Postdoc in Formal Verification of Protocols and Secure Compilation

Job description

The Division of Network and Systems Engineering at KTH Royal Institute of Technology invites applications for a postdoctoral research position funded by the Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program (WASP). We are seeking a highly motivated and talented researcher with a strong background in formal methods for security, focusing on either formal verification of security protocols or secure compilation, to join our dynamic research group.

The ideal candidate will have expertise in formal methods and at least one of the following: verification of security and cryptographic protocols, symbolic and computational security analysis, or compiler correctness and preservation of security properties. Experience with proof assistants and automated verification tools (e.g., Coq, Isabelle/HOL, Tamarin, ProVerif) and SMT solvers is highly desirable and will be considered an advantage.

In addition to leading their own research projects, the successful candidate will work on developing analysis frameworks to evaluate and prove security properties of protocols and programs, and to establish end-to-end guarantees across the compilation chain. This includes contributing to novel research ideas, developing scalable tools, and collaborating with other researchers within the group and external partners.

Our growing research group currently consists of 4 PhD students, 2 postdocs, and 1 assistant professor, and has produced models, theories, and tools that have been published in several top-tier conferences (CAV’20, CCS’23, ISCA’22, SP’24, CSF’25). We are funded by several agencies and companies, including WALP, Intel, and Amazon.

Qualifications

Requirements

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree. This eligibility requirement must be met no later than the time the employment decision is made.
• As a person you are an independent and driven researcher with a strong background in formal methods for security.
• You have documented research expertise in at least one of the research areas of interest
• You have a strong publication record in well-regarded venues
• You are able to formulate and pursue your own research ideas, as well as contribute to joint projects within the group.
• You communicate scientific results clearly, both in writing and orally, and you are comfortable working in an international research environment.

Preferred qualifications

• A doctoral degree or an equivalent foreign degree, obtained within the last three years prior to the application deadline
• Awareness of diversity and equal opportunity issues, with specific focus on gender equality
• You are independent in your work and have no problem collaborating with others.

Great emphasis will be placed on personal skills.

Join us at KTH

KTH shapes the future through education, research and innovation. As a leading international technical university, we play an active role in advancing the transition towards a sustainable society. At KTH, you have the opportunity to grow and develop in a creative and dynamic environment, with good working conditions and attractive benefits. Equality, diversity and equal opportunities are essential to quality and form an integral part of KTH’s core values as a university and public authority.

Learn more about our benefits and what it's like to work and grow at KTH.

Trade union representatives

Contact information to trade union representatives.

To apply for the position

Log into KTH's recruitment system to apply for this position. You are responsible for ensuring that your application is complete according to the instructions in the ad.

 The application must include:

• CV including relevant professional experience and knowledge.
• Copy of diplomas and grades from your previous university studies. Translations into English or Swedish if the original documents have not been issued in any of these languages.
• Brief account of why you want to conduct research, your academic interests and how they relate to your previous studies and future goals. Maximally two pages long.

Your complete application must be received at KTH no later than the last day of application, midnight CET/CEST (Central European Time/Central European Summer Time).

About the employment

The position offered is for, at the most, two years.

A position as a postdoctoral fellow is a time-limited qualified appointment focusing mainly on research, intended as a first career step after a dissertation.

Others

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It may be the case that a position at KTH is classified as a security-sensitive role in accordance with the Protective Security Act (2018:585). If this applies to the specific position, a security clearance will be conducted for the applicant in accordance with the same law with the applicant's consent. In such cases, a prerequisite for employment is that the applicant is approved following the security clearance.

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