Research Fellow (Electronic & Electrical Engineering / Physics / Microelectronics)

Nanyang Technological University Singapore; Singapore; On-site; SGD 55,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

Nanyang Technological University Singapore is seeking a Research Fellow to conduct secure research on microchips for quantum key distribution systems. The role involves analyzing potential hardware security vulnerabilities and developing attack-resistant design solutions.

The ideal candidate will have a PhD in a relevant field and hands-on experience in hardware security evaluation. Responsibilities include investigating attack techniques, building testing environments, and collaborating on system designs.

Qualifications

• PhD degree in a relevant field required.
• Hands-on experience in hardware security evaluation.
• Ability to operate lab instruments for security testing.

Responsibilities

• Conduct hardware security analysis of microchips.
• Investigate emerging attack techniques.
• Build testing environments for security evaluations.

Skills

Hardware security evaluation

Python

MATLAB

C++

Communication skills

Teamwork

Education

PhD degree in Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Physics, Microelectronics, or related field

Tools

Oscilloscopes

Lasers

Job description

National Integrated Centre for Evaluation (NiCE) @ NTU is a collaboration between Cyber Security Agency of Singapore (CSA) and NTU. Strategically located in NTU to leverage on their knowledge, expertise and experience in software and hardware assurance, NiCE will be a one‑stop facility for product testing, inspection and evaluation. In this opening, we are looking for a Research Fellow to conduct secure and reliable research on microchips used in quantum key distribution (QKD) systems. The researcher will focus on investigating and identifying potential hardware‑level security vulnerabilities and exploring innovative, attack‑resistant design solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct hardware security analysis of microchips, with a focus on potential attack approaches such as laser probing.
• Investigate and explore emerging, innovative attack techniques for hardware security evaluation.
• Build testing environments and perform rigorous physical security evaluations (e.g., laser probing, e‑beam probing) to assess real‑world security performance.
• Study potential protective mechanisms and collaborate closely with teams in QKD system design, photonic design, and electronics development to integrate security features into the overall QKD system architecture.

Job Requirements

• PhD degree in Electronic & Electrical Engineering, Physics, Microelectronics, or related field.
• Hands‑on experience in hardware security evaluation and analysis.
• Ability to independently operate lab instruments (e.g., oscilloscopes, lasers) for security testing and data analysis.
• Proficiency with tools such as Python, MATLAB, or C++ for modeling, simulation, and automated test script development.
• Basic knowledge of mainstream QKD hardware is preferred.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Strong communication and teamwork skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary environment.

We regret to inform that only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Hiring Institution: NTU