PhD in Cybersecurity: Security, Privacy and Trust in AI and Distributed Systems at Stockholm University

Job Description

Stockholm University’s Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV) is recruiting a PhD student in cybersecurity. The project sits where security, AI and distributed systems meet: securing AI-enabled distributed systems, and using AI to secure large networks and infrastructure. Possible directions include the security and privacy of generative and agentic AI, trustworthy AI for critical infrastructure, privacy-enhancing technologies, secure protocols and graph-based security analytics, combining formal analysis with building and testing real systems.

At a glance

• Position: Doctoral student (1 post), four years full time
• Where: Department of Computer and Systems Sciences (DSV), Kista campus
• Contact: Assoc. Prof. Yuhong Li, yuhongli@dsv.su.se
• Reference: SU FV-2885-26
• Apply by: 15 October 2026
• Apply: 15 October 2026

About the cybersecurity PhD

• Research security, robustness and privacy of generative and agentic AI systems and intelligent network services
• Work on trustworthy and explainable AI for critical infrastructure and cyber-physical systems, and on AI-assisted security mechanisms
• Study security and privacy of cloud, edge and distributed systems, privacy-enhancing technologies and secure protocols
• Combine mathematical modelling and formal analysis with simulations, prototypes and experiments

Selection is based on independence in earlier scientific work, problem formulation and rigour in earlier work and in the research plan, a record of meeting deadlines, methodological maturity, communication and cooperation skills, and subject knowledge.

How doctoral employment works at Stockholm University

Doctoral students are employed for up to the equivalent of four years of full-time study. The first contract is for up to one year and is then renewed for up to two years at a time, and up to 20% of working time may go to teaching, research or administration. Apply through the university’s recruitment system with a personal letter, a CV and the attachments the form asks for.

PhD applicants: browse our Find a supervisor directory to see who works in your area.

What Stockholm University is looking for

• General entry: a second-cycle degree, or 240 credits including 60 at second-cycle level, or equivalent knowledge
• Specific entry: at least 60 second-cycle credits in computer and systems sciences or equivalent, and a degree project of at least 15 credits
• English at CEFR level B2
• Requirements must be met by the application deadline

Nice to have

• Strong theoretical and applied security knowledge
• Strong analytical and mathematical ability
• A computer science background in networks, distributed systems, AI and security
• Ability to design, analyse and evaluate security mechanisms in theory and experiment

Pay and location

Doctoral students at Stockholm University are paid a fixed salary; the advert gives no figure but mentions a competitive salary, wellness benefits and funding for books and conference travel.

How to apply

Apply through the official Stockholm University page. The closing date is 15 October 2026.

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