The chair for Biometric Pattern Recognition seeks an early-stage researcher pursuing a PhD qualification in the area of biometrics and homomorphic encryption. Recent research has shown that a novel approach integrating the optimal likelihood-ratio-based classifier in a homomorphic encryption scheme results in a very fast biometric recognition under encryption with near optimal recognition performance. The specific research topic of this position is to develop this approach further. The researcher will investigate the integration of this approach in deep-learning-based biometric recognition and the extension to other multi-party schemes and more malicious attack scenarios.

This vacancy is part of the EU-funded project PriMa. PriMa stands for Privacy Matters and is a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network (ITN).  PriMa will train a next generation of researchers to define, investigate and implement solutions that ensure secure and efficient privacy protection whilst keeping the advantages of a digitalised society. The PhD students in PriMa will work together on the analysis of privacy risks stemming from the digitalisation of society, the protection of privacy against these risks, and the impact assessment of proposed privacy protection solutions.

• We are seeking highly motivated persons with an excellent background and a MSc. degree in electrical engineering, computer science or mathematics.
• You have solid understanding of state-of-the-art biometric recognition techniques.
• You have experience in designing privacy-preserving biometric protocols protected by cryptographic means.
• You have experience in applying homomorphic encryption for secure data processing.
• You have a rigorous understanding of formal security definitions.
• You have good programming skills oriented toward homomorphic encryption and biometric systems.
• You enjoy communicating your work verbally and in writing. You enjoy working as part of a team, and yet are capable of working independently.
• You are curiosity-driven, but you are committed to deliver by hard deadlines too.
• Your involvement in the team inspires progress and you have clear scientific communication skills.
• We prefer applicants with strong English language proficiency.

 ITNs pose the following additional requirements on the applicants:

• You must not have resided or carried out your main activity (work,studies,etc) in the Netherlands for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to your recruitment.
• You shall at the date of recruitment be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of your research career and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.

Besides this vacancy there are 13 other open PhD positions in PriMa. Potential applicants are invited to review these positions. For more information about PriMa in general and the other vacancies, including links, can be found here: www.prima-itn.eu.

INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

You can electronically apply for this position, through the link below, before February 28, 2020. For more information please contact prof.dr. Raymond Veldhuis, r.n.j.veldhuis@utwente.nl.

We offer a PhD position for four years (38 hrs/week).

• An outstanding scientific environment: our research group was ranked 1st in the last national research assessment.
• Full status as an employee at the University of Twente, including pension and health care benefits.
  Gross salary PhD student: ranging from € 2.325,- (1st year) to € 2.972,- (4th year) per month, plus holiday allowance (8%) and end-of-year bonus (8.3%) and a number of additional benefits
• Extensive opportunities for professional and personal development.
• Good secondary conditions, in accordance with the collective labour agreement CAO-NU for Dutch universities.
• A green and lively campus, with excellent sports facilities and many other activities.

The University of Twente. We stand for life sciences and technology. High tech and human touch. Education and research that matter. New technology which leads change, innovation and progress in society. The University of Twente is the only campus university of the Netherlands; divided over five faculties we provide more than fifty educational programmes. We have a strong focus on personal development and talented researchers are given scope for carrying out groundbreaking research.

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status or disability status. Because of our diversity values we do particularly support women to apply.

The faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics and Computer Science (EEMCS) comprises three disciplines that shape Information and Communication Technology. ICT is more than communication. In almost every product we use mathematics, electronics and computer technology and ICT now contributes to all of societies' activities. The faculty works together intensively with industrial partners and researchers in the Netherlands and abroad and conducts extensive research for external commissioning parties and funders. The research which enjoys a high profile both at home and internationally, has been accommodated in the multidisciplinary research institutes: Mesa+ Institute, TechMed Centra and Digital Society Institute.