PhD Position in Formal Methods for Information Security and AI, Luxembourg

[Wojtek Jamroga]

[Apologies for cross-posting]

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* PhD Position in Formal Methods for Information Security and AI *
*                                                                *
* Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust,  *
* University of Luxembourg                                       *
*                                                                *
* Apply via: http://emea3.mrted.ly/28qvo                         *
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The Interdisciplinary Centre for Security, Reliability and Trust,
University of Luxembourg, is seeking to hire a PhD student to perform
research on formal methods for analysis of secure, reliable, and
verifiable voting schemes.

* The Project *

The research will be conducted within the STV project (Socio-Technical
Verification of Information Security and Trust in Voting Systems), in
collaboration with Polish Academy of Sciences. The project aims to
develop novel concepts, methodologies, and tools for specification,
analysis, and assessment of information security properties that
seriously take into account the human and social elements of the
processes. In particular, we will apply the developments from Game
Theory, Multi-Agent Systems and Artificial Intelligence to study
essential features of voting procedures, such as confidentiality,
coercion-resistance, and voter-verifiability. We are also going to
develop algorithmic tools that help to analyze the level of security and
usability. This should lead to novel designs for secure and usable
voting systems. Note that, while we focus on voting procedures in the
project, the concepts and tools being developed can be also applied to
analysis of other systems whose security and effectiveness depends
critically on human behaviour and its social context.

* Position Description *

The successful candidate will join the Applied Security and Information
Assurance research group (APSIA), led by Prof. Peter Y. A. Ryan. APSIA
specializes in mathematical foundations of information assurance,
including mathematical modelling and analysis of information flow,
design and analysis of cryptographic primitives and protocols (both
classical and quantum), secure verifiable voting systems, and
game-theoretic analysis of security systems and protocols. The group has
expertise in both the symbolic and the computational styles of analysis,
and investigates the links and synergies between them. APSIA has also
established itself as a leading centre for the socio-technical aspects
of security.

The candidate’s tasks will include:
- Conducting research on modeling, analysis, and verification of
   security properties in socio-technical systems
- Providing guidance to M.Sc. students
- Disseminating results through scientific publications and talks at
   conferences.

* Candidate Profile *

- M.Sc. degree in computer science, mathematics, theoretical physics, or
   related fields
- Strong computer science and/or mathematical background
- Good programming skills
- Fluent written and verbal communication skills in English.

* We Offer *

We offer a Ph.D. study program with a Fixed Term Contract up to 3-4
years in total, pending satisfaction of progress milestones (CDD), on
full time basis (40hrs/week). The University provides highly competitive
salaries and is an equal opportunity employer. You will work in an
exciting international environment and will be able to participate in
the development of a young and vibrant research centre.

Deadline for applications: 15 September 2019. Early submission is
encouraged; applications will be processed upon arrival.

If you have any questions, please contact Prof. Dr. Peter Y. A. Ryan
<peter.ryan at uni.lu> or Prof. Dr. Wojciech Jamroga <wojciech.jamroga at uni.lu>.