Humans in the Digital Age: New thematic doctoral programme

As of the winter term 2023/24, doctoral students will be able to enroll in a new thematic doctoral programme at the AAU: Humans in the Digital Age (HDA).

Digital technologies have transformative effects on most areas of our lives. And while the digital transformation brings about new research agendas and fields, the research questions that emerge often demand novel methodological and conceptual approaches and can substantially benefit from taking the interrelations between different disciplinary perspectives into account. In line with this, the doctoral programme HDA starts from the premise that understanding and shaping the digital transformation requires disciplinary entrenchment as well as a sensitivity for the interrelation between different disciplinary perspectives.

The programme is open to all doctoral students at the AAU who work on crucial questions of our digital age in one of a broad and varied range of research areas It provides doctoral students with access to the theories, methods, tools, and skills needed to investigate and understand the ongoing digital transformation from various perspectives, as well as to actively and responsibly contribute to shaping digital technologies and their usage contexts. The teaching plan foresees a combination of mandatory courses (10 ECTS) and elective courses (8 ECTS) that include a doctoral colloquium, courses that develop and academic core skills as well as dedicated theory and method classes that can be tailored to students’ needs.

In a supportive and interdisciplinary space, doctoral students strengthen their skills in critical thinking, recognizing ethical aspects, and communicating effectively. While developing high-level technical skills, they also learn about alternative methodologies, thus strengthening their creative problem-solving skills. The collective formats and the continuous exchange with peers and more senior researchers support the advancement of individual PhD projects all the way to successful completion.

 

FACTS

The doctoral programme HDA starts in the winter term 2023/24 at AAU. It is possible to enter into the programme at any time. If you are interested in enrolment, please see the list of potential supervisors and follow the admission process indicated here. The language of instruction is English.

 

 

 

Open Position: Student Researchers / Developers

The Cybersecurity research group (https://cybersecurityresearch.at/), headed by Prof. Elisabeth Oswald, is a relatively new group established in Austria’s sunny south. The group currently features a diverse range of members (from France, Iran, India, and China).

Current members work on topics such as leakage profiling, advanced leakage simulators, attacks (utilizing deep learning), statistical foundations, and hardware aspects of side channels. The group receives funding from the ERC, as well as local funding, and thus offers a supportive research environment (both financially as well as from a human perspective).

The group is looking for support with its ongoing projects via paid student researchers. You could work for us some months, e.g. during the summer (via an internship), or join us for longer (only part-time). We consider students both on bachelor and master courses,provided they are in the areas of computer science, computer engineering, mathematics (if it includes some programming), or statistics/data science (provided you can at least do some scripting).

You do not need to be based in Klagenfurt, working from home is possible.

The projects that we are looking to support require skills in (either)

  • compilers/languages to support the secure implementation of cryptographic primitives, including the use of formal verification tools,
  • machine/deep learning
  • secure implementations (low-level programming, e.g. ARM assembly, RISC-V assembly)
  • software development (C++)

You will work with young scientists from across the globe (the current group members are from France, Iran, India and China), so good English language skills are vital too.

We will appoint multiple researchers, and the starting date is flexible.  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis. To apply please send a brief motivation letter, your CV, and transcripts of records of your MSc/BSc to the contact below.

The rates will depend on your highest level of education: they are at € 1.073,10 per month for a part-time employment.

Please contact Elisabeth [dot] Oswald [at] aau [dot] at for informal inquiries and to submit your application.

Open Position: Postdoctoral Research in Cybersecurity

The Cybersecurity research group (https://cybersecurityresearch.at/), headed by Prof. Elisabeth Oswald, is a relatively new group established in Austria’s sunny south. The group currently features a diverse range of members (from France, Iran, India, and China).

Current members work on topics such as leakage profiling, advanced leakage simulators, attacks (utilizing deep learning), statistical foundations, and hardware aspects of side channels. The group receives funding from the ERC, as well as local funding, and thus offers a supportive research environment (both financially as well as from a human perspective).

The group is looking to grow by one post-doctoral researcher and is particularly keen to expand their existing coverage of topics and  seeks researchers with an interest in (any of the following areas)

  • compilers/languages to support the secure implementation of cryptographic primitives
  • machine/deep learning
  • secure implementations (in particular in the context of RISC-V)

A good candidate for this position will have a background in either computer science, maths, or statistics (an MSc level degree with above-average grades is required), will have some relevant publications in any of these subjects in international conferences or journals, enjoy working with people in an international context, and love water, sun, and mountains.

The position is available immediately, applications will be considered on a rolling basis and we will fill the vacancy as soon as a suitable candidate is identified. To apply please send a brief
motivation letter, your CV, and transcripts of records of your MSc and BSc to the contact below.

The position has funding until 31.08.2023 at € 3.945,90 per month.

Luftbild

Luftbild | Foto: LakesideLabs

Please contact Elisabeth [dot] Oswald [at] aau [dot] at for informal enquiries and to submit your application.

Master in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity

Interested in the future of technology? Then this jointly-run MSc programme might be the perfect fit for you! The universities of Klagenfurt and Udine collaborate to offer this highly focused program on the core subjects of Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity with an additional emphasis on the social, ethical and legal aspects that arise in practice.

The MSc in Artificial Intelligence and Cybersecurity is a two-year taught programme. It consists of three semesters of taught courses followed by a research project leading to the submission of a thesis and its defence at the end of the fourth term.

Over 50 students from all around the globe registered in the premiere of this MSc in October 2020 (all lectures were held online). The hands-on classes, the profound theoretical inputs as well as the multidisciplinary approaches were the major cornerstones making this first semester a huge success.

The application for the summer semester of 2021 is now open and students who are interested in this MSc will find more information here:

https://www.aau.at/en/studien/master-artificial-intelligence-and-cybersecurity/