Phd students in System Security, Formal Verification and Machine Learning

Project description

Third-cycle subject: Computer science

We invite highly motivated students with a strong background in system security, formal verification, and/or machine learning to apply for two PhD positions, funded by Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP).

Successful candidates will have the opportunity to investigate cutting-edge research topics, including but not limited to one of the following areas, System Security, Formal Verification, and Machine Learning in Security and Verification.

Supervision: Prof. Rolf Stadler and assistant Prof. Hamed Nemati

What we offer

• The possibility to study in a dynamic and international research environment in collaboration with industries and prominent universities from all over the world. Read more
• A workplace with many employee benefits and monthly salary according to KTH’s Doctoral student salary agreement.
• A postgraduate education at an institution that is active and supportive in matters pertaining to working conditions, gender equality and diversity as well as study environment.
• Help to relocate and be settled in Sweden and at KTH.
• Generous funding package including stipend and research expenses.
• Close collaboration with industry partners.

Admission requirements

To be admitted to postgraduate education (Chapter 7, 39 § Swedish Higher Education Ordinance), the applicant must have basic eligibility in accordance with either of the following:

• passed a second cycle degree (for example a master's degree), or
• completed course requirements of at least 240 higher education credits, of which at least 60 second-cycle higher education credits, or
• acquired, in some other way within or outside the country, substantially equivalent knowledge

In addition to the above, there is also a mandatory requirement for English equivalent to English B/6, read more here

Selection

In order to succeed as a doctoral student at KTH you need to be goal oriented and persevering in your work. During the selection process, candidates will be assessed upon their ability to:

• independently pursue his or her work
• collaborate with others,
• have a professional approach and
• analyse and work with complex issues.

The candidate should be familiar with relevant concepts in system security, formal methods, and/or machine learning. 

The candidate should have a strong academic record and demonstrated research potential.

The candidate should possess solid programming skills (e.g., C/C++, Python, Rust)

The candidate should have a good command of English and excellent communication and collaboration skills as it is necessary in the daily work. 

After the qualification requirements, great emphasis will be placed on personal competency. 

Target degree: Doctoral degree

Information regarding admission and employment

Only those admitted to postgraduate education may be employed as a doctoral student. The total length of employment may not be longer than what corresponds to full-time doctoral education in four years ' time. An employed doctoral student can, to a limited extent (maximum 20%), perform certain tasks within their role, e.g. training and administration. A new position as a doctoral student is for a maximum of one year, and then the employment may be renewed for a maximum of two years at a time. 

Union representatives

You will find contact information for union representatives on KTH's website.

Doctoral section (Students’ union on KTH Royal Institute of Technology)

You will find contact information for doctoral section on the section's website.

To apply for the position

Apply for the position and admission through KTH's recruitment system. It is the applicant’s responsibility to ensure that the application is complete in accordance with the instructions in the advertisement.

Applications must be received at the last closing date at midnight, CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

Applications must include the following elements:

• CV including your relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Application letter with a brief description of why you want to pursue research studies, about what your academic interests are and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. (Maximum 2 pages long)
• Copies of diplomas and grades from previous university studies and certificates of fulfilled language requirements (see above). Translations into English or Swedish if the original document is not issued in one of these languages. Copies of originals must be certified.
• Representative publications or technical reports. For longer documents, please provide a summary (abstract) and a web link to the full text.
• Selected candidates should be able to provide contact information to two reference persons. 

Applicants should submit a Research Statement (maximum of 2 pages) and clearly outline their research interests, motivation, and how their background aligns with one or more of the focus areas. Describe any prior research experience; expertise in more than one of these areas will be considered an advantage. 

System Security:

1. Microarchitecture security (e.g., side-channels attacks, hardware vulnerabilities)
2. System software security (operating systems, hypervisors, compilers)
3. Exploration of novel security architectures and defenses

Formal Verification:

1. Low-level code security verification (proofs of functional correctness and security)
2. Security protocol verification (cryptographic protocols, distributed systems)
3. Development of scalable verification techniques and tools

Machine Learning in Security and Verification:

1. Applying machine learning to enhance security analysis and formal verification of systems
2. Formal verification of machine learning models for security-critical applications
3. Developing robust and explainable machine learning models for security tasks

Other information

Striving towards gender equality, diversity and equal conditions is both a question of quality for KTH and a given part of our values.

For information about processing of personal data in the recruitment process please read here.

The position may include security-sensitive activities. To become authorized, you therefore need to pass a possible security check.

We firmly decline all contact with staffing and recruitment agencies and job ad salespersons.

Disclaimer: In case of discrepancy between the Swedish original and the English translation of the job announcement, the Swedish version takes precedence.