About the position

The Department of Information Security and Communication Technology (IIK) has a vacancy for a position as a PhD Candidate at the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering (IE), in the cross-disciplinary field of cyber security. This is a researcher training position aimed at providing promising researcher recruits the opportunity of academic development in the form of a doctoral degree.

The position is a part of a national effort to develop the Norwegian knowledge base in cyber security according to the directions given in the newly announced Norwegian strategy for digital security (https://www.regjeringen.no/no/dokumenter/nasjonal-strategi-for-digital-sikkerhet/id2627177/

The position’s working place is at the NTNU campus in Trondheim and reports to the Head of Department

Main duties and responsibilities

The appointment is for a term of 3 years, or 4 years including 25% duty work.

The position will be concerned with design and analysis of cryptographic protocols using either formal reductionist techniques or sound software analysis tools, or a combination of both. Techniques used may be experimental or theoretical, but the emphasis will be on real-world protocols. Depending on the skills of the candidate, different aspects may be emphasized, for instance by focusing on:

• machine-aided analysis of protocols using suitable software tools
• application areas in the current research focus areas of the research group, such as cryptographic voting protocols and lightweight protocols for authentication and key exchange
• formal security models and associated proof techniques for real-world cryptographic protocols.

The research will be carried out as an integrated member of the very active NTNU Applied Cryptology Laboratory and under the guidance of Prof. Colin Boyd.

Qualification requirements

The PhD-position's main objective is to qualify for work in research positions. The qualification requirement is completion of a master’s degree or second degree (equivalent to 120 credits) with a strong academic background in one or more of:

• information security
• communications network protocols
• formal analysis of communications protocols
• mathematics of cryptography

or equivalent education with a grade of B or better in terms of NTNU’s grading scale. Applicants with no letter grades from previous studies must have an equally good academic foundation. Applicants who are unable to meet these criteria may be considered only if they can document that they are particularly suitable candidates for education leading to a PhD degree.

The position is also open for applicants currently studying for a Master degree at NTNU and entering their final year during 2020. Such applicants will be considered for the Integrated PhD program.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants and national guidelines for appointment as PhD, post doctor and research assistant. NTNU is committed to following evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment - DORA.

Other desirable qualifications

• Publication activities in the aforementioned disciplines.
• Good written and oral English and Norwegian language skills. Applicants who do not master a Scandinavian language must provide evidence of good English language skills, written and spoken. The following tests can be used as such documentation: TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) or Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Minimum scores are:
  • TOEFL: 600 (paper-based test), 92 (Internet-based test)
  • IELTS: 6.5, with no section lower than 5.5 (only Academic IELTS test accepted)
  • CAE/CPE: grade B or A.

Personal characteristics

We are searching applicants who are:

• highly motivated for fundamental scientific research of practical relevance.
• highly motivated for research work in a multidisciplinary way and able to work independently.
• well organized and with interest in wider context of own research.
• eager to disseminate research results through publications and presentations at international conferences.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal suitability, in terms of the qualification requirements specified in the advertisement.

We offer

• exciting and stimulating tasks in a strong international academic environment
• an open and inclusive work environment with dedicated colleagues
• favourable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• employee benefits

Salary and conditions

PhD candidates are remunerated in code 1017, and are normally remunerated at gross from NOK 479 600 per annum. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The appointment is for a term of 3 years, or 4 years including 25% duty work.

Appointment to a PhD position requires admission to the PhD programme in Information Security and Communication Technology. As a PhD candidate, you undertake to participate in an organized PhD programme during the employment period. A condition of appointment is that you are in fact qualified for admission to the PhD programme within three months.

Appointment takes place on the terms that apply to State employees at any time, and after the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

The engagement is to be made in accordance with the regulations in force concerning State Employees and Civil Servants, and the acts relating to Control of the Export of Strategic Goods, Services and Technology. Candidates who by assessment of the application and attachment are seen to conflict with the criterias in the latter law will be prohibited from recruitment to NTNU. After the appointment you must assume that there may be changes in the area of work.

General information

A good work environment is characterized by diversity. We encourage qualified candidates to apply, regardless of their gender, functional capacity or cultural background. Under the Freedom of Information Act (offentleglova), information about the applicant may be made public even if the applicant has requested not to have their name entered on the list of applicants.

Questions about the position can be directed to Professor Colin Boyd, e-mail: colin.boyd@ntnu.no.

About the application:

• A cover letter (1 page) explaining your motivation and how your skills and experience relate to the research focuses of the position
• A draft research proposal outlining a possible approach for the position (1 page).
• CV with list of publications and GRE scores or other supporting documents (as proof of the candidates’ study and language abilities)
• Relevant transcript of grades, diplomas, and certificates The documents have to be translated to English unless they are in Norwegian, Danish, Swedish, German or English.
• A copy of the master thesis (in PDF), or, for those who are near to completion of their MSc,
• an extended abstract combined with a statement of how and when the applicant plans to complete the thesis.
• Names and contact information of at least two references, preferably from academic supervisor(s).
• Applicants from universities outside Norway are kindly requested to send a diploma supplement (for European Master Diplomas outside Norway) or a similar document that describes in detail the study and grading system and the rights for further studies associated with the obtained degree.

Incomplete applications will be rejected.

Application deadline: 15.12.2019

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Information Security and Communication Technology

Research is vital to the security of our society. We teach and conduct research in cyber security, information security, communications networks and networked services. Our areas of expertise include biometrics, cyber defence, cryptography, digital forensics, security in e-health and welfare technology, intelligent transportation systems and malware. The Department of Information Security and Communication Technology is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering .

Deadline 15th December 2019
Employer NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Municipality Trondheim
Scope Fulltime
Duration Temporary
Place of service NTNU Campus Gløshaugen