Rocío Aldeco-Pérez

I am a computer scientist specializing in cryptography, blockchain, and privacy-preserving distributed systems. I hold a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Southampton (UK), and my research focuses on the design and evaluation of secure, decentralized digital infrastructures, with particular emphasis on information privacy, cryptographic protocols, and blockchain-based applications with societal impact.

I am currently an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Computer Engineering at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). In this role, I lead funded research projects, supervise doctoral and master’s students, and contribute to academic governance. I have authored more than 40 peer-reviewed publications and actively collaborate with research groups in Europe and Latin America.

At UNAM, I also oversee the Cisco Hybrid Classroom and collaborate with the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, contributing to applied research initiatives and technology-enhanced education.

I am committed to broadening participation in STEM through academic service, mentorship, and institutional initiatives. I am an active member of the AMEXCOMP Women’s Chapter, contributing to efforts that promote equity and inclusion in computer science in Mexico.

I am interested in full-time academic positions, as well as short- and long-term visiting appointments, research stays, and collaborative engagements, particularly within European research environments.

My research interest are:

• Privacy-Preserving Data Processing: Development of techniques to protect information privacy during data processing, including pseudo-anonymization, anonymization, and cryptographic mechanisms that enable secure data use without identity disclosure.

• Decentralized and Distributed Authentication Protocols: Design and analysis of cryptographic protocols that support trust in distributed systems through verifiable evidence and provenance, including blockchain-based authentication, digital audits, and decentralized trust infrastructures.

• Blockchain-Enabled Digital Services: Application of blockchain technologies to the design of transparent, traceable, and trustworthy digital public services, with a focus on government platforms, electronic voting, and accountability-driven systems.

• Information Security in Emerging Contexts: Adaptation and enhancement of information security techniques for new computational scenarios, including IoT security, anonymization in data science pipelines, and security and traceability in machine learning systems.