PhD Candidate in Quantum-safe verifiable credentials

Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU); Trondheim; Vor Ort; NOK 522.000 - 638.000; Vollzeit

Benefits dieser Stelle

Open and inclusive working environment

Career guidance during PhD

SPK pension membership

Free Norwegian language training

Zusammenfassung

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) invites applications for a PhD Candidate in Mathematical Sciences. The project investigates security of digital wallet designs, developing post-quantum, privacy-preserving credentials, with formal security proofs and lattice-based cryptography.

You will complete doctoral education, perform high-quality research, publish results, and participate in the NaCl research group, with opportunities to present at international conferences and to

Qualifikationen

• Master's degree in mathematical cryptology or equivalent with a 30 ECTS independent project.
• Admission to NTNU's Doctoral Programme in Mathematical Sciences.
• Fluent oral and written English.

Aufgaben

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate.
• Carry out research of good quality within the described framework.
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination.

Kenntnisse

Presentation in English

Teaching ability

Ausbildung

Master's degree in mathematical cryptology

Master's thesis (30 ECTS)

Jobbeschreibung

About The Position

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? As a PhD Candidate with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a further career in higher education and research, in and outside academia.

The main objectives of the PhD project is to evaluate the exact security of current wallet designs to establish a baseline, develop quantum-safe, verifiable, privacy-preserving credentials, with post-quantum and hybrid constructions and accompanying formal security proofs, in such a way that we realize the principles for built-in privacy in wallet protocols, including selective disclosure, pseudonymization and minimal data sharing. We expect to use lattice-based cryptography for our designs. Close cooperation with the other PhD candidates in the project will be needed to achieve the project goals.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Department.

About The Project

The position is part of the project Cryptology and social life: Sovereignty, security and society meet digital wallets, funded by NTNU. The overall project goal is to develop knowledge, methodologies and competencies that strengthen Norway's ability to deploy and maintain secure, privacy-preserving and democratically aligned digital identity wallets. The challenges are interdisciplinary, cutting across issues of digital sovereignty, identity management and security technologies. This project will strengthen Norway's societal resilience by treating digital identity as a problem to be secured technologically, organizationally and culturally at once.

Duties of the position

• Complete the doctoral education until obtaining a doctorate.
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above.
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination.
• Participate in the research group NaCl.
• Participate in international activities such as conferences and/or research stays at foreign educational institutions.
• Teaching.
• Other career-promoting work.

Be prepared for changes to your work duties after employment.

Required Selection Criteria

• You must meet the requirements for admission to the IE faculty's Doctoral Programme in Mathematical Sciences, see Section 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information.
• You must have a relevant Master's degree in mathematicalcryptology or equivalent. Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a master’s thesis.
• Master students can apply, but the master's degree must be obtained and documented before starting the position and no later than August 31, 2027.
• You must have a strong and relevant academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to NTNU's grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker academic background, you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education, for example through relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed academic works.
• Ability to teach and perform other career-promoting work.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in English.

Preferred Selection Criteria

• Experience with lattice-based cryptography.
• Experience with zero knowledge proofs.
• Experience with verifiable credential systems.
• Good oral and written presentation skills in Norwegian/Scandinavian may be considered as a positive.

Personal characteristics

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:

• Work independently.
• Work in a structured way, set goals and make plans to achieve them.
• Present and discuss your research with other professionals.
• Get involved and contribute constructively with feedback.
• Show curiosity and a strong motivation for the subject.

Emphasis will be placed on personal qualities.

We offer

• An exciting job with an important mission in society.
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment.
• Career guidance and follow-up during the PhD period.
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues.
• Working capital that can be used to implement the project.
• Favorable terms as a member of the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK).
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2).

As a PhD Candidate at NTNU, you will have access to employee benefits.

Diversity

Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is Knowledge for a better world and our values are creative, critical, constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of measures to promote equality.

Salary and conditions

In the position of PhD Candidate, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 580 000,-per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

The employment period is 3 years for the doctoral work and additionally 1 year of career promotion work.

For employment as a PhD Candidate, it is a prerequisite that you gain admission to the PhD programme in Mathematical Sciences within three months of your employment contract start date, and that you participate in an organized doctoral programme throughout the period of employment.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed.

General information

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Kristian Gjøsteen, email: [e-mail]. If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Lisa Wedershoven, email: [e-mail].

The city of Trondheim

is a modern European city with a rich cultural scene. Trondheim is the tech capital of Norway with a population of 200,000. The Norwegian welfare state, including healthcare, schools, kindergartens and overall equality, is probably the best of its kind in the world. Professional subsidized day-care for children is easily available. Furthermore, Trondheim offers great opportunities for education (including international schools) and possibilities to enjoy nature, culture and family life and has low crime rates and clean air quality.

NTNU - knowledge for a better world

The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Mathematical Sciences

We are Norway’s largest university environment in mathematical sciences.

The Department has a particular responsibility for all basis education in mathematical sciences for engineering and natural science students at NTNU. We focus on long-term basic research and applied research at a high international level.

Our aim is to meet the society’s needs for mathematical and statistical expertise in business and public administration as well as in the research and education sector. The Department of Mathematical Sciences is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering .