Information Security Group

Location:      Egham
Salary:      £29,159 per annum pro rata - including London Allowance
Closing Date:      Tuesday 30 April 2019
Interview Date:      To be confirmed

Fixed Term Part-Time (20 hours a week, 4 month period)

The Information Security Group at Royal Holloway, University of London, is seeking a highly motivated research assistant researcher for the EU Horizon2020-funded FutureTPM project. The successful candidate will join the Systems and Software Security Lab (S3Lab), working on the development and integration of quantum-resistant cryptography into the Trusted Platform Module (TPM), on the development of a virtual quantum-resistant TPM for KVM, and on research activities of the project.

Project description

The goal of FutureTPM is to create a Quantum-Resistant (QR) Trusted Platform Module (TPM) by designing and developing QR algorithms suitable for inclusion in a TPM. The algorithm design will be accompanied by implementation and performance evaluation, as well as formal security analyses in the full range of TPM environments: i.e. hardware, software and virtualization environments. Use cases in online banking, activity tracking and device management will provide environments and applications to validate the FutureTPM framework. FutureTPM will provide robust and provably-secure QR algorithms for a new generation of TPMs. A key strategic objective of FutureTPM is to contribute to standardization efforts at EU level within TCG, ISO/IEC and ETSI. Because the TPM shares many functions in common with other widely-used devices, such as HSMs and TEEs, the FutureTPM solution is expected to benefit them as well. The consortium consists of high calibre industrial and academic partners from across Europe, combining QR crypto researchers with TPM developers.

Requirements

Applicants should possess a BSc degree relevant to the project’s research areas (e.g., Computer Science, Math), and be fluent in English. The ideal candidate should have experience in development projects in C/C++, especially on Linux and virtualized environments (KVM, Xen or similar ones), and in the integration of software components (e.g., integrating cryptographic libraries inside another project). The student should be self-motivated and should have prior knowledge of TPM and KVM concepts. In addition to supporting the project, the position duties might involve collaborating on novel research ideas, e.g. to support research publications.

This is a part-time post (20 hours a week), available from 1 May 2019, for a fixed term period of 4 months (until 31 August 2020).

In return we offer a highly competitive rewards and benefits package including:

• Generous annual leave entitlement
• Training and Development opportunities
• Pension Scheme with generous employer contribution
• Various schemes including Cycle to Work, Season Ticket Loans and help with the cost of Eyesight testing.
• Free parking

The post is based in Egham, Surrey where the College is situated in a beautiful, leafy campus near to Windsor Great Park and within commuting distance from London.

The successful candidate will work under the direction of Dr Daniele Sgandurra together with Prof. Konstantinos Markantonakis, Prof. Chris Mitchell, and Dr Elizabeth Quaglia from the Information Security Group. For an informal discussion about the post, please contact Dr Daniele Sgandurra, at daniele.sgandurra@rhul.ac.uk.

To view further details of this post and to apply please visit https://rhul.engageats.co.uk. The RHUL Recruitment Team can be contacted with queries by email at: recruitment@rhul.ac.uk.

Please quote the reference: 0419-153

Closing Date: TBC

Interview Date: TBC

Please note that it will not be possible for the College to issue a Certificate of Sponsorship for successful candidates as this role does not fall into one of the standard occupational codes deemed eligible for sponsorship by UK Visas and Immigration and the pro-rata salary will not meet the minimum threshold set by UK Visas and Immigration. Successful candidates will therefore need to be eligible to work in the UK or have limited leave to remain in the UK and associated right to work for the duration of their employment with the College, in accordance with the Immigration, Asylum and Nationality Act 2006.