Mustafa Khairallah

Umeå University, one of Sweden’s largest and most dynamic higher education institutions, is renowned for its world-leading research and high-quality education. The Department of Computing Science, internationally recognized for excellence, is seeking 1-2 PhD students specializing in Cryptography and Cybersecurity. The department offers a vibrant, inclusive environment and is affiliated with major national research programs, including WASP (Wallenberg AI, Autonomous Systems and Software Program), WASP-HS, and eSSENCE. The PhD project centers on the design and analysis of modes of operation for symmetric-key cryptography, covering message authentication codes, pseudorandom functions, encryption schemes, deck functions, hash functions, and hash-based signatures. Applications include quantum-secure and post-quantum cryptography, as well as leakage- and tamper-resilient cryptography. Research directions may involve variable-length leakage-resilient encryption schemes (stream ciphers, wide-block ciphers), theoretical analysis of emerging modes and threat models, and security notions, attacks, and proofs for hash-based signatures, with a focus on physical attacks. The project is supervised by Assistant Professor Mustafa Khairallah. Selected students will join the Department of Computing Science and the WASP graduate school, benefiting from interdisciplinary training, research visits, and a strong professional network. The position is primarily devoted to PhD studies (at least 80%), with up to 20% departmental service (teaching), potentially extending the position to five years. Funding is provided according to the university’s established salary ladder for doctoral student employment. Admission requirements include a second-cycle degree or equivalent, or at least 240 ECTS credits (with 60 ECTS at second-cycle level), and at least 90 ECTS in computer science or directly relevant subjects. Applicants must demonstrate familiarity with cryptography, provide transcripts for probability theory, programming, and linear algebra, and show proficiency in academic English. Additional merits include experience with hardware implementation, hardware description languages, FPGA implementation, side-channel attacks, and cryptographic implementation. For theoretical research directions, coursework in algorithms, theory of computing, quantum computing, and discrete mathematics, as well as published work on modes of operation, are advantageous. Teamwork and collaboration skills are expected. Applications must be submitted electronically via the Umeå University e-recruitment system by 31 May 2026. Required documents include a cover letter, CV, copies of theses and publications, degree certificates, transcripts, contact information for at least two references, and documentation of relevant experiences. Applications should be written in English or Swedish, and all attachments must be in pdf format. The department values gender diversity and encourages applications from women and those outside the gender binary. For further information, contact Assistant Professor Mustafa Khairallah at [email protected]. For details about WASP and the graduate school, visit WASP and WASP Graduate School . Apply directly at Umeå University Open Positions .