Full-time PhD position (m,f,x) in the area of decentralized security

Ruhr University Bochum; Bochum; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Teamorientierte Zusammenarbeit

Arbeit an einer der größten Universita

Internationale Umfeld

Hervorragendes Forschungsumfeld

Freundliches Arbeitsklima

Dynamisches Umfeld

Job summary

Ruhr-Universität Bochum sucht eine/n PhD-Student:in im Bereich dezentraler Systemsicherheit. Hauptaufgabe ist Forschung, Analyse und Verbesserung von Sicherheit und Privatsphäre dezentraler Plattformen sowie Verbesserung von Leistung und Skalierbarkeit.

Das Team arbeitet international und kooperiert mit Instituts- und Industriepartnern; Lehre in verschiedenen IT-Sicherheitskursen ist vorgesehen. Start baldmöglichst, befristete Anstellung von drei Jahren.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or a related field.
• Exzellente Kommunikationsfähigkeiten in Englisch.
• Hintergrund in IT-Sicherheit, Privacy, verteilte Systeme erwünscht.
• Erfahrung in Softwareentwicklung mit Python, Golang, Java oder C/C++ vorteilhaft.

Responsibilities

• Forschung, Analyse und Verbesserung von Sicherheit und Datenschutz dezentraler Plattformen.
• Unterricht und Lehre in IT-Sicherheit; Mitarbeit an Projekten.
• Zusammenarbeit mit Partnerinstitutionen wie MPI-SP.

Skills

Interpersonal-Kommunikation

Englisch-Kommunikation

IT-Sicherheit

Distributed Systems

Python

Golang

Java

C/C++

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science

Job description

Full-time PhD position (m,f,x) in the area of decentralized security

Join a World-Class Research Team in Information Security The Chair for Information Security at Ruhr University Bochum — led by Prof. Dr. Ghassan Karame and part of the Faculty of Computer Science since 2021 — brings together an international, multicultural team of researchers pushing the boundaries of decentralized and systems security. Our work spans a broad spectrum of security and privacy challenges, with a particular emphasis on decentralized security and distributed machine learning security. We are proud to be affiliated with: • Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security (HGI), one of Europe's most respected centers for fundamental research in computer security. Founded over two decades ago, HGI maintains deep collaborations with world-renowned academic institutions, industry leaders, and media partners — and has been a launchpad for numerous successful cybersecurity startups.CASA — Cluster of Excellence: Securing the Digital Society is a leading center for cybersecurity research at Ruhr University Bochum. Through an innovative and interdisciplinary research program, CASA strengthens the resilience of the digital society, bringing together internationally renowned researchers to develop next-generation security solutions that holistically protect large-scale socio-technical systems, spanning cryptography, hardware and software, and the intersection of technology with users and society. Funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) with €53 million for its second phase from 2026 to 2032, CASA is hosted at the Horst Görtz Institute (HGI) at RUB and partnered with the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy (MPI-SP).

The Chair for Information Security has an immediate full-time PhD position (m,f,x) in the area of (decentralized) systems security (currently 39.83 hours /week = 100%).

• Scope: full-time
• Duration: fixed-term,3 Jahre
• Start: at the earliest possible date
• Apply by: 2026-11-02

Your tasks:

• The main task in this position is to research, analyze, and improve the security and privacy of modern decentralized platforms while enhancing their performance and scalability.
• Members of Prof. Karame's Chair conduct research and teaching in various areas of IT security. The Chair offers various courses in the Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programs and participates in several third-party-funded projects.
• This international and dynamic team also cooperates with several university and non-university institutions (e.g., the Max Planck Institute for Security and Privacy).

Your profile:

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Computer Science or related field
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills in English
• Background in the areas of IT security and privacy, system security, and distributed systems is a plus.
• Experience in software development including experience with programming languages, such as Python, Golang, Java, or C/C++ is also a plus.

We offer:

• Collaboration in a committed and appreciative team
• Employment at one of the largest universities in Germany within the University Alliance Ruhr
• A job in the heart of the lively Ruhr metropolitan region with its diverse cultural offerings
• Team-oriented cooperation in a committed, international and appreciative team
• Excellent research environment with award-winning scientists
• A friendly and collegial environment
• A dynamic environment

Further information:

The position is salaried and based on the collective agreement of the Länder (TV-L).If the personal and collective agreement requirements are met, the employee will receive pay grade E12/E13 TV-L.

Further information can be found at https://oeffentlicher-dienst.info/ (in German).

The place of work is Ruhr University Bochum.

The load of teaching will be calculated according to § 3 of Lehrverpflichtungsverordnung (state of North Rhine-Westphalia).

RUB sees itself as a university with an international presence. The campus languages are German and English. Competence in at least one of the two languages and the willingness to learn the other are a prerequisite. RUB provides corresponding free courses for employees.

German language courses are offered by the University Language Center (ZFA) in the field of German as a Foreign Language (DaF). https://www.daf.ruhr-uni-bochum.de/daf/mitarbeitende/index.html.en

The Staff Council has the right to participate in all selection interviews. At the request of a candidate (m/f/x), it will ensure its participation in the entire procedure. Please contact [e-mail].

The Ruhr-Universität Bochum is one of Germany’s leading research universities, addressing the whole range of academic disciplines. A highly dynamic setting enables researchers and students to work across the traditional boundaries of academic subjects and faculties. To create knowledge networks within and beyond the university is Ruhr-Universität Bochum’s declared aim.

The Ruhr-Universität Bochum stands for diversity and equal opportunities. For this reason, we favour a working environment composed of heterogeneous teams, and seek to promote the careers of individuals who are underrepresented in our respective professional areas. The Ruhr-Universität Bochum expressly requests job applications from women. In areas in which they are underrepresented they will be given preference in the case of equivalent qualifications with male candidates. Applications from individuals with disabilities are most welcome.

Contact persons for further information:

Rebecca Pfeiffer-Kroll, Tel.: [phone]

Travel costs, accommodation costs and loss of earnings or other application costs for job interviews can unfortunately not be reimbursed.