PhD in Hardware Security: Remote Fault Attacks on Cryptographic Algorithms at KTH

Job Description

KTH’s Hardware Security group is recruiting a doctoral student to study remote fault attacks on cryptographic implementations, where an attacker injects faults into computations to extract secrets. The project looks at both attack and defence: devising new attacks and designing countermeasures, with the aim of building fault resistance in at design time. The student is expected to use advanced machine learning to analyse and mitigate fault attacks. The project is funded by the Swedish Research Council.

At a glance

• Position: Doctoral student (1 post), up to four years full time
• Subject: Information and Communication Technology
• Supervisors: Prof. Elena Dubrova and Prof. Carl-Mikael Zetterling
• Contact: Elena Dubrova, dubrova@kth.se
• Reference: PA-2026-2888
• Apply by: 10 October 2026
• Apply: 10 October 2026

About the hardware security PhD

• Devise new types of remote fault attacks on cryptographic implementations
• Design countermeasures that hold up as attacker capabilities grow
• Use machine learning to improve analysis and mitigation of fault attacks
• Develop vulnerability assessment methods and supporting tools
• Work in a group of five PhD students, combining mathematics and electrical engineering

What to include in your application

KTH asks for certified copies of diplomas, grades and English language certificates (with translations if needed), a CV, a letter of at most two pages on why you want to do research and how it links to your studies and goals, and representative publications or technical reports. Applications must arrive by midnight CET/CEST on the closing date.

How KTH doctoral employment works

Only applicants admitted to doctoral studies can be employed as doctoral students. The first contract is for up to one year and is then renewed for up to two years at a time, adding up to at most four years of full-time study. Up to 20% of working time may go to tasks such as teaching and administration. Applicants need English at the level of Swedish upper-secondary English B/6.

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

What KTH is looking for

• A master’s degree, or at least 240 credits including 60 at second-cycle level, or equivalent knowledge
• Knowledge of cryptographic algorithms, and expertise in fault and side-channel attacks
• Experience with embedded systems
• Practical machine learning skills, including tools such as TensorFlow
• English equivalent to English B/6

Nice to have

• A completed course in hardware security
• A bachelor’s or master’s thesis in hardware security
• Papers in well-ranked hardware security journals, conferences or workshops

Pay and location

Doctoral students at KTH are salaried employees, paid monthly under KTH’s doctoral student salary agreement; the advert gives no figure. The post is full time in Stockholm, starting by agreement.

How to apply

Apply through the official KTH page. The closing date is 10 October 2026.

See all our PhD positions, or browse more research jobs on ResearchJobs.in.