PhD in Applied Cryptography

University of Turku; Turku; On-site; EUR 27,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully funded PhD position

Publish in top-tier cybersecurity/jrnl

Collaborate with European universities

Training courses for researchers

International research community

Supportive work environment

Job summary

The Department of Computing at the Faculty of Technology at the University of Turku invites applications for a full-time, salaried Doctoral Researcher position focusing on applied cryptography and privacy enhancing technologies. The fixed-term contract runs until 30 September 2029.

As part of a high-impact European project, you will conduct deep dive research, collaborate with academic and industrial partners, supervise MSc and Bachelor students, and participate in teaching and dissemination

Qualifications

• MSc in CS/Math or related field with strong foundation in PETs and cryptographic algorithms.
• Interest in or prior experience with cryptography and collaboration with academia/industry.
• Good English proficiency, both written and spoken.

Responsibilities

• Conduct deep-dive research into applied cryptography and PETs.
• Collaborate with interdisciplinary teams across Europe on a high-impact project.
• Supervise MSc and Bachelor students and assist in teaching activities.
• Engage in proposal writing, dissemination, and scientific publishing.

Skills

Cryptography basics

PETs expertise

Analytical thinking

English proficiency

Education

MSc in Computer Science or Mathematics

Job description

Doctoral Researcher

The Department of Computing at the Faculty of Technology invites applications for a full-time, salaried Doctoral Researcher position. This role focuses on the applied cryptography and privacy enhancing technologies research. The fixed-term position starts based on mutual agreement and ends on 30.9.2029.

Job description

This position is integrated into a high-impact European research project. As a Doctoral researcher, you will conduct deep-dive research into the applied cryptography domain. You will join an elite, interdisciplinary team, collaborating closely with leading academic experts and industrial architects across Europe. The successful candidate will focus on one of following pillars:

• Privacy enhancing technologies: Database security and privacy, designing theoretical protocols and algorithms.
• Post-quantum cryptography: Developing robust mechanisms for data protection and user privacy, focusing on either signature or encryption. Design, develop, and implement state-of-the-art PETs and post-quantum cryptographic schemes. Collaborate closely with top-tier European universities and industrial partners.

Participate in project implementation and dissemination activities. Contribute to academic life by supervising MSc and Bachelor students, and assisting in teaching activities. Engage in training opportunities including proposal writing, high-impact scientific publishing, and collaborative research with international teams.

Who we are looking for

MSc degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, or related field. A solid foundation in Computer Science with a deep understanding of PETs and cryptographic related algorithms. A strong interest in or prior experience with cryptography. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Interest in collaborative research with both academia and industry. Good English proficiency (written and spoken).

Qualification requirements

The eligibility criteria for prospective applicants are defined in the University of Turku’s rules of procedure. A person selected for the post of doctoral researcher is required to have a right to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Turku. In addition, when acquiring their degree or otherwise, they are required to have demonstrated the ability to undertake postgraduate studies and the capacity to complete a doctoral degree in accordance with the research plan. Please note that before obtaining the study right for a Doctoral Program, the job title will be Project Researcher, and the duration of the contract will be made until 31.7.2027 at the latest. The candidate is expected to apply for the study right in the next available call to e.g. the Doctoral Programme in Technology. Thus, please check the student information and application criteria Doctoral Programme in Technology - Admission Criteria and Instructions for Applicants | University of Turku (please pay attention to the mandatory skill level in English).

Benefits

• A fully funded PhD position in an internationally recognized research environment.
• Opportunities to publish in top-tier cybersecurity journals and flag-ship conferences.
• Opportunities to collaborate with and visit outstanding European universities and industrial partners.
• Training courses for academic researchers, e.g., proposal writing, scientific writing, project development, teaching qualification.
• A vibrant, international, and supportive research community.
• We offer you responsible and interesting tasks and the opportunity to develop your professional skills in a versatile operating environment.
• You get a professional and inspiring team to support your work.
• We take care of your well-being at work and the functionality of your everyday life, e.g. with the help of flexible working hours and our well-being services.

Salary and trial period

• The starting salary (OV1) is on average 2400 euros/month, depending on competence and experience.
• For a doctoral/project researcher (OV02-OV04), the salary will be at the beginning of employment on average 2500-2700 euros/month, depending on previous experience and skills.
• A six (6) month trial period applies to the position.

Employer & Culture

We value collegiality and promote equality, diversity, and inclusivity. We encourage all qualified applicants with different backgrounds to apply for our open positions.

The European Commission has awarded the University of Turku the right to use the HR Excellence in Research quality label. The label is a token of the University’s commitment to continuous development of the position and working conditions of researchers according to the guidelines set forth in the European Charter for Researchers.

The university offers good support and orientation for international hires. Please learn more about the Finnish culture and relocation to Finland: City of Turku Welcome visitor International House of Turku Working culture: infoFinland.fi This is Finland Careers in Southwest Finland Finland - a superpower of education and innovations | University of Turku (utu.fi) The University of Turku is among the top of the world’s universities in most rankings and among the best universities in the world in certain fields. Our high-quality basic research, a multidisciplinary research profile and close cooperation in research infrastructures creates the basis for international top research. Read more about University of Turku in international university rankings. The University of Turku has several high-quality research infrastructures required for cutting-edge research. Learn more about the roadmap of research infrastructures and how the research infrastructure and expert teams offer tailored solutions for businesses and organizations.