Xoel Sixto awarded highest distinction for
his PhD thesis on QKD Security

On November 7, 2025, Xoel Sixto successfully defended his PhD thesis , receiving the highest distinction from the examination committee.

The defense took place at the Faculty of Telecommunication Engineering of the University of Vigo, with an international jury composed of Prof. Hugo Zbinden (University of Geneva and VQCC), Prof. Armando Nolasco (University of Aveiro) and Prof. Laura Ortiz (Universidad Politécnica de Madrid).

Xoel’s research, which focused on the implementation security of Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) and addressed fundamental theoretical aspects of quantum communication protocols, was directed by his supervisor, Prof. Marcos Curty. The research also involved experimental collaborations.

In the coming months, Xoel will continue as a postdoctoral researcher at the VQCC, where he will further his research on QKD and other topics within the field of quantum information science. His achievement reinforces the growing reputation of the VQCC as a leading hub for quantum communication research in Spain and Europe, fostering excellence in both theoretical and experimental developments.