About Me
My name is Mingrui Zou. This blog is my space to share my journey—through the world of cryptography, quantum computing, math, and beyond. Thanks for stopping by, and let’s explore together!
🔑 My PGP Fingerprint
E149 B1A3 F402 5B79 77EC F94D B29A F9E5 93DF 06E7
📥 Download Public Key
Research Interests
My research interests span both cryptography and quantum computing, with a particular focus on post-quantum cryptography and quantum algorithms. I am actively seeking a Ph.D. position to further explore these areas and contribute to advancements in quantum technologies and secure systems as we move toward a quantum-powered future.
Education
The University of Edinburgh
09/2023 - 11/2024 – Master of Science in Cybersecurity, Privacy and Trust
The University of Edinburgh
09/2018 - 07/2023 – Bachelor of Science with Honours in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science
Master Thesis Project
Multiparty Computation Combiners (2024/04 - 2024/08)
In my Master’s thesis, supervised by Dr. Michele Ciampi, I investigated the construction of cryptographic combiners for secure multiparty computation (MPC). Given that Oblivious Transfer (OT) is a fundamental building block in many MPC protocols—and that previous research has shown the impossibility of transparent black-box construction for 1-out-of-2 OT combiners—the design of secure MPC combiners poses unique challenges. In this research, I introduce the first formal definition of black-box MPC combiners, which ensure that secure computation can still be achieved even if some underlying protocols fail, as long as a subset of the candidates remains reliable. A key contribution is the design and analysis of a 1-out-of-2 MPC combiner that securely computes a function for two parties under semi-honest setting using two candidate MPC protocols, under the assumption that at least one remains secure. Through rigorous cryptographic analysis, employing simulation-based security proofs and theorems, the combiner’s design was validated to ensure security for at least one party. I also discussed the inherent limitations in achieving full two-party security under two protocols. Building on the this, I developed a 2-out-of-3 MPC combiner that requires at least two out of three candidate protocols to remain secure. I examined the vulnerabilities of this approach and proposed an alternative construction that, while less efficient, provides robust security guarantees.
📄 My MSc Dissertation on Multiparty Computation Combiners
If you are interested, you may read the full dissertation here.
MISC
Programming Skills
Rubik’s Cube
🧩 Rubik’s Cube Journey
When I was young, I felt quite proud of myself when I managed to restore one face of a Rubik’s Cube. Later, I discovered a guide that came with the cube, teaching how to solve all six faces. I still remember the sense of accomplishment when I first solved it completely. In an algebra course, my friend and I took this interest further by creating a Jupyter notebook to explore the cube’s group structure. Check it out here.
Gaming
🎮 My Steam Profile
I’m more of a casual gamer, but if you’d like to connect, feel free to reach out to me on my Steam profile.
🎮 Fun Fact
Some people assume my gaming ID, Wangbard, means my family name is Wang. Actually, Bard is my favorite champion in League of Legends, and Wang means “king” in Chinese—so Wangbard playfully implies “King of Bard.” League used to be my favorite game, and I have spent thousands of hours on it. These days, I only play very occasionally with friends, but it still holds a special place in my memories.