Cooperation with Faculty of Informatics, Masaryk University, Brno

We are pleased to announce a new cooperation agreement with the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University (FI MU), reinforcing secure and trustworthy cryptographic software, research, and education.

Effective January 1, 2026, we joined the Association of Industrial Partners at FI MU as a Small and medium enterprises member to foster closer collaboration with students and researchers, in areas of mutual interest, including cryptographic algorithms, security protocols and all aspects of the OpenSSL Library and its deployment in real-world environments.

At FI MU, our principal academic partner is the Centre for Research on Cryptography and Security (CRoCS), led by Prof. Vashek Matyas, where joint activities focus on topics such as post-quantum cryptography, constant-time algorithms measurement, performance benchmarking and code quality improvement, offering students the opportunity to contribute to meaningful open-source work. Our office is conveniently located within walking distance of the Faculty of Informatics, enabling regular in-person collaboration with students and academic staff.

Opportunities for Bachelor and Master Theses

Under this cooperation framework, students at FI MU can undertake bachelor and master thesis projects connected to the OpenSSL Library and related open-source initiatives. Topics include, but are not limited to:

• Post-Quantum Cryptography evaluation and alternative implementations.
• Measurement and analysis of constant-time algorithms.
• Performance testing and optimisation across cryptographic libraries.
• Code quality improvements through testing, fuzzing and analysis.
• Development of tools for visualising and explaining cryptographic protocols.

Students are encouraged to contribute to open-source projects and work closely with the OpenSSL Corporation’s developers, with all outputs distributed under free licences in alignment with the OpenSSL Corporation’s Mission.

“Our cooperation with the Faculty of Informatics at Masaryk University strengthens the bridge between academic research and the open-source security community. It supports the development of future professionals and fosters innovation in applied cryptography and secure systems.” – Anton Arapov, Director, OpenSSL Corporation

“I have been collaborating with the Faculty of Informatics for over ten years. It all started with a somewhat naive idea to pursue my doctoral studies here, focusing on the practical topic of disk encryption. Supervising thesis projects requires considerable effort from both sides. However, when a motivated student meets the right topic, the results go far beyond a graduation requirement and become part of major open-source projects. The OpenSSL Corporation offers exactly this kind of opportunity. It’s not an easy path, but if you show initiative, the effort you invest will truly pay off.” – Milan Brož, Software Engineer, OpenSSL Corporation

Learn More

For further information about the cooperation and potential student project topics, please read this page about the OpenSSL Corporation or contact us directly at corporation@openssl.org or mbroz@openssl.org.