PHD STIPEND IN CYBERSECURITY IN IOT-EDGE SYSTEMS

Trends, Challenges, and Solutions With IoT Cybersecurity

At the Technical Faculty of IT and Design, Department of Electronic Systems, a PhD stipend in Cybersecurity in IoT-Edge Systems is available within the general study programme Electrical and Electronic Engineering. The stipend is open for appointment from January 1, 2022, or soon as possible thereafter. In electronics engineering, Aalborg University is known worldwide for its high academic quality and the societal relevance of its research programmes. The Department of Electronic Systems consists of more than 200 employees, of which about 40 % are international and about 90 are enrolled PhD students. The Department hosts 620 students. The Department’s excellent research infrastructures and facilities accentuate its global position in teaching and research. The Department’s research centres around communication, antennas, control systems, AI, sound, cybersecurity and robotics. The Department plays an active role in translating discoveries and results into practical applications with industrial partners and IPR. The Department provides teaching for several BSc and MSc programmes using a problem- and project-based learning model.

JOB DESCRIPTION

We seek a PhD in Cybersecurity for IoT at hardware level in IoTalentum infrastructure. The objective of the position is to advance the research in the area of IoT acceleration at the edge, with focus on AI operations and consideration about privacy and security issues. In this aspect, the PhD must identify and analyse security challenges at the hardware level in IoTalentum ecosystem providing an in-depth technical analysis of different available and upcoming hardware security technologies, such as secure boot and ARM TrustZone®, relevant for IoT devices and applications. Based on these, to develop a secure IoT-Edge acceleration architecture that encompasses the devices and the network infrastructure elements.

The PhD is part of the opening of 15 Early Stage Researchers (ESRs) positions within the IoTalentum project (www.iotalentum.eu). IoTalentum is a European Training Network (ETN) funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Action (MSCA). The MSCA ITN programme offers a highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions.

The global research objective of IoTalentum is to develop the next generation of IoT producing coordinated advantages in the area of infrastructures and cybersecurity and use it for the development of any application of next generation of IoT, and, in particular, those of smart grids. That global research objective is divided into three sub-objectives:

To develop an integral, autonomous, and flexible control (assisted by artificial intelligence techniques) for a heterogeneous infrastructure for next generation of IoT based on 5G with an optical backhaul and equipped with the distributed computing and storage resources of the Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) paradigm.
To propose new cybersecurity solutions to keep the integrity of the highly distributed infrastructure of IoTalentum by acting on different layers.
To develop smart grids using the infrastructure and the services of the next generation of IoT. To test the breakthroughs on infrastructure and cybersecurity in the smart grids sector. The global and interdisciplinary approach of IoTalentum ensures that their outcomes can be used by other sectors.

IoTalentum will train the recruited ESRs through an outstanding training program that includes coordinated research in different IoT fields. All ESRs will be enrolled in PhD programmes (applicants have to fulfil entry conditions of those programs). Moreover, all ESRs will enjoy 10 months secondment in the workplace of other consortium partners (ensuring that each ESR stays at least eight months at industry). Moreover, IoTalentum also offers a continuous educational backbone over the whole duration of the project.

Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for full-time fixed-term positions (36 months) as an Early Stage Researcher (ESR).

Why Apply?

IoTalentum is financially supported by the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). The benefits of being an ESR of IoTalentum include:

ESRs will work in a stimulating, creative and internationally learning environment through an unique interdisciplinary research training program.
ESRs will be enrolled in top-quality PhD programs.
IoTalentum training program offers unique, leading-edge infrastructure and expertise, which is not available at a single place.
ESRs will be advised by excellent group leaders – they are all outstanding in their research and trainings.
The IoTalentum consortium was generated with the firm purpose of training ESRs so that they can enter the labour market both in academic and non-academic environments.
All ESRs will be exposed to very different and complementary research environment in both academia and industrial participating organisations.
ESRs will spend 30% of their recruitment time in different institutions of the network. The ESR recruited by AAU will enjoy secondments of at least eight months at industrial beneficiary or partner organization.
Strong involvement of industrial partners in training activities.
ESRs will have the opportunity to acquire outstanding complementary training in transferable skills (e.g., presentation techniques, networking, publishing, and outreach activities) as well as leadership, innovation, and entrepreneurial skills.
ESRs will have the opportunity to acquire lifetime skills and optimum opportunities to build and extend your international network available to you throughout your professional career.

Eligibility Criteria

The applicants must, at the date of the call deadline, comply with the following eligibility criteria:

To hold a MSc degree (or equivalent) in Engineering, Mathematics, Physics, or a related field.
To have not been awarded a doctoral degree.
At the time of recruitment by the host organization, candidates should be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research career.
Candidates must comply with the European Commission’s mobility rule, meaning at the time of recruitment by the host organization, they must not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc.) in the country of the host organization for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately before the starting employment contract date. Compulsory national service and/or short stays such as holidays are not taken into account. The positions are open to all nationalities.
To be proficient in English language.
To fill in the IoTalentum Application form (to be downloaded from the official IoTalentum website: www.iotalentum.eu/vacancies) and submit it together with the rest of the documents.

The eligibility of the researcher will be determined at the date of the recruitment (i.e., the first day of the employment of the researcher for the purposes of the action)

Work Conditions

The MSCA ITN programme offers a highly competitive and attractive salary and working conditions. The successful candidates will receive a salary in accordance with the MSCA regulations for ESRs.

Selected candidates will have a fulltime employment contract for the duration of 3 years (36 months).

In accordance with the MSCA regulations for ESRs, the salary for selected candidates is constituted by a generous living allowance, a mobility allowance, and a family allowance (depending on family situation).

You may obtain further information from Assoc. Prof. Sokol Kosta, Department of Electronic Systems, phone: +45 9940 3662 , email: sok@es.aau.dk , concerning the scientific aspects of the stipend

PhD stipends are allocated to individuals who hold a Master’s degree. PhD stipends are normally for a period of 3 years. It is a prerequisite for allocation of the stipend that the candidate will be enrolled as a PhD student at the Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design in accordance with the regulations of Ministerial Order No. 1039 of August 27, 2013 on the PhD Programme at the Universities and Certain Higher Artistic Educational Institutions. According to the Ministerial Order, the progress of the PhD student shall be assessed at regular points in time.

Shortlisting will be applied. This means that subsequent to the deadline for applications the head of department supported by the chair of the assessment committee will select candidates for assessment. All applicants will be informed whether they will be assessed or not.

For further information about stipends and salary as well as practical issues concerning the application procedure contact Ms. Lisbeth Diinhoff , The Doctoral School at The Technical Faculty of IT and Design, email: ld@adm.aau.dk, phone: +45 9940 9589.

For more information of The Technical Doctoral School of IT and Design: www.phd.tech.aau.dk

The application is only to be submitted online by using the “Apply online” button below.

AAU wishes to reflect the diversity of society and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates regardless of personal background or belief.

AGREEMENT

Appointment and salary as a PhD fellow are according to the Ministry of Finance Circular of 28 June 2019 on the Collective Agreement for Academics in Denmark, Appendix 5, regarding PhD fellows, and with the current Circular of 11 December 2019 on the employment structure at Danish universities.

How to Apply