Publisher
source

Tilburg University

PhD in AI-assisted reverse engineering of integrated circuits Tilburg University in Netherlands

Degree Level

PhD

Field of study

Computer Science

Funding

Full-time PhD employment at Tilburg University for 4 years total: a one-year contract with extension to three more years after positive evaluation. Salary ranges from a minimum gross €3,204 per month in the first year to a maximum of €4,051 per month in the fourth year, plus 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may qualify for a tax-free allowance, and the university assists with accommodation.

Deadline

Nov 2, 2026

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Country

Netherlands

University

Tilburg University

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Keywords

Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Deep Learning
Artificial Intelligence
Computer Vision
Reverse Engineering
Hardware Security
Physics
Integrated Circuit

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About this position

Tilburg University is advertising a PhD researcher position on AI-assisted reverse engineering of integrated circuits within the Secure Hardware Intelligence Extraction and Logic Deconstruction (SHIELD) project. The role is based in the Department of Intelligent Systems and the Department of Computational Cognitive Science at Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences, in collaboration with the Netherlands Defence Academy and the Netherlands Forensic Institute.

The research sits at the intersection of computer science, electrical engineering, computer vision, deep learning, and hardware security. The PhD researcher will develop methods for analysing high-resolution microscopy data of integrated circuits, including SEM, PEM, and FIB imaging, with the goal of reconstructing nanoscale chip structures and inferring functional behaviour from physical layouts. Key tasks include multilayer segmentation, nanoscale transistor classification, graph-based logical reconstruction, anomaly detection for hardware trojans, and evaluation of memory extraction and vulnerability analysis methods.

This is a full-time PhD employment position at Tilburg University. The contract starts for one year and can be extended to three additional years after a positive first-year evaluation. Salary is stated as a minimum gross of €3,204 per month in year one up to €4,051 per month in year four, plus holiday allowance and end-of-year bonus. International candidates may qualify for a tax-free allowance, and accommodation support is available.

Applicants should hold a completed master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computational Neuroscience, Physics, or a closely related quantitative field. Strong Python programming skills and experience with PyTorch or TensorFlow are preferred, especially for computer vision and image analysis. The post also asks for strong analytical thinking, problem structuring, clear English communication, and academic writing ability.

The deadline is 2 November 2026. Applications should be submitted through the AcademicTransfer vacancy page. For more information, contact Nevena Rankovic at [email protected].

Funding details

Full-time PhD employment at Tilburg University for 4 years total: a one-year contract with extension to three more years after positive evaluation. Salary ranges from a minimum gross €3,204 per month in the first year to a maximum of €4,051 per month in the fourth year, plus 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus. Candidates from outside the Netherlands may qualify for a tax-free allowance, and the university assists with accommodation.

What's required

A completed university master’s degree in Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Computational Neuroscience, Physics or a closely related field with a strong quantitative focus. Strong programming skills in Python and demonstrated experience with machine deep learning frameworks such as PyTorch or TensorFlow, preferably applied to computer vision and image analysis. Analytical thinking and problem-structuring skills are required, along with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts clearly in written and spoken English and strong academic writing skills.

How to apply

Apply via the AcademicTransfer vacancy page. For questions about the position, contact Nevena Rankovic by email. Review the vacancy details and submit your application before the deadline.

More information can be found here

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