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21 February 2019
Department of Engineering at Aarhus University, Denmark
Title: Verifiable cryptographic software
Zero-knowledge proofs are integral for deploying privacy-preserving cryptocurrencies and other blockchain applications, as they represent a fundamental building block for proving statements about confidential data. The most popular framework for such proofs is based on cryptographic pairings defined over elliptic curves, where pairing-based zero-knowledge Succinct Non-Interactive Arguments of Knowledge (zk-SNARKs) underlie private transactions.
The PhD candidate will investigate techniques to develop a formally verified efficient software library for pairing-based cryptography, as means to support current blockchain projects relying on zero-knowledge proofs. The PhD candidate will also be involved in other educational activities, such as serving as teaching assistant in courses related to his/her expertise.
The project is a collaboration between researchers from the Departments of Engineering and Computer Science; the DIGIT Centre for Digitalisation, Big Data and Data Analytics; and the recently opened Concordium Blockchain Research Center.
Qualifications:
We are looking for dedicated and enthusiastic applicants, preferably with a Master’s degree in Computer Science/Engineering, Mathematics or related discipline. A theoretical background with cryptography or formal verification will be important for the project. Practical experience with software development and the Coq proof assistant will be seen as a plus. Analytical and critical thinking are naturally essential to pursuing a PhD degree. Further requirements are fluency in English, good reporting/organization skills and being able to work independently.
Closing date for applications: 1 May 2019
Contact: Diego F. Aranha, Assistant Professor, dfaranha (at) eng.au.dk; or Bas Spitters, Associate Professor, spitters (at) cs.au.dk
More information: https://phd.scitech.au.dk/for-applicants/apply-here/may-2019/verifiable-cryptographic-software/
University of Warwick
For informal inquiries, please contact Professor Feng Hao, feng.hao (at) warwick.ac.uk, enclosing a CV and a short description of your relevant background and interests.
The Computer Science Department at Warwick is a leading department in the UK. In the 2014 Research Evaluation Framework (REF) which all UK universities participated in, Warwick computer science was ranked the 1st in terms of research output, 2nd in terms of impact and 2nd overall. It is also highly regarded for its research culture, informal environment, excellent students, and beautiful campus.
Closing date for applications: 1 August 2019
More information: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/dcs/admissions/postgraduateresearch/researchstudentships/?newsItem=8a1785d769003af00169015
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Closing date for applications: 1 May 2019
Contact: Staal A. Vinterbo, Staal.Vinterbo (at) ntnu.no
More information: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/163521/
Ulm University, Germany
For more details and application portal, see URL below
Closing date for applications: 14 March 2019
Contact: Prof. Dr. Frank Kargl, https://www.uni-ulm.de/in/vs/inst/team/frank-kargl/
More information: https://stellenangebote.uni-ulm.de/jobposting/95503659d66923316e3b202e35ce7405db5365d1
HP Labs, Bristol, UK
Our industrial research lab is a unique environment at the intersection between academic research and real-world innovation in partnership with HP global business units. We provide interns with a unique opportunity to learn about the realities of both worlds, and to contribute research that may eventually impact the HP products and solutions used by millions of people across the globe.
Internships will start between February and July 2019, for a preferred duration of 5-6 months.
We welcome applications from full time students with the relevant skills and experience at Masters and PhD level.
Closing date for applications: 31 March 2019
Contact: Philippa Bayley
Security Lab Operations Manager
philippa.bayley (at) hp.com
More information: https://h30631.www3.hp.com/job/bristol/hp-security-lab-intern/3544/10307305
17 February 2019
University of Bergen, Bergen
We are particularly interested in applicants who are highly motivated to contribute to cryptographic privacy-enhancing technologies, blockchain technology, lattice/code-based cryptography, and coding theory.
We can offer:
- a good and professionally challenging working environment
- salary at pay grade 51 (Code 1017/Pay range 20, alternative 9) in the state salary scale. This constitutes a gross annual salary of NOK 449 400. Further promotions are made according to the length of service in the position.
- enrolment in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
- Good welfare benefits (https://www.uib.no/en/foremployees/30808/welfare)
Closing date for applications: 10 March 2019
Contact: Chunlei Li (chunlei.li (at) uib.no)
More information: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/165213/phd-position-in-cryptography-and-data-security
CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security
Yang (https://yangzhangalmo.github.io/) is a research group leader at CISPA Helmholtz Center for Information Security. Previously, he was a postdoc working with Michael Backes at CISPA from January 2017 to December 2018. CISPA located at Saarbruecken, Germany, is the newest member of the Helmholtz Association, the largest scientific organization in Germany fully committed to scientific excellence and to tackling the grand research challenges in their respective fields. CISPA as the first investment of Helmholtz in computer science is one of the top research centers in information security, it is constantly ranked top-3 in the field worldwide, see csrankings.org.
Requirements:
- A bachelor/master degree in Computer Science, Information Security, Mathematics with excellent grades
- Excellent programming skills
- Excellent English
- Good knowledge about machine learning
What we offer:
- Full-time working contract (E13 level salary)
- Excellent research environment
- Strong supervision
To apply, please send your CV to yang.zhang (at) cispa.saarland
Closing date for applications: 1 June 2019
Contact: Yang Zhang, research group leader, yang.zhang (at) cispa.saarland
Royal Holloway University of London
The PDRA will work alongside Prof. Carlos Cid, Dr. Martin Albrecht and other cryptographic researchers at Royal Holloway on topics connected to the design and analysis of cryptographic key exchange protocols that support incorporating key material from diverse sources. This post is part of the AQuaSec project, a Innovate UK-funded research project with 17 partners from industry and academia, aiming to develop technologies for quantum-safe communications by integrating post-quantum cryptography with techniques from quantum cryptography.
Applicants for this role should have already completed, or be close to completing, a PhD in a relevant discipline, with an outstanding research track record in cryptography. Experience in cryptographic protocol design is a plus.
Established in 1990, the Information Security Group at Royal Holloway was one of the first dedicated academic groups in the world to conduct research and teaching in information security. The ISG is today a world-leading interdisciplinary research group with 20 full-time members of staff, several postdoctoral research assistants and over 50 PhD students working on a range of subjects in cyber security, in particular cryptography. The post is based in Egham, Surrey where Royal Holloway is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London.
Closing date for applications: 12 March 2019
Contact: Informal enquiries about this position can be made to Prof. Carlos Cid (carlos.cid AT rhul.ac.uk)
More information: https://jobs.royalholloway.ac.uk/vacancy.aspx?ref=0219-048
TU Wien
Candidates with a research background in the following areas are particularly invited to apply:
- Formal methods for security and privacy;
- Intersection between Machine Learning and security and privacy;
- Blockchain technologies;
- Web security.
TU Wien has about 20,000 students and a heavy emphasis on research. The Faculty of Informatics comprises about 3,000 students and is the largest one in Austria. Vienna hosts several outstanding research institutes (including IST Austria, AIT, SBA, RIAT) with a strong focus on security and privacy and a long-standing collaboration track.
The postdoctoral researcher salary is highly competitive and ruled by level B1 of the Austrian Collective Agreement for the university staff, currently amounting to EUR 3.711,10 per/month/gross (14 times a year).
Finally, Vienna has repeatedly been ranked number 1 worldwide in the Mercer Quality of Living Survey.
TU Wien is committed to increasing female employment in leading scientific positions. Female applicants are explicitly encouraged to apply, and preference will be given to female applications when scientifically equally qualified.
Expressions of interest should be submitted by e-mail to christopher.vomastek (at) tuwien.ac.at and include in a single pdf
• A cover letter stating the candidate\'s motivation to apply, and the reason(s) why they should be selected for the position;
• A CV;
• A short research statement;
• Three most significant publications;
• The contact details of two referees.
Expressions of interest submitted by February 25, 2019 will receive full consideration.
Closing date for applications: 25 February 2019
Contact: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Matteo Maffei, matteo.maffei (at) tuwien.ac.at
07 February 2019
IBM Research GmbH Zurich, Switzerland
The group is active both in developing key technologies that ship with IBM products and in maintaining a strong academic research profile and has a dual focus on blockchain and on system security. In particular, the group is part of the core team that designs and develops Hyperledger Fabric, the popular open source blockchain platform.
This is an excellent opportunity for highly qualified and creative candidates with an ambition to work with an international team of researchers in a world-class industrial research organization.
Requirements
Candidates are expected to have the following background and interests
· A Master\'s degree in Computer Science or a closely related discipline
· strong knowledge of programming languages (in particular C/C++, and optionally golang, bash, python)
· strong skills and experience in system-level programming, large distributed systems, and optionally blockchain
· experience with open source projects and a strong understanding of DevOps
· ability to manage multiple and changing priorities
· fluency in English
The position is available immediately. The successful candidate will enjoy an internationally competitive salary and work in a collaborative and creative group in an exclusive research environment.
Diversity
IBM is committed to diversity at the workplace. We offer a diverse, independent professional activity, with experienced colleagues in a friendly atmosphere on our campus.
You will find a dynamic, multi-cultural environment, and flexible work conditions.
How to apply
Please send your CV including contact information for references and Ref No. 2019_001
to:
Judith Blanc
HR Business Partner
IBM Research — Zurich
Säumerstrasse 4
8803 Rüschlikon
Switzerland
email: jko (at) zurich.ibm.com
For technical information, please contact:
Dr. Andreas Kind, Manager Industry Solutions and Blockchain
email:ank (at) zurich.ibm.com.
Closing date for applications: 31 July 2019
More information: https://www.zurich.ibm.com/careers/
IBM Research GmbH Zurich, Switzerland
Project description
We research and develop scalable, fault-tolerant and secure distributed and blockchain systems that drive a new generation of financial and digital transactions.
We are looking for highly motivated and enthusiastic software engineers and distributed systems researchers to join the Industry Platforms and Blockchain Group at IBM Research – Zurich. You will be expected to contribute to the architecture definition and implementation in our blockchain projects, notably their aspects pertaining to distributed systems. You will be able to directly contribute and make impact not only on IBM products, but also on the Hyperledger Fabric open source project. The researchers in the group have deep expertise and knowledge in scalable, fault-tolerant and secure distributed systems. Software to be developed will be included in critical production system and is expected to be of high quality, modularity, maintainability, scalability, and resilience.
Closing date for applications: 31 July 2019
Contact: Judith Blanc
HR Business Partner
Säumerstrasse 4
8803 Rüschlikon
Switzerland
jko (at) zurich.ibm.com
More information: https://www.zurich.ibm.com/careers/
DTU Compute’s Section for Cyber Security
The aim of the new position is to expand the Section’s research in symmetric cryptology and align it with potential novel threats.
The research field of this new Postdoc position is within analysis and design of symmetric cryptographic algorithms, both basic primitives and modes of operation. Correspondingly, we aim to hire a postdoc with a track record in symmetric cryptography and cryptanalysis.
Responsibilities and tasks
The main tasks of the postdoc position are to analyze existing symmetric cryptographic primitives as well as to design and evaluate new primitives to address novel challenges. In this position, you will actively engage in our ongoing and prospective research activities on analysis and design of block ciphers, hash functions, authentication schemes and authentication encryption.
External stays are planned at our research partners in Europe.
Qualifications
Candidates should have a PhD degree (or equivalent) within mathematics, computer science or electric engineering with a focus on cryptology or a closely related field. If you are close to completing your PhD studies, your application will also be considered. You must have contributed with high-quality research to the area of cryptology or a closely related field.
Application procedure
Please submit your online application no later than 1 March 2019 (local time). Apply online at www.career.dtu.dk
Read the full job description at
https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/vacant-positions/job?id=1804831b-d132-4570-b6e6-46324b1a14c7
Closing date for applications: 1 March 2019
Contact: Further information can be obtained from Assoc. Prof. Andrey Bogdanov (anbog (at) dtu.dk). Please do not send applications to this e-mail address.
More information: https://www.dtu.dk/english/about/job-and-career/vacant-positions/job?id=1804831b-d132-4570-b6e6-46324b1a14c7
Centre for Secure Information Technologies (CSIT), Queen’s University Belfast, UK
Students will be based in the Centre for Secure Information Technology (CSIT), Queens University Belfast. CSIT is recognised by the UK National Cyber Security Centre as an Academic Centre of Excellence (ACE) in Cyber Security Research. It is also host to the UK Research Institute in Secure Hardware and Embedded Systems (RISE).
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS:
A minimum 2.1 honours degree or equivalent in Computer Science, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mathematics or closely related discipline is required.
Available to eligible UK and EU citizens only.
Applicants should apply electronically through the Queen’s online application portal at: https://dap.qub.ac.uk/portal/
Closing date for applications: 8 March 2019
Contact: Professor Maire O\'Neill,Email: m.oneill AT ecit.qub.ac.uk
More information: https://www.qub.ac.uk/csit/PhD-in-Cyber-Security-Centre-for-Doctoral-Training/PhDResearchProjects2019/
ConsenSys (PegaSys)
The Role
We are seeking applied researchers from a variety of backgrounds who are able to think deeply and creatively about protocol-level blockchain challenges and translate that work into practical outputs for PegaSys, enterprises seeking to use Ethereum and the wider blockchain community.
The Profile We are Seeking
- Computer Science, Mathematics or Physics Master degree. PhD is a bonus.
- Strong familiarity with advanced computer science and mathematical concepts
- Expertise in using formal verification tools especially in the context of analysing distributed systems
- Capable of articulating theories and related proof in a language suitable for scientific publication. Track record of previous scientific publications is a bonus.
- Well versed in analysing existing code in a number of languages including Java, Go, Rust, etc.
- Capable of deep and creative thinking.
- Have a drive for excellence and quality
- Passionate about blockchain consensus protocol research and blockchain technology in general
- Previous experience either in leading small/medium teams or as member of well-functioning self-organising teams
- Willing collaborator: swift to seek support and advice; equally ready to give support and advice to others.
- Comfortable with working remotely, and will make progress without supervision while proactively keeping in contact with other remote collaborators.
Closing date for applications: 31 July 2019
Contact: Roberto Saltini
More information: https://consensys.net/open-roles/1522894/
Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
We are soliciting candidates to have an introductory knowledge in cryptography and strong background in digital/system design, including relevant experience in managing large-scale programming projects in C/C++/VHDL/Verilog. Candidates with prior industrial experience and familiarity with commercial processor architectures are preferred.
Review of applications starts immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
Closing date for applications:
University College London
PhD and Post-Doc Positions on Privacy Technologies at UCL
I have funding for 2-3 PhD studentships and 1 post-doctoral positions (24 months) in my group at UCL Computer Science to work on research problems at the intersection of privacy and machine learning.
For an overview of my work in this area, please visithttps://emilianodc.com/privacyML/
FUNDING
These positions are funded by a mix of industry grants, thanks to the generous support of Amazon, Cisco, Microsoft Research, and the UK Government.
UCL DOCTORAL TRAINING CENTRE IN CYBERSECURITY
Moreover, we have recently been awarded funding for a Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) in Cybersecurity (see https://epsrc.ukri.org/newsevents/news/seventy-five-centres-for-doctoral-training-announced-by-ukri-to-develop-the-skills-needed-for-uk-prosperity/) so *additional* positions will be funded through the centre.
Other researchers working on security and privacy at UCL include: Nicolas Courtois, George Danezis, Sarah Meiklejohn, Steven Murdoch, Angela Sasse, plus a couple more faculty that we are in the process of recruiting. The Centre will have a strongly interdisciplinary focus, and will involve colleagues in the Crime Science (e.g., Shane Johnson) and Public Policy (e.g., Madeline Carr).
DATES AND ELIGIBILITY
The PhD students will start in September/October 2019. Alas, some of the funding is limited to people who have lived in the UK for at least 3 years prior to the start of the PhD.
The post-doctoral research should start in the summer and have already completed their PhD or about to.
APPLICATION
For both the PhD and the post-doc positions, please send an email to jobs (at) emilianodc.com if you are interested.
For the PhD positions, you will also have to apply through http://www.cs.ucl.ac.uk/prospective_students/phd_programme/applying/ (even though the next deadline is April 17th, please apply ASAP).
Closing date for applications: 30 April 2019
Contact: Emiliano De Cristofaro, Associate Professor at UCL
jobs (at) emilianodc.com
More information: https://emilianodc.com/positions.html
04 February 2019
TU Wien, Security & Privacy Group
• systems security and privacy
• distributed systems
• malware and mobile app analysis
Research topics may cover (but are not limited to):
• detection and prevention of novel attacks against smartphones and users’ privacy
• large-scale static and dynamic analysis of mobile apps
For our previous research in this area see https://martina.lindorfer.in.
The employment is a full-time position (40 hrs/week) with an internationally competitive salary. The working language is English, knowledge of German is not required.
Interested candidates should provide:
• a motivation letter
• a transcript of records
• a curriculum vitae
• a publication list (if applicable)
• contact information for two referees
TU Wien offers an outstanding research environment and numerous professional development opportunities. The Faculty of Informatics is the largest of its kind in Austria and is consistently ranked among the best in Europe. The city of Vienna features a vibrant and excellence-driven research landscape. The candidate will have the opportunity to collaborate with several other leading research institutes (e.g., IST, AIT, SBA Research, ABC). Finally, Vienna has been consistently ranked by Mercer over the last years as the best city for quality of life worldwide.
Review of expressions of interest will start immediately and continue until the position is filled.
Closing date for applications: 31 March 2019
Contact: Martina Lindorfer (martina.lindorfer (at) tuwien.ac.at)
More information: https://secpriv.tuwien.ac.at/thesis_and_job_opportunities
Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security, Ruhr-University Bochum, Germany
Closing date for applications: 28 February 2019
Contact: Dr. Patrick Schulte
RUHR-UNIVERSITÄT BOCHUM
Exzellenzcluster CASA / Horst Görtz Institut für IT-Sicherheit
Geschäftsführer / General Manager
ID 2 / 142
Universitätsstr. 150
44780 Bochum, Germany
Tel: +49-(0)234-32-27722
Email: patrick.schulte (at) rub.de
More information: https://twitter.com/HGI_Bochum/status/1087703387343331329
Brandenburg University of Technology, Cottbus, Germany
Closing date for applications: 14 February 2019
Contact: Professor Dr.-Ing. Andriy Panchenko
Tel.: +49 355 69 2236
More information: https://www.informatik.tu-cottbus.de/~andriy/phd-ad-btu_en.pdf
Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU)
Closing date for applications: 1 March 2019
Contact: Colin Boyd: colin.boyd (at) ntnu.no or Danilo Gligoroski: danilo.gligoroski (at) ntnu.no or Stig Frode Mjølsnes: stig.mjolsnes (at) ntnu.no
More information: https://www.jobbnorge.no/en/available-jobs/job/163765/