Research professor at Spanish National Research Council, Spain
Dr. Luis Hernández Encinas is a Research Professor at the Department of Information and Communication Technologies (TIC) within the Institute of Physical and Information Technologies (ITEFI), part of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) in Madrid. With over three decades of expertise in mathematics and cybersecurity, he is recognized as a leading voice in cryptography and digital security.
Professional Profile:
Orcid
Google Scholar
Education Background
- Dr. Hernández earned his PhD in Mathematics from the University of Salamanca (Spain) in 1992, laying the foundation for a prolific academic and research career in cryptography and information security.
Professional Development
- Since completing his doctorate, Dr. Hernández has served as a principal investigator and project leader in numerous national and international research initiatives. His work spans theoretical and applied cryptography, and he frequently contributes to strategic forums and advisory committees on cybersecurity and cryptographic technologies. He also represents CSIC in various collaborative efforts, often speaking at high-level workshops and seminars.
Research Focus
- His current research focuses on pre- and post-quantum cryptography and cryptanalysis, pseudorandom number generators, digital signature schemes, authentication and identification protocols, cryptobiometrics, side-channel attacks, and computational number theory.
Author Metrics:
- Dr. Hernández is the author of over 200 peer-reviewed scientific publications and more than 120 conference contributions. His scholarly work is widely cited, and he maintains active profiles on Google Scholar and ORCID. He has also authored several books and holds multiple patents in the field of cybersecurity.
Awards and Honors:
- Dr. Hernández was awarded the CCN-2021 National Award for Professional Career in Cybersecurity by the National Cryptologic Center (CCN) under the Spanish Ministry of Defense. In 2022, he was decorated with the Police Merit Cross with White Distinction by the Ministry of the Interior for his contributions to national cybersecurity initiatives.
Publication Top Notes
1. Post-Quantum Wireless-based Key Encapsulation Mechanism via CRYSTALS-Kyber for Resource-Constrained Devices
Authors: MA de la Torre, IA Sandoval, GTF de Abreu, LH Encinas
Published: arXiv preprint, arXiv:2504.04511 (2025)
Summary:
This paper proposes a wireless key encapsulation mechanism (KEM) designed specifically for resource-constrained devices (e.g., IoT and embedded systems) using the CRYSTALS-Kyber algorithm—one of the post-quantum cryptographic schemes selected by NIST. The study focuses on the adaptation and performance analysis of Kyber in low-power environments, addressing latency, memory footprint, and security in practical implementations.
2. Protección de datos y dispositivos personales
Author: L Hernández Encinas
Published by: CSIC – Plataforma Temática Interdisciplinar de Ciencia e Innovación (2025)
Summary:
This monograph or technical report explores the current landscape of personal data protection in the age of smart devices. It analyzes privacy challenges, legislative frameworks, and practical recommendations for protecting both data and devices. The work targets a broad audience, including policymakers, cybersecurity professionals, and the general public.
3. Study About the Performance of Ascon in Arduino Devices
Authors: V Sarasa Laborda, L Hernández-Álvarez, L Hernández Encinas, et al.
Published in: Applied Sciences, Vol. 15, Issue 7, Article 4071 (2025)
DOI: [If available, can be inserted here]
Summary:
This paper investigates the implementation and performance of Ascon, a NIST-selected lightweight cryptographic algorithm, on Arduino devices. It presents empirical benchmarks of encryption and decryption speeds, memory usage, and energy consumption, confirming its suitability for ultra-low-resource applications in the IoT ecosystem.
4. Implementación del algoritmo de Shor para la factorización de N=21
Authors: VS Laborda, MÁG de la Torre, LH Álvarez, LH Encinas
Published in: XVIII Reunión Española sobre Criptología y Seguridad de la Información (RECSI), 2025
Summary:
This conference paper presents a pedagogical and experimental implementation of Shor’s algorithm to factor the number 21 using quantum circuit simulators. It includes the step-by-step quantum circuit design, modular exponentiation, and Quantum Fourier Transform stages. The paper aims to provide educational insight and validation of quantum computing concepts in small-scale examples.
5. Performance Analysis of NTT Algorithms
Authors: D García Lleyda, V Gayoso Martínez, L Hernández Encinas, et al.
Published in: International Conference on EUropean Transnational Education, pp. 168–178 (2024)
Summary:
This research examines various implementations of the Number Theoretic Transform (NTT), a core computational component in lattice-based cryptographic protocols such as Kyber and Dilithium. The study benchmarks NTT algorithms across platforms and optimizations, offering insight into performance trade-offs in cryptographic libraries and embedded environments.
Conclusion
Dr. Luis Hernández Encinas exemplifies the qualities of a Best Researcher in cryptography and cybersecurity. His career is distinguished by long-term contributions, innovative and impactful research, national honors, and institutional leadership. While there are opportunities to expand his global and industrial reach, his profile already stands as one of academic excellence and real-world relevance.
✅ Highly recommended for the Best Researcher Award in recognition of his pioneering work, leadership in cybersecurity, and consistent scientific contributions.