[TYPES/announce] PhD positions in Dept. of Computer Science, U. of Oslo (with topic: Secure and Robust Networks)

[Martin Steffen]

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       University of Oslo, Department of Informatics

          PhD Research Fellowships in the Initiative

     Concurrent Security and Robustness for Networked Systems (ConSeRNS)

      Deadline for application: 20. April 2014

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The fellowships are for a period of up-to 4 years, with 25 % compulsory
work (such as teaching assistance).

Starting date: no later than 01.10.2014.

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o Job/ project description:

   The Department of Computer Science offers 3 PhD positions in the general
   area of formal methods and their application to the security and
   robustness for concurrent and distributed systems. 

   The open topics are more specifically:


   - Design and Formal Analysis of User Authentication Systems:

       This Ph.D. research project focuses on designing, formalizing, and
       formally verifying seamless and continuous user authentication
       architectures.  A holistic approach to security design is desirable,
       meaning that contextual elements can be considered part of the
       security protocol which then becomes a security ceremony. A key part
       of the project is therefore the development of formal analysis
       methods for security ceremonies.

   -  Secure and Robust Network-based Systems (1)

         The goal is to investigate the trade-off between QoS (Quality of
         Service) on one hand, and security and robustness on the other,
         when designing and configuring IT systems. Self-protection is part
         of the design approach, whereby a countermeasure is automatically
         identified and applied when an attack or threat is discovered. The
         challenge is to make optimal decisions with regard to balancing
         the need to offer services of high quality (e.g. performance) and
         the need to protect against attacks.

   -  Secure and Robust Network-based Systems (2)


       The goal is to address the problem of how IT systems during runtime
       can assess, detect, react and adapt to current security threats,
       vulnerabilities and attacks in order to achieve a certain level of
       security threat immunity. Elements to be considered as part of this
       PhD project is the development of models for dynamic risk, the
       design of redundant security architectures, and the application of
       formal methods for security design verification.



   Applicants must hold a Master's degree or equivalent in the area of
   computer science with an emphasis on formal methods, theoretical
   computer science, networks and distributed systems, and/or information
   security.

o Further info about the application procedure, contact, salary etc under 
  the institute's announcements for the 3 positions:

     - http://uio.easycruit.com/vacancy/1149293
     - http://uio.easycruit.com/vacancy/1149275
     - http://uio.easycruit.com/vacancy/1149285

    (see also 
          http://www.mn.uio.no/ifi/english/research/projects/conserns/news/news-phdposition.html, 
     
      for an overview, including 2 additional ConSeRNS-positions with less
      focus on formal methods)

o Institutional framework

  The positions are part of the ConSeRNS initiative (Concurrent Security
  and Robustness for Networked Systems) at the University of Oslo. The
  initiative targets essential research challenges in security and
  robustness of ICT infrastructures.  ConSeRNS is part of a national Center
  for Resilient Networks and Applications (CRNA), which spans Simula
  Research Laboratory, the University of Bergen as well as the University
  of Oslo.

  The Ph.D positions are associated to the University of Oslo, Department
  of Computer Science, by the research groups :

     - Precise Modelling and Analysis :    http://www.mn.uio.no/ifi/english/research/groups/pma/
     - Networked and Distributed Systems:  http://www.mn.uio.no/ifi/english/research/groups/nd/






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