Research Associate in Cyber Security Simulation Platforms (H2020 FORESIGHT)

Department: Electronic and Electrical Engineering (www.strath.ac.uk/engineering/electronicelectricalengineering/)

Faculty: Faculty of Engineering (www.strath.ac.uk/engineering/)

Staff Category: Research

Reference No: 258336

Reports To: The Head of Department, through Dr Xavier Bellekens

Grade: 7

Salary Range: £32,817 - £40,322

Contract Type: Fixed Term (24 months)

FTE: 1 (35 hours/week)

Closing Date: 10/11/2019  

The Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Institute of Sensors, Signals and Communications seeks to appoint a Research Associate in the area of cyber security simulation platform for the H2020 Advanced cyber-security simulation platform for preparedness training in Aviation, Naval and Power-grid environments (FORESIGHT) project. The FORESIGHT project will develop a federated cyber-range solution to enhance the preparedness of cyber-security professionals at all levels, advance their skills towards preventing, detecting, reacting and mitigating sophisticated cyber-attacks thus providing a holistic approach to cyber-threat management, and cultivate a strong security culture. In particular, you will be responsible to provide an ecosystem of networked realistic training and simulation platforms from the aviation, smart grid and naval domains. The creation of complex cross-domain/hybrid scenarios will extend the capabilities of existing solutions with an emphasis on realistic and dynamic scenarios based on cyber-attacks and vulnerabilities gathered from the dark web.

As a Research Associate, under the general guidance of a research leader, you will develop research objectives and proposals, play a lead role in relation to a specific project/s or part of a broader project, conduct individual and/or collaborative research, contribute to the development of new research methods, identify sources of funding, and contribute to the securing of funds for research, including drafting grant proposals and planning for future proposals. You will write up research work for publication, individually or in collaboration with colleagues, and disseminate the results via peer reviewed journal publications and presentation at conferences. You will join external networks to share information and ideas, inform the development of research objectives and to identify potential sources of funding. You will collaborate with colleagues to ensure that research advances inform departmental teaching effort and you will collaborate with colleagues on the development of knowledge exchange activities by, for example, participating in initiatives, which establish research links with industry and influence public policy and the professions.   You will supervise student projects, provide advice to students and contribute to teaching as required by, for example, running tutorials and supervising practical work. You will contribute in a developing capacity to Department/School, Faculty and/or University administrative and management functions and committees and engage in continuous professional development.

To be considered for the role you will be educated to PhD* level in an engineering, physical sciences, mathematics or computing discipline or you will have a minimum of a 2:1 Degree in addition to significant, relevant experience in a similar role. You will have strong experience in one or more of the following fields: cyber security, cryptography, machine learning, deep learning, and bid data analytics. You will possess a strong background in your core discipline and will have proven self-motivated research experience. The ability to assimilate outcomes from across a broad range of disciplines and to plan your own research is essential, as are strong communication, programming skills and mathematical background.

*Whilst a Post-Doctoral Research Associate is ideally sought for this position; applications from candidates who are close to PhD completion or whose award is pending, are welcome. In such circumstances, the appointment will be made at Research Assistant level (RS06 salary scale £26,537-£29,847) and duties will be adjusted to reflect the grade of the post. This will continue until the PhD award is confirmed, at which point the duties and grade will be revised accordingly.