyze typical small-satellite hardware platforms, including microcontrollers, CPUs, and FPGAscommonly used in CubeSats and similar systems.
• Implement and benchmark promising small-satellite-friendly ZK/MPC schemes on representative hardware, evaluating performance, power consumption, and memory usage.
• Investigate the viability and benefits of distributed cryptographic computation across satellite networks, including collaborative generation of ZK proofs or MPC execution among multiple satellites.
The outcome of this thesis will be a realistic assessment of whether, and under which conditions, advanced cryptographic primitives can be practically deployed in small satellite systems, along with guidelines for protocol and hardware selection.
High-Performance Post-Quantum Cryptography for CubeSats
Post-quantum cryptography (PQC) is essential for ensuring the long-term security of space systems against adversaries equipped with quantum computers. CubeSats and other small satellites are particularly vulnerable due to their long operational lifetimes, constrained update capabilities, and increasing reliance on cryptographic protocols for command authentication, inter-satellite communication, and secure data downlink.
Recent standardization eTorts, such as NIST’s ML-KEM (CRYSTALS-Kyber) and ML-DSA (CRYSTALSDilithium), provide quantum-resistant security guarantees but may introduce computational, memory, and bandwidth challenges. These challenges are amplified in low-SWaP (Size, Weight, and Power) environments typical of CubeSat platforms, where processing capability, energy budget, and radiationtolerant hardware options are limited.
The goal of this thesis is to investigate the design and implementation of high-speed, high-performance, and low-SWaP post-quantum cryptographic solutions for CubeSats, with a focus on practical deployment constraints. The thesis will:
• Identify realistic CubeSat use cases requiring post-quantum security, such as firmware
signatures, command authentication, secure telemetry and telecommand (TT&C), inter-satellite links, and key establishment with ground stations.
• Survey standardized and emerging PQC schemes, with emphasis on ML-KEM and related latticebased primitives, and evaluate their suitability for CubeSat environments.
• Analyze typical CubeSat hardware platforms, including microcontrollers, CPUs, and radiationtolerant FPGAs, and their implications for PQC implementations.
• Design, implement, and optimize high-performance, low-SWaP PQC implementations in software and/or hardware (e.g., FPGA accelerators), focusing on latency, throughput, memory footprint, and power consumption.
• Evaluate trade-oTs between security level, performance, and resource usage, and compare PQC implementations against classical cryptographic alternatives currently used in space systems.
The outcome of this thesis will be a concrete assessment of how post-quantum cryptography can be eTiciently deployed on CubeSat platforms, along with implementation guidelines and performance benchmarks to support future secure small-satellite missions.