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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge">
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0">
<meta name="keywords" content="Matan Shtepel, matan shtepel, matan, shtepel">
<meta name="author" content="Matan Shtepel">
<meta name="description" content="Matan Shtepel's personal academic website.">
<meta name="audience" content="Everyone">
<title>Matan Shtepel</title>
<link rel="icon" type="image/png" href="favicons/favicon.ico" />
<link rel="stylesheet" href="fonts/Serif/cmun-serif.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="style.css">
<link rel="stylesheet" href="fonts/tt-commons.css">
</head>
<body>
<div class="page-wrapper">
<div class="main-section">
<h1 class="main-title">Matan Shtepel</h1>
<h2><a href="Matan_Shtepel_CV.pdf">CV</a></h2>
<div class="col-flexbox">
<div class="main-pic-container">
<img class="main-portrait" src="images/in_shadyside_snow.jpeg" alt="matan shtepel" title="your standard academic portrait">
</div>
<p class="main-description">Howdy! I'm Matan Shtepel, a second-year PhD student at Carnegie Mellon working on AI Safety with the epic <a href="https://andrewilyas.com">Andrew Ilyas</a>. I'm (partially) funded by NSF GRFP. <br>
Office: Gates 9213.
<!-- TODO: add more, more recent pics, make AI Safety the same font as Andrew Ilyas a-styling -->
<br><br>
Previously at CMU, UPenn, and UCLA I worked on cryptography (including zkSNARKs, MPC, PIR, and ORAM). I switched to work on AI Safety because I think it is super interesting and extremely important! I help out with <a href="https://cmuaisafety.com/">CASI</a>, organizing our <a href="https://cmuaisafety.com/research-scholars.html">structured research program</a> and <a href="https://cmuaisafety.com/seminar.html">CMU AI Safety Seminar</a>.
<br><br>
Outside of research and building subpar academic websites, I also enjoy <a
href="https://rawgnarly.com/">
fashion</a>, <a href="https://texcrick.bandcamp.com/album/live-in-new-york-city">Tex Crick</a>, <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/LNhtETAwe6pLYztR6">running</a>, <a href="https://www.joshwaitzkin.com/the-art-of-learning">reading</a>, <a href="https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hurst-s-HamBeens-15-Bean-Soup-20-oz/10295039">beans</a>, and collecting <a href="https://www.uniqlo.com/us/en/contents/lifewear-magazine/">magazines</a>!
<!-- <br><br> -->
<!-- I'm also interested in getting students (particularly community college students) excited about and involved in research (<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDjxeXfRyeY&t=57s">embarrassing example!</a>) If you're interested in having me give a talk / anything else please reach out! -->
<!--
Outside of research and building subpar academic websites, I enjoy collaborating on
<a href="https://github.com/GnarlyMshtep" title="my embarrassing GitHub page"> software
projects</a>, reading (now: <a href="https://www.hpmor.com/">hpmor</a>), <a
href="https://rawgnarly.com/">goofing-around with
fashion</a>, <a href="https://photos.app.goo.gl/LNhtETAwe6pLYztR6">running decently often</a>, surfing badly, <a
href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B8EsNUVD8rR/">mediocrely snowboarding</a>, taking interest in rationality, listening to <a href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/75OcKxnQkY9noMuZA8zdtc?si=31327114845047f3">Australian rock</a>, doing blockchain stuff, and spending an
unhealthy amount of time on looking at mathematician and scientists' bios on Wikipedia.
<br><br>
In December, I'll be applying to PhD programs in Cryptography and theory more broadly. You can find my CV <a href="matan_shtepel_cv.pdf">here</a>.-->
<br><br>
<a href="mailto:matan.shtepel@gmail.com">Contact</a> me for any reason! Especially happy to hear from (ex) community college students interested in research! <small class="mono">matan.shtepel@gmail.com</small>
<br><br>
</p>
</div>
<small><p class="quote"><i>"It is by logic that we prove, but by intuition that we discover." (Poincaré)</i></small>
</p>
<div class="col-flexbox">
<!--<h3>Quick Links:</h3>
<a class="link" href="" onclick="alert('Avalabile Soon!')">Blog</a>
<a class="link" href="https://github.com/GnarlyMshtep">Github</a>
<a class="link" href="" onclick="alert('Avalabile Soon!')">CV</a>
<a class="link" href="/#contactSec">Contact</a>
<a class="link" href="">Personal Favorites</a>
</div>-->
</div>
<div class="section">
<a name="pubs"></a>
<h4 id="Publications" class="section-title">Preprints</h4>
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://eprint.iacr.org/2025/737">FICS and FACS: Fast IOPPs and Accumulation via Code-Switching
</a> <br>
A. Baweja, P. Mishra, T. Mopuri (UPenn), M. Shtepel (CMU)<br>
<small>We give IOPPs for linear-time encodable codes with state-of-the-art query-complexity.</small>
</li>
<br>
</ol>
<h4 id="Publications" class="section-title">Publications</h4>
<ol>
<li>
<a href="https://eprint.iacr.org/2025/1588">Query Optimal IOPPs for Linear Time Encodable Codes </a>
(Eurocrypt '26) <br>
A. Baweja, P. Mishra, T. Mopur (UPenn), M. Shtepel (CMU)<br>
<small>We give IOPPs for linear-time encodable codes with provably optimal query-complexity.</small>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<a href="https://eprint.iacr.org/2023/578">Malicious Security for PIR (almost) for Free
</a> (CRYPTO '25) <br>
B. Falk, P. Mishra, M. Shtepel (UPenn)<br>
<small>We describe a construction of malicious PIR from locally decodable codes with very low overhead.</small>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<a href="https://eprint.iacr.org/2023/578">DORAM revisited: Maliciously secure RAM-MPC with logarithmic overhead</a> (TCC '23) <br>
B. Falk, D. Noble (UPenn), R. Ostrovsky, M. Shtepel, J. Zhang (UCLA)<br>
<small>We give the state-of-the-art construction of maliciously-secure Distributed ORAM.</small>
</li>
<br>
<li>
<p><a href="https://www.usenix.org/conference/usenixsecurity23/presentation/falk">GigaDORAM: Breaking the Billion Address Barrier</a> (USENIX '23) <br>
B. Falk (UPenn), R. Ostrovsky, M. Shtepel, J. Zhang (UCLA)<br>
<small>We show devise and implement a Distributed ORAM construction orders of magnitude more efficient than prior work. <a href="">Code</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-daN2Cpt1FI">Talk</a>. </small>
</p>
</li>
<br>
<li><a href="https://doi.org/10.1080/17445760.2021.2016754"> "On Totalization of Computable Functions in a Distributive
Environment" </a>,(International Journal of Parallel, Emergent and
Distributed Systems (GPAA))<br>
M. Burgin, M.Shtepel (UCLA)<br>
<small><i>We investigate which classes of computations can be <i>totalized</i>, i.e. modified so every input maps to an output in a `consistent' way<small></i>
</li>
</ol>
<br>
</ol>
<i>In alphabetical order.</i>
<!--<h2>In-Writing (added for future PhD apps)</h2>
<ol>
<li>
<b>MGigaDORAM: Practical Maliciously-Secure DORAM & RAM-MPC</b> <br>
We give MGigaDORAM, the first implemented maliciously secure DORAM. Although its stricter security model, MGigaDORAM is only 4x (currently estimated) slower then most efficient semi-honest DORAM (GigaDORAM). Leveraging MGigaDORAM, we extend the replicated MPC of Lindell et al (<a href="https://eprint.iacr.org/2018/570">[CGHI]</a>) to a RAM-MPC. We show that our RAM-MPC is over 100x faster than previous implementations (which were all semi-honest). We make our implementation open-source and integrate it to Xiao Wang’s <a href="https://github.com/emp-toolkit">EMP-toolkit</a>, allowing non-expert users of the framework to execute MPC computations in the RAM model.<br>
B. Falk, S. Kelman, R. Ostrovsky, M. Shtepel, J. Zhang<br>
Intend to submit to CCS23 (May)
</li>
<li>
<b>(2^{n},2^{n-1}) poly-logarithmic maliciously-secure RAM-MPC</b> <br>
We construct a (2,1) maliciously secure DORAM with logarithmic computation and communication complexity, matching the asymptotics of the best-known semi-honest constructions. Via player composition we show how to construct (2^n,2^n-1) poly-logarithmic maliciously-secure RAM-MPC.<br>
B. Falk, R. Ostrovsky, M. Shtepel, J. Zhang<br>
Intended submission not yet known.
</li>
</ol>-->
</div>
<!-- <div class="section">
<h4 class="section-title">Academic Interests</h4>
<p>At large, even though I am primarily computer science and mathematics, I would claim to be fascinated
with
philosophy, and physics. At this early point of my academic journey, I don’t feel quite comfortable
stating
specific (aimed) areas of work or expertise, particularly seeing that I can’t help to enjoy every single
course I take and frantically curious about any technical term I hear, but, for those interested in some
further categorization, I am mostly interested in “pure-ish” areas lying in the intersection of maths
and
cs
such as complexity, cryptography, and algorithms.
</p>
<p>To compensate for my high-uncertainty range about my desired field of expertise, for those out there
still
hoping to understand “who is Matan Shtepel?” I did my best to articulate what drives my particular
scholarly
curiosities, and then, my academic ambitions. The following lists may not be entirely exhaustive, but
hey,
they are something. If the following seems a bit romantic, well, that means you really are learning
about me :)
</p>
<p>For starters, I have always, still do, and likely always will, have a deep appreciation for order, rules,
and structure, which I now understand are the only ways to exceed our inborn biases and human notions,
but
more personally, I think games without rules are simply no fun -- at least not in an
intellectual-challenge
sense, which bring me great joy. That being said, there are few things that I find as fulfilling as
tackling
hard tasks, distinctly those which demand a combination of creativity and deductive reasoning. As
painful as
the process leading up to it often is, I find the moment in which my brain switches from the “I have no
knowledge at all of this strange coalescence of phrases and symbols” state to “I understand!” virtually
addicting. Beyond such practical concerns, I am driven by the beauty of subjects I am so fortunate to
study,
and this is tougher to describe as its not “rational” or explicit, perhaps its about admiring successful
information compression or the awe of the achievement of my fellow ape-descendants, but when I watched a
Bertnard Russel interview, studied the fundamentals of topology, or get the first glimpse of Turing
Machines, my heart was just filled with incredible feeling -- truly indescribable.
</p>
<p>Simply (and naively) stated, I am pursuing a career in academia because I believe contributing to the
ever-growing pool of human knowledge and training others to do the same is the most noble way I can
spend my
life/finite time on this earth, and beyond, as far as my limited predictive powers enable me to see, I
think
I will find deep happiness within that career. Being able to deeply delve into a topic without a brow
raised
and a “you are thinking too much” stated, is a privilege I am willing to work hard for. I must say, from
time to time I do struggle with the infatuation of visions of fame and glory, but I do my best to stick
to
my purest motives and let the many reasons and experiences above determine my life-long ambitions.
While it’s both difficult to explicitly articulate and awkward to self-state, I would say my burning
curiosity, not quite fixated on application, chasing a paramount understanding of the space of ideas,
and
thirsty for an earnest challenge.
</p>
</div>-->
<!-- <div id="contactSec" class="section">
<h4 class="section-title">Contact Me!</h4>
<p>Considering dropping me a line? Please, do not hesitate! I am happy to receive any and all
questions,
offers, suggestions and vegan steak recipes (but please, nothing more 😉).
<b>first.last<i>at</i> gmail.com</b></p>
</div> -->
<div class="section">
<h4 id="Selected-photos" class="section-title">Selected Photos</h4>
<div class="image-flexbox">
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.33">
<img style="max-height: 74vh;
" src="images/sarah_andrew_dinner.JPG">
<p>Dinner with the academic parents: Andrew and Sarah <i>👨👩</i> </p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.33">
<img style="
max-height: 74vh;
" src="images/marios_guy_eliot.JPG">
<p>TODO: get a beard to fit in the Pittsburgh bar scene!</p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.33">
<img style="
max-height: 74vh;
" src="images/casi_mats_02.png">
<p><a href="https://github.com/GnarlyMshtep/casi-mats-2-andrew-matan-stress-testing/blob/main/main.pdf">CASI Research 02</a> meeting 00!</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="hidden-photos" id="hiddenPhotos">
<div class="image-flexbox">
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.33">
<img style="max-height: 74vh;
" src="images/inspect_wandb.png">
<p>Curly boys present an early version of <a href="https://github.com/DanielPolatajko/inspect_wandb">Inspect WandB</a> @ <a href="https://www.cambridgeaisafety.org/mars">MARS 3.0</a></p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.33">
<img style="
max-height: 74vh;
" src="images/friendsgiving_2024.jpeg">
<p>Friendsgiving at Gaurav and Barry's, (Friendship, Pitt).</p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.33">
<img style="
max-height: 74vh;
" src="images/theory_outing_1_2024.jpeg">
<p>Stereotypical Theory group outing = brewery 🍻</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="image-flexbox">
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.33">
<img style="max-height: 74vh;
" src="images/penn_crypt_ny.png">
<p>Penn crypto squad (partial) awkwardly stands at NYC crypto day!</p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.33">
<img style="
max-height: 74vh;
" src="images/zen_w_vidhi.png">
<p>Feeling like a monk doing Headspace intro meditation 🧘</p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.33">
<img style="
max-height: 74vh;
" src="images/9th_hlf_vibes.png">
<p>Fancy 9th <a href="https://www.heidelberg-laureate-forum.org/">Heidelberg Laureate Forum</a> vibes!</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="image-flexbox">
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.4">
<img src="images/ucla_theory_guild_fun_edited.JPG">
<p><a href="ucla_theory_guild.html">UCLA Theory Guild</a> last meeting of winter 23.' Say, "lattices!"</p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.3">
<img src="images/last_night_at_hack_lodge.JPG">
<p>Last night at <a href="https://hacklodge.org">Hack Lodge 23'</a>. Catch our live, "deliverable" demos <a href="https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLNK7oFq6eaEyadUK2RQU8AQjAmHL82if4">here!</a></p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex: .45;">
<img src="images/summer_highschool_gathering.jpeg">
<p>high school reunion!</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="image-flexbox">
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex: .395;">
<img src="images/bye_to_mattt_and_eric.JPG">
<p>Final goobyes with roomies Matt (left) and Eric (right).</p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.3">
<img src="images/wigderson_poster.jpg">
<p>Recognize the poster above my bed?</p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex: .395;">
<img src="images/blackboard_goof.jpg">
<p>Yah? That construction on the board behind me? We found a flaw in the proof about 3 hours later 😎</p>
</div>
</div>
<div class="image-flexbox">
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex:.30">
<img src="images/atJoshTree.jpg">
<p>At the Josh tree park</p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex: .395;">
<img src="images/goneSurfingResized.jpg">
<p>After a relaxing surf</p>
</div>
<div class="selcted-image" style="flex: .395;">
<img src="images/classicalyPositioned.jpg">
<p>As you may find me on a regular undergrad afternoon...</p>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<button class="see-more-btn" onclick="togglePhotos()" id="seeMoreBtn">See more!</button>
<div class="section">
<h4 id="Academic-aspiration" class="section-title">Academic Aspiration</h4>
<p>As an (aspiring) academic, I feel obligated to say there will be a blog coming soon. Don't worry! I will update twice during summer, then never again after 😏. If it will ever exist, it will probably be <a href="https://matanshtepel.substack.com/">here</a>.</p>
<!--
To wrap it up, here are some personal favorites from the many facets of life:
<div class="split-page-writing">
<div class="col1">
<ul>
<li><u>Song:</u> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/track/3kbUFmLV5SHVQonfOpNgkd">San
Tropez</a> by Pink
Floyd. I promise, give it a listen! Catch all my fav songs <a
href="https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3kAW3gAdjVXgwEgaC0F5T3?si=1bf9f871551e42bf">here</a>.
</li>
<li><u>YouTube Video:</u> I found this<a
href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEUO6pjwFOo&t=2s">Robert Miles video</a>
on
the
orthogonality thesis quite profound</li>
<li><u>YouTube Channel:</u> <a
href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYO_jab_esuFRV4b17AJtAw">3b1b</a> No
doubt.
</li>
<li><u>Podcast:</u> <a href="https://lexfridman.com/podcast/">The Lex Fridman
Podcast</a>
</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="col2">
</div>
</div>
-->
</div>
<footer>
Created by Matan Shtepel, August 2021. Last edited September 2025.
</footer>
</div>
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<!--
To do:
- Website Color Scheme
- more links
- cool recs
- add thumbnail title to everything that is self aware and sarcastic
- better description
-->