Doctoral student in Electrical Engineering focusing on Cybersecurity

Description of the workplace

The Division of Secure and Networked Systems within the Department of Electrical and Information Technology works broadly with research within Cryptography, Computer Security, Wireless, and Fixed Networks. The security group has around 20 members. The main research directions are Cryptography, Privacy and System Security for Connected Systems. 

We are now looking for a doctoral student to work within cybersecurity and software engineering in a project funded by the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Research, SSF.

Being a doctoral student 

As a doctoral student, you are both admitted as a student and employed at Lund University. 

As a doctoral student, you will be trained in a scientific approach. In short, you will be trained to think critically and analytically, to solve problems independently using the right methods, and to develop an awareness of research ethics. In addition, you will have the opportunity to work on projects, to develop your leadership and pedagogical skills. Throughout your studies, you will be guided by supervisors. Doctoral studies end with a thesis and a doctoral degree.
More about being a doctoral student at LTH on lth.se. 

Project description

You will work in the RESIST project and primarily contribute to the area of protection of distributed AI. RESIST is in collaboration with Linköping University, Örebro University and the research institute RISE and is a multidisciplinary research center that works with the rapidly growing area of ​​developing conditions and techniques to protect future AI-based systems. The center is led by Linköping University with Lund University as a partner.

Work duties

The main duties are to conduct research and teaching at the intersection of cyber-security and software engineering. The research focuses on automated principles for analysing program code. This includes how AI models can be used to analyze and correct software to ensure that it does not contain vulnerabilities. For example, it has been shown that AI-generated code often has significant security flaws. In order to use AI-generated code in high-security applications, the code generation process therefore needs to be made much more robust. The duties include evaluating existing techniques from a security perspective and identifying principles for automatic analysis and code correction. Case studies and experimental research are expected to be central research methods in the doctoral project.

You will primarily devote yourself to your doctoral programme, which includes participation in research projects as well as third cycle courses, seminars and conferences. 

The duties also include participation in teaching and other departmental work (however, a maximum of 20% of working hours).

Qualifications 

To be eligible for admission and employment as a doctoral student, you must fulfil the requirements below.

Admission requirements 

A person meets the general admission requirements for third-cycle courses and study programmes if the applicant: 

• has been awarded a second-cycle qualification, or
• has satisfied the requirements for courses comprising at least 240 credits of which at least 60 credits were awarded in the second cycle, or
• has acquired substantially equivalent knowledge in some other way in Sweden or abroad.

A person meets the specific admission requirements for third cycle studies in Electrical Engineering if the applicant has: 

• at least 60 second-cycle credits in subjects of relevance to Electrical Engineering, or
• a MSc in Engineering in Biomedical Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Engineering Mathematics, Nanoengineering, Engineering Physics, or Information and Communication Engineering.

Additional requirements

In order to complete the doctoral programme in question, the following are also required: 

• Very good software development skills.
• Experience of working with complex computer and communication systems.
• Good ability to work independently and to formulate and tackle research problems.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Good ability to cooperate.
• Very good knowledge of English, spoken and written. 

Other qualifications 

For the doctoral programme in question, the following are considered as other qualifications: 

• Completed courses and/or master thesis work within Computer Security.
• Documented software engineering skills.
• Documented software development skills.
• Documented artificial intelligence technology skills.
• Documented teaching and communication skills.
• Industrial experience.

We offer

Lund University is a public authority which means that employees get particular benefits, generous annual leave and an advantageous occupational pension scheme. 
More about working at Lund University on lu.se. 

About the employment 

The employment is a fixed-term employment at full time, starting as soon as possible by agreement, however no later than September 1, 2026. Third cycle studies at LTH consist of full-time studies for 4 years. In the case of teaching and other departmental duties, the employment is extended accordingly. Doctoral studentships are regulated in the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100), chapter 5, 1-7 §§.
More about terms of employment for doctoral students on Lund University’s Staffpages. 

How to apply

Applications shall be written in English and include: 

• CV and a cover letter stating the reasons why you are interested in the doctoral programme/employment and in what way the research project corresponds to your interests and educational background.
• Copies of issued study certificates and/or awarded degree certificates. These must confirm that you meet the general and specific admission requirements for the doctoral programme and show that you have the subject knowledge required for the doctoral programme project.
• Other documents you wish to be considered (grade transcripts, contact information for your references, letters of recommendation, etc.)

We welcome your application.