Introducing our new team member: Arijit Dutta
Aztec continues to grow! In June, Arijit Dutta joined us as a Cryptography Engineer.
Welcome to the team, Arijit 🎉
Please introduce yourself — what you did before joining Aztec and what got you to the team?
Hi, I am Arijit. I recently joined Aztec as a cryptography engineer. I live in West Bengal, India.
I started my journey in the crypto space during my PhD in IIT Bombay. My thesis focused on proposing proof of reserves protocols for cryptocurrency exchanges without affecting their privacy. I recently defended my thesis successfully.
The several techniques that Aztec provides to bring privacy and scalability to Ethereum are amazing. During my research, I became interested in privacy in the blockchain space and was intrigued by the innovations developed by the Aztec team. My friend and collaborator Suyash informed me about an opening to join Aztec. Fortunately, the interviews went well and I got this opportunity.
How did you stumble across crypto for the first time?
This is quite a story. I am from electrical engineering background. In my PhD, I was initially involved in doing research on error correcting codes for flash memories. After some time, we could not find a good research problem in that area. My advisor (Prof. Saravanan Vijayakumaran) proposed that we shift to researching the cryptographic technologies used in blockchain in mid 2017. The idea of cryptocurrency and blockchain surprised me. In time, I became motivated and passionate enough to pursue research in this area.
What excites you the most about Ethereum today besides ZKP?
I am new to the Ethereum space. I think Ethereum has a lot more potential compared to other cryptocurrencies because of its programmable nature. It can open numerous horizons of technology and business in future.
Tell me, what are you going to be focused on with your new role at Aztec?
I’ll mostly be doing security analysis and development in the upcoming version of Aztec protocol. For now, I am implementing changes introduced in the latest version of the Plonk paper.
Please describe your work routine — where do you usually work and how do you set up your work environment? What’s a must for you?
I am currently working remotely from my home. I usually do not like a fixed office setup, so I keep changing my work place. I also find intervals between working hours productive for me.
What unique stuff do you enjoy doing outside of work?
I enjoy reading, cycling, jogging, and spending time with the family. I also look forward to visiting places, playing table tennis, and swimming.
Do you have any special Netflix show you like to recommend?
I do not really follow Netflix. I have not watched any memorable series lately. However, some of my favourite shows (much older I guess) are the Mentalist, Friends, and the Big Bang Theory.
We’re hiring! You can check out all our open positions here.
