Postdoc Position: Usable Privacy-Enhancing Technologies and Attribute-Based Identity Wallet Technology

Radboud International; Nijmegen; Remote; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

8% holiday allowance

8.3% year-end bonus

Extra leave days

Pension plan

Discounts on sports/cultural activity

Job summary

Radboud University invites applications for a postdoctoral position in usable privacy-enhancing technologies and attribute-based identity wallet technology as part of the REAL-PETS project. The role focuses on designing and evaluating user studies for PET usability and prototyping privacy-preserving age verification using ABCs.

You will collaborate with researchers across Europe, contribute to empirical studies, and communicate findings in English while engaging with interdisciplinary partners

Qualifications

• PhD in computer science, cybersecurity or related field or expect degree soon.
• Solid programming skills and knowledge of applied cryptographic technologies used in modern identity wallets (like Yivi).
• Expertise in usable security and privacy (USP) with methodological skills for empirical user studies (experiments, surveys, interviews, data analysis).
• Strong interest in online privacy, data protection, identity management, and societal implications.

Responsibilities

• Design and evaluate user studies to investigate usability of VPNs and other PETs.
• Design and prototype a privacy-preserving age-verification solution based on ABCs.
• Collaborate with partner researchers from Europe and discuss findings across disciplines.
• Communicate research results effectively in written and oral form in English.

Skills

PhD holder

Programming skills

Applied cryptography

Usable security

Human factors

User studies

English proficiency

Education

PhD in CS/Cybersecurity

Tools

Yivi

Job description

Postdoc Position: Usable Privacy-Enhancing Technologies and Attribute-Based Identity Wallet Technology

Are you passionate about strengthening digital privacy and helping to shape trustworthy online technologies? Join the European REAL-PETS project and contribute to cutting-edge research on privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) and privacy-preserving digital identity solutions. Working with researchers and industry partners across Europe, you will help improve both the technical effectiveness and real-world usability of privacy technologies, empowering citizens with transparent and trustworthy privacy protections.

REAL-PETS will generate long-lasting technological, societal and industrial impact: strengthening EU technological sovereignty; enabling regulators to enforce privacy rules through empirical evidence; technology standardisation; fostering privacy-resilient products and services; and empowering citizens with usable, transparent and trustworthy privacy protections.

As a postdoctoral researcher in the REAL-PETS project, you will contribute to two key research tracks within the broader project objectives:

Usable Real-World Privacy-Enhancing Technologies
Together with the other project partners, you will design and evaluate user studies that investigate user perceptions, usage practices and usability improvements of VPNs and other PETs.

Attribute-based Identity Wallets
Together with the other project partners, you will design and prototype a privacy-preserving age verification solution based on attribute-based credentials (ABCs). The goal is to enable users to prove age eligibility without revealing user identity, date of birth or other personal attributes.

• You hold a PhD degree in computer science, cybersecurity or a related field, or expect to obtain such a degree within a few months from now.
• You have solid programming skills and knowledge of the applied cryptographic technologies used in modern identity wallets (like Yivi ).
• You have expertise in usable security and privacy (USP) and human factors research, with methodological expertise in designing and conducting empirical user studies, including controlled experiments, surveys, interviews and qualitative and quantitative data analysis.
• You have a strong interest in online privacy, data protection, identity management, the human factor in computing, and the ethical and societal implications of technology.
• You are curious about other perspectives and enjoy engaging with researchers from non-technical fields such as law, psychology or the social sciences.
• You are proficient in English (Dutch is not required) and have good communication, presentation and writing skills.

If you do not meet all the above-mentioned requirements, please feel free to reach out to ask whether you should apply anyway.

What we offer you

• We will give you a temporary employment contract of two year(s).
• Your salary within salary scale 10 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20.

Additional employment conditions

Work and science require good employment practices. Radboud University's primary and secondary employment conditions reflect this. 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 membership. In addition, you receive a 34% discount on the sports and cultural activities at Radboud University as an employee. And, of course, we offer a good pension plan. We also give you plenty of room and responsibility to develop your talents and realise your ambitions. Therefore, we provide various training and development schemes.

Where you will be working

You will join the Digital Security ( DiS ) group at the Institute for Computing and Information Sciences ( iCIS ) at Radboud University’s Faculty of Science. The Digital Security group is one of the leading groups in computer security and privacy in the Netherlands and Europe.

You will also be part of iHub , Radboud University’s interdisciplinary research hub on Digitalisation and Society. It brings together researchers from computer science, social sciences, humanities, law and other disciplines to address societal challenges arising from digitalisation. iHub provides a collaborative environment for research at the intersection of technology, security, privacy and society, fostering collaboration across disciplines and the development of value-driven digital technologies.

Faculty of Science The Faculty of Science (FNWI), part of Radboud University, engages in groundbreaking research and excellent education. In doing so we push the boundaries of scientific knowledge and pass that knowledge on to the next generation.

We seek solutions to major societal challenges, such as cybercrime and climate change and work on major scientific challenges, such as those in the quantum world. At the same time, we prepare our students for careers both within and outside the scientific field.

Currently, more than 1,300 colleagues contribute to research and education, some as researchers and lecturers, others as technical and administrative support officers. The faculty has a strong international character with staff from more than 70 countries. Together, we work in an informal, accessible and welcoming environment, with attention and space for personal and professional development for all.

Radboud University At Radboud University, we aim to make an impact through our work. We achieve this by conducting groundbreaking research, providing high-quality education, offering excellent support, and fostering collaborations within and outside the university. In doing so we contribute indispensably to a healthy, free world with equal opportunities for all. To accomplish this we need even more colleagues who, based on their expertise, are willing to search for answers. We advocate for an inclusive community and welcome employees with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.

If you want to learn more about working at Radboud University, follow our Instagram account and read stories from our colleagues.

The first interviews will take place on Wednesday 18 November. Any second interview will take place on Tuesday 1 December. You will preferably start your employment on 1 April 2027.

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure . It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates.

Do you already work at Radboud University and have questions about making an internal move? Learn more about internal applications .