The Department of Computer Science at the Open University of the Netherlands is offering a two-year postdoc-position as part of the ‘Dagobert’ research project on network-based botnet detection using machine learning. We are looking for an enthusiastic researcher who has (nearly) finished his/her PhD in Computer Science or a related field, and preferably has a background in digital security and/or artificial intelligence/data science. The research project is in cooperation with semi-public and private partners that operate as internet infrastructure providers (SIDN, Quarantainenet, Solcon, XS4ALL). The project therefore offers a splendid opportunity to combine theoretic research on botnet detection with strong valorisation and practicalrelevance.
Dagobert-project
The Dagobert-project aims at improving internet security. It addresses the fight against botnets, which are networks of computers infected with malicious software that subsequently can be controlled remotely by cybercriminals to perform malicious activities. Cybercrime due to botnets imposes a major threat with large economical and societal impact. The goal of the Dagobert-project is to develop and evaluate an automated system that accurately detects botnets at a national scale by real-time analysis of high-volume streams of real-life network traffic (in particular DNS) at internet infrastructure providers such as domain name registries and ISPs that participate in the project. 

We intend to achieve this by a novel approach that has the following elements:
We obtain ‘dedicated’ profiles of known botnets by applying advanced machine learning techniques (deep learning) on monitored network data at internet infrastructure providers;

We intend to achieve this by a novel approach that has the following elements:

1. We obtain ‘dedicated’ profiles of known botnets by applying advanced machine learning techniques (deep learning) on monitored network data at internet infrastructure providers;
2. We obtain ‘generic’ profiles (covering both known and unknown botnets) by applying advanced machine learning techniques on the dedicated profiles;
3. We develop, apply and evaluate a botnet detection system in which the dedicated and generic botnet profiles are used in parallel to detect the presence of botnets in real-life, real-time network data streams at internet infrastructure providers.

Besides these technical aspects, the Dagobert-project will also look into governance aspects when integrating and applying the botnet profiling and detection systems in the operational environments of internet infrastructure providers. These governance aspects address how risk management and strategic processes in these organisations are impacted and what measures are required to handle this impact.
A more detailed description of the research project is available at www.open.ou.nl/hvr/dagobert-project.htm. 

Requirements
A (finished or nearly finished) PhD degree in a subject area related to computer science, such as digital security or artificial intelligence/data science
Preferably some practical experience with handling large network data sets and/or applying machine learning

• Solid background and skills in software development
• Creativity, self-management skills and cooperation skills
• Excellent academic writing and presentation skills
• An excellent command of spoken and written English

Fixed-term contract: 2 years.

The salary will be determined on the basis of your education, experience and qualifications but will be in accordance with the general salary scale 11 of the CAO-NU. An indication of the maximum gross salary is € 4,757.=  Euros per month. The Open University has excellent labour conditions in terms of mobility, part time work and paid parental leave.

The Open University of the Netherlands provides good secondary benefits such as training, mobility, part-time employment and paid parental leave.

Studying online anywhere in the Netherlands and Belgium (Flanders)
The Open University of the Netherlands (OUNL) is the university in the Netherlands where students study part-time and follow online and activating education in bachelor and master degree programmes in seven fields of study. Characteristics of the education are openness, flexibility and quality. Enhancing the study success of students is an important point of focus. More than 15.000 students are studying at the OUNL and it has 531 employees. The OUNL has a network of fifteen regional study centres in the Netherlands and six in Belgium (Flanders). The head office is situated in Heerlen.
The most modern technologies and educational insights are applied in bachelor and master programmes and courses and also in projects and programmes with partners. Nationally and internationally the OUNL plays a key role in the innovation of higher education. Education and research are closely interrelated which guarantees that the current state of science is applied. The OUNL not only invests in research in the various academic disciplines, but also in research in learning sciences and learning technologies.

Satisfied students
For several consecutive years, the OUNL has achieved the top 2 position among the fourteen Dutch universities in the National Students Survey, the Dutch university guide ‘Keuzegids Universiteiten’ (in which the ratings by students and experts of the bachelor studies of the fourteen universities are compared), and the Dutch university guide ‘Keuzegids Masters’. In addition all studies score high in the rankings of the universities for these studies. All ratings are available on the website.

Faculty of Management, Science & Technology
The faculty of Management, Science & Technology (MST) is one of the three faculties of the Open University of the Netherlands (OUNL). Education, research and valorisation are the main tasks of the faculty. MST offers academic bachelor and master programmes in the fields of management, environmental science and computer science. Additionally the faculty offers a Liberal Arts & Sciences bachelor program as well as short programmes for professionals (certified professional programs), who aim at gaining more in-depth knowledge. The research program centers on Learning and Innovation in Resillient Systems and is characterized by its multidisciplinary approach. The faculty has a large number of PhD-students who conduct research on various current topics within this research program. In addition, as a faculty of the OUNL, MST is partner in the Business Intelligence & Smart Services (BISS) Institute, which is part of the Brightlands Smart Services Campus (www.brightlands.com/).
At the faculty of MST students can immediately reflect on what they learn in the light of their work situation, e.g. apply theory in practice. Here assignments can be performed and research can be conducted as part of the bachelor or master program they study. As a result of the interdisciplinary focus on education and research, as well as the connection with business, scientific work at this faculty provides innovative and challenging opportunities. 

Department of Computer Science
The Department of Computer Science is one of the seven departments of the MST faculty. The department offers a bachelor programme in Computer Science and two master programmes on Computer Science and Software Engineering. The department also participates in the master programme on Business Process Management & IT. Research in the department concentrates on resilience and trustworthy systems, with cyber security as a main research theme. The department cooperates closely with the Digital Security group at the Radboud University.