Mina Protocol Lead Developer Joins Cardano Team

IOG has added a top blockchain professional to its team.

Input Output Global (IOG), the company behind developing leading blockchain Cardano, has announced an important addition to its team. According to IOG, Dr. Vanishree Rao, a renowned academic, has joined the company as its Head of Applied Cryptography. The announcement was also made by IOG’s media and press Twitter handle.

We’re thrilled to announce the appointment of Dr Vanishree Rao as our new Head of Applied Cryptography! She will play a key role both in the practical application of existing research, as well as helping to develop and grow our zero-knowledge proof expertise. pic.twitter.com/Ubl4wZza2A

— Input Output Media (@IOHKMedia) November 3, 2022

“In her new role at IOG, Rao will play a key role both in the practical application of existing research and working on building out further published works in this area, as well as helping to develop and grow the company’s zero-knowledge proof expertise,” the announcement read.

Her Work and Education Experience

Dr. Rao has made significant contributions to the blockchain industry. While she was lead cryptographer at O(1) Labs, she helped build the Mina Protocol, a privacy-focused blockchain based on the zero-knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Argument of Knowledge (zkSNARKs).

It is worth noting that this is not the first time Dr. Rai will be heading high-level cryptography roles. The renowned academic has been appointed in other high-level cryptography roles in top tech companies, including Intertrust Technologies Corporation.

Furthermore, Dr. Rao was one of the Research Scientists at Xerox PARC, a company that has developed top innovations like Ethernet and laser printing.

At the moment, she is a technical adviser on several blockchain-related projects, including Berkeley Blockchain XCelerator, Horizon Labs, as well as Space and Time. Her Ph.D. in Cryptography degree was obtained from the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

Dr. Rao commented on the development; from her experience, IOG’s depth of technical leadership has always been second to none in the blockchain sector. The new IOG’s Head of Applied Cryptography disclosed that she relied on IOG’s “sound framework” when building the Mina Protocol.

“It feels surreal when you become part of a team that you respect so highly. To work alongside renowned industry leaders such as Aggelos Kiayias, IOG’s Chief Research Scientist, is an honor, so I am thrilled to have the opportunity to help build on the successes to date and to positively influence the cryptography designed and implemented across the products we are building here,” she added.

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