As our world is becoming increasingly digitalized, the Internet of Things (IoT) is growing rapidly. As a PhD candidate, you will look into possibilities to improve the security of software in IoT devices. This way, we can work towards safer digital ways to enhance our life and work.

Depending on your interests, you can also look into the wider questions of security evaluation and certification of the software in general and IoT devices in particular, using, for instance, testing (fuzzing) or static analysis. You will be expected to present your research at international computer security conferences and workshops and try out your ideas in case studies.

• An MSc degree in computer science.
• A strong interest in and affinity with security and software.
• Solid programming skills.
• A good command of spoken and written English.
• Good critical thinking and communication skills.

Fixed-term contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).

• Employment: 0,8 (5 year contract) - 1,0 FTE (4 year contract).
• The gross starting salary amounts to €2,434 per month based on a 38-hour working week, and will increase to €3,111 from the fourth year onwards (salary scale P). 
• In addition to the salary: an 8% holiday allowance and an 8.3% end-of-year bonus.
• Duration of the contract: you will be appointed for an initial period of 18 months, after which your performance will be evaluated. If the evaluation is positive, the contract will be extended by 2.5 years (4 year contract) or 3.5 years (5 year contract).
• The intended start date is as soon as possible.
• Your teaching load may be up to 10% of your appointment.
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Care Services. Our Dual Career and Family Care Officer can assist you with family-related support, help your partner or spouse prepare for the local labour market, provide customized support in their search for employment  and help your family settle in Nijmegen.

Additional employment conditions
Work and science require good employment practices. This is reflected in Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions. You can make arrangements for the best possible work-life balance with flexible working hours, various leave arrangements and working from home. You are also able to compose part of your employment conditions yourself, for example, exchange income for extra leave days and receive a reimbursement for your sports subscription. And of course, we offer a good pension plan. You are given plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

The Digital Security research group has a PhD position on software engineering techniques to improve the security of IoT (Internet-of-Things) devices. The goal of the PhD project is to look into possibilities for the generation of secure code from formal specifications and the wider questions of security evaluation and certification of the software in IoT devices.

You will join the Digital Security group of the Institute for Computing and Information Sciences (iCIS) at the Faculty of Science, under the supervision of Dr Erik Poll. The Digital Security Group is one of the leading groups in computer security in the Netherlands and Europe. You will have the opportunity to pursue your PhD in a vibrant international research environment with renowned professors and researchers in various aspects of security and privacy.

This PhD position is part of INTERSECT, a large national project into security for the Internet of Things (IoT). INTERSECT involves six universities in the Netherlands and over 20 non-academic partners from the public and private sectors, including security evaluation companies, IT vendors, and some government and non-profit organisations. As participant in this project you will have opportunities to collaborate with researchers (incl. fellow PhD candidates) at the other universities and to interact with the partners, to try out your research ideas in practice or to inspire new research directions.

iCIS values a diverse workforce, female candidates are therefore particularly encouraged to apply.

PhD candidates in the Netherlands have a professional researcher status, they are university employees rather than students. For other details, see this brochure on pursuing a PhD at Radboud University.