PhD Position in Software and Systems Security – Department of Electronics and Information Systems Ghent University in Belgium

Ghent University, a leading European institution with over 15,000 staff and 85 departments, is offering a full-time PhD position in the Department of Electronics and Information Systems, specifically within the Computing Systems Lab (CSL). The CSL is renowned for its research on powerful, energy-efficient, and secure computing systems, focusing on innovative processor architectures, resource management, embedded systems, and security solutions. The System Software team, led by Professor Bjorn De Sutter, is seeking a doctoral fellow to advance research in software and systems security.

This PhD project centers on developing scalable techniques for finding, mitigating, and fixing bugs and vulnerabilities in large code bases written in C, C++, and Rust. Unlike many existing tools that require domain-specific knowledge or are too resource-intensive for practical use, this research aims to create solutions that learn rules from the code base itself and are efficient enough for real-world development environments. Key research topics include: (i) learning-based bug detection in C/C++/Rust code bases, (ii) automatic bug fixing, and (iii) enhancing static analysis tools to handle very large code bases. The work will contribute to both academic knowledge and practical tools for industry adoption.

As a PhD student, you will collaborate with a diverse team of professors, postdocs, and fellow PhD students, sharing infrastructure and datasets, and engaging in open science practices. You will present your findings at international conferences and publish in scientific journals. The position also includes limited teaching responsibilities as a course assistant.

Eligibility requires a Master’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Science Engineering, Informatics, or a closely related field. Candidates must demonstrate strong technical skills in systems programming, operating systems, and compilers, with mandatory proficiency in C/C++. Experience with developer tools (debuggers, compilers, software analysis and rewriting), LLVM, fuzzing, Linux environments, and large open-source projects is highly valued. Applicants should be independent, analytical, communicative, and fluent in English.

The fellowship offers a competitive, tax-free salary for up to 48 months, with the initial contract for 12 months renewable upon positive evaluation. Additional benefits include extensive training opportunities, 36 days of annual leave, bicycle allowance, and eco vouchers. Ghent University promotes equal opportunities and diversity in recruitment.

To apply, submit your CV, three references, diploma and transcripts (if available), and a motivation letter to Prof. Bjorn De Sutter at [email protected] by January 31, 2026. For further details, visit the supervisor’s academic page or contact him directly. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.