Umeå University
1 week ago
1–2 PhD Students in Computing Science with Focus on Cryptography and Cybersecurity Umeå University in Sweden
Degree Level
PhD
Field of study
Computer Science
Funding
PhD employment for four years, mainly devoted to doctoral studies (at least 80%); up to 20% department service may be included, extending the total employment to a maximum of five years. Salary is according to the doctoral student salary ladder; no stipend amount is stated.
Deadline
Sep 15, 2026
Country
Sweden
University
Umeå University
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About this position
Umeå University is advertising 1–2 PhD students in Computing Science with a focus on cryptography and cybersecurity. The position is based in the Department of Computing Science and is connected to the WASP graduate school (Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program), offering a strong research environment and interdisciplinary network.
The project centers on the design and analysis of symmetric-key cryptography, including message authentication codes, pseudorandom functions, encryption schemes, deck functions, hash functions, and hash-based signatures. The research has applications in quantum-secure and post-quantum cryptography as well as leakage-resilient and tamper-resilient cryptography. Possible directions include variable-length leakage-resilient encryption schemes, stream ciphers and wide-block ciphers, theoretical analysis of emerging modes of operation and threat models, and security notions/attacks/proofs for hash-based signatures with physical attacks.
The supervisor named in the post is Asst. Prof. Mustafa Khairallah. The role is a doctoral employment for four years, with possible extension up to five years if department service is included. Salary follows the doctoral student salary ladder.
Eligibility highlights include a second-cycle degree or equivalent, at least 90 ECTS in computer science or a directly relevant subject, familiarity with cryptography, transcripts showing coursework in probability theory, programming, and linear algebra, ability to read and write mathematical proofs and cryptographic analyses, and strong academic English. Helpful experience includes hardware implementation, HDL/FPGA work, side-channel attacks, cryptographic implementation, and for some directions coursework in algorithms, theory of computing, quantum computing, and discrete mathematics.
Applications must be submitted electronically through Umeå University’s e-recruitment system by 2026-09-15. Required documents include a cover letter, CV, thesis copies and publications, degree certificates with course records and grades, at least two references, and documentation of other relevant experience. The application must be in English or Swedish, and attachments must be in PDF format.
Funding details
PhD employment for four years, mainly devoted to doctoral studies (at least 80%); up to 20% department service may be included, extending the total employment to a maximum of five years. Salary is according to the doctoral student salary ladder; no stipend amount is stated.
What's required
Applicants must meet general doctoral admission requirements: a second-cycle degree, or at least 240 ECTS credits with at least 60 ECTS at second-cycle level, or equivalent foreign qualifications. For computer science doctoral studies, at least 90 ECTS in computer science or directly relevant subjects are required. For this position, applicants must be familiar with cryptography, provide transcripts showing coursework in probability theory, programming, and linear algebra, be able to read and write mathematical proofs and cryptographic analyses, and be proficient in academic English. Meritorious qualifications include experience with hardware implementation, hardware description languages, FPGA implementation, side-channel attacks, cryptographic implementation, and for one research direction coursework in algorithms, theory of computing, quantum computing, and discrete mathematics, plus published work on modes of operation.
How to apply
Apply electronically through Umeå University’s e-recruitment system. Submit a cover letter, CV, thesis copies and relevant publications, degree certificates with course documentation and grades, contact details for at least two references, and documentation of other relevant experience. The application must be in English or Swedish and all attachments in PDF format. Submit by 2026-09-15.
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