# Nigel Smart

> British cryptographer

**Wikidata**: [Q1476239](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1476239)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_Smart_(cryptographer))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/nigel-smart

## Summary
Nigel Smart is a British cryptographer and computer scientist. He is a professor at the University of Reading, leading research in cryptography and secure multi-party computation.

## Biography
- Born: 1967-10-22 in England
- Nationality: United Kingdom
- Education: PhD (advisor: John Merriman); Institutions: University of Birmingham (doctoral), University of Leeds, University of Cambridge (educated at Cardiff University and University College London)
- Known for: Contributions to cryptography, particularly secure multi-party computation and cryptographic protocols
- Employer(s): University of Reading (current), University of Bristol (Cardiff University, University of Swansea - employer IDs: Q633529, Q1516684, Q833670), held positions since 2000
- Field(s): Cryptographer, Computer Scientist

## Contributions
Nigel Smart is a leading figure in modern cryptography, specializing in theoretical and practical aspects of secure computation. His research has significantly advanced the field of secure multi-party computation (MPC), where he developed and refined protocols enabling multiple parties to compute a function over their private inputs without revealing anything beyond the output. He has published extensively on cryptographic topics, including efficient zero-knowledge proofs, homomorphic encryption, and post-quantum cryptography. Smart's work bridges theoretical cryptographic theory with practical implementation, contributing to the development of open-source cryptographic libraries and influencing the design of secure systems. He has served as an editor for top cryptography journals and conferences, shaping the direction of research. His impact is widely recognized through numerous invited talks and collaborations within the international cryptographic community.

## FAQs
### Q: Where does Nigel Smart work?
A: Nigel Smart is a professor at the University of Reading. He has held academic positions at several other UK universities, including Cardiff University, Swansea University, and the University of Bristol.

### Q: What is Nigel Smart's main area of research?
A: His primary research focus is cryptography, with significant contributions to secure multi-party computation (MPC), cryptographic protocols, zero-knowledge proofs, and post-quantum cryptography.

### Q: Has Nigel Smart won any major awards?
A: Yes, he was awarded a Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship in 2016, recognizing his significant contributions to cryptographic research.

### Q: Who has Nigel Smart advised?
A: He has supervised numerous doctoral students, including Robert Granger, Peter Leadbitter, and several others identifiable by Wikidata IDs (Q102111437, Q102204816, Q102267475, Q102332494, Q102343537, Q102355331, Q102391011, Q102392131).

## Why They Matter
Nigel Smart has been instrumental in advancing the practicality and theoretical foundations of secure multi-party computation, a crucial area enabling privacy-preserving collaborative computation. His work has made complex cryptographic concepts more accessible and implementable, influencing the development of real-world security protocols. As a prolific researcher, educator, and advisor, he has trained a generation of cryptographers who now carry forward his research agenda. His leadership in cryptographic research, evidenced by editorial roles and invited talks, has helped shape the field's priorities. Without his contributions, the development of efficient and practical MPC schemes would be significantly delayed, impacting applications in finance, healthcare, and data analysis requiring privacy.

## Notable For
- Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship recipient (2016)
- Long-standing Professorship at the University of Reading since 2018
- Extensive supervision of doctoral students in cryptography
- Significant contributions to the theory and practice of secure multi-party computation
- Editor for leading cryptography journals and conferences

## Body
### Personal Details
- Full Name: Nigel Paul Smart (aliases: Nigel P. Smart, N. P. Smart)
- Born: 22 October 1967 in England
- Citizenship: United Kingdom
- Sex: Male

### Education & Advisors
- PhD in Cryptography: University of Birmingham
- Doctoral Advisor: John Merriman
- Educated At: Cardiff University, University College London

### Academic Appointments
- Professor, Department of Computer Science, University of Reading (2018-Present; position ID: Q833670)
- Senior Lecturer/Lecturer, University of Bristol (2000-2021)
- Lecturer/Senior Lecturer, Cardiff University (dates inferred from employer IDs Q633529, Q1516684)
- Lecturer, University of Swansea

### Research Focus
- Cryptography (specifically: Secure Multi-Party Computation (MPC), Zero-Knowledge Proofs, Homomorphic Encryption, Post-Quantum Cryptography)
- Computer Science

### Recognition & Awards
- Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship (awarded 2016)
- Fellow of the International Association for Cryptologic Research (IACR)

### Scholarly Identifiers
- ORCID: 0000-0003-3567-3304
- VIAF ID: 10714160
- ISNI: 0000000114377843
- GND ID: 173244815
- BNF ID: DA11775794
- CiNii Research ID: 1140000791611123584
- Author ID: Qvm3k64AAAAJ (Google Scholar)
- Researcher ID: 2103107 (ResearcherID)
- ShareCAT ID: 53999
- NUKAT ID: n01714948
- Freebase ID: /m/09rsz0d

### Key Academic Activities
- Editor for Journal of Cryptology and other cryptography venues
- Organizer and speaker at major international cryptography conferences (e.g., Crypto, Eurocrypt, Asiacrypt)

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-3567-3304/employment/4550782)
3. [ORCID Public Data File 2023](https://pub.orcid.org/v3.0/0000-0003-3567-3304/employment/5291387)
4. [Source](https://www.iacr.org/fellows/2016/smart.html)
5. Mathematics Genealogy Project
6. International Standard Name Identifier
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. CiNii Research
9. IdRef
10. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File