项目介绍

2024年12月21日

DistriNet is an international research group with extensive expertise in secure & distributed software. Embedded in the department of Computer Science of KU Leuven, DistriNet brings together a substantial critical mass of over 100 researchers, including 16 full-time professors, 9 permanent research staff members, 11 postdoctoral researchers, and about 70 PhD researchers. The conducted research is systems-centric, always application-driven and often performed in close collaboration with industry. The know-how of DistriNet formed the basis of multiple spin-off companies.
Are you passionate about low-level systems security and emerging confidential computing solutions? Join our team as a security researcher and contribute to fortifying state-of-the-art hardware-based trusted execution environments.

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Project

Recent advancements from industry and academia  have developed Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) as a promising solution for confidential computing, enabling the secure outsourcing of privacy-sensitive and security-critical data to untrusted computing environments. With the rise of commercially available solutions, including Intel SGX/TDX, AMD SEV, and Arm CCA, TEEs have recently gained significant traction to protect end-user privacy within public cloud infrastructure and the Internet of Things (IoT).DistriNet has built a strong track record and gained international recognition for its expertise in low-level system security research related to TEEs. This includes hardware-software co-design on open-source microcontrollers and RISC-V architectures, as well as critical security analyses of TEE software and commercial offerings from Intel, AMD, and Texas Instruments. Key achievements include the development of the open-source Sancus TEE for low-end IoT platforms, the identification of high-profile vulnerabilities such as Foreshadow, ZombieLoad, Plundervolt, LVI, and BadRAM, the creation of the widely utilized open-source SGX-Step framework, and the AEX-Notify mitigation adopted in recent Intel processors.As a PhD candidate, you will further strengthen and advance these research activities. Potential research directions include the development of compiler extensions and binary analysis tools for the principled detection and automated exploitation of enclave software vulnerabilities, the exploration of programming models and abstractions for TEEs, innovative hardware-software co-design extensions on open-source RISC-V platforms, security analyses of commercial VM-based TEEs and IoT processors, as well as investigations into software-exploitable side-channel attacks and their mitigations.

Profile

You share our strong interest in low-level systems security, particularly in the context of trusted execution environments, and you have:

• An academic degree of Master in Computer Science (or equivalent).
• Fluent English written and oral communication skills.
• The ability to independently plan, execute and report on your work on a regular basis.
• An open mind and a curiosity to explore new ideas and technologies.
• Good software implementation skills. Experience with concrete programming projects and low-level systems languages like C, Rust, and x86 assembly is a strong plus.
• A willingness to write about your work and to present your research to others. Prior research experience and publications are a strong plus.

Offer

We offer a full-time position as PhD researcher in computer science:

• you will join a supportive and collaborative team in which you can develop know-how and expertise in state-of-the-art technologies,
• you will have the opportunity to build up research and innovation skills that are essential for a future career in academia or in industry, 
• you will have opportunities to publish and present your work at top international academic conferences,
• you will work in a multicultural working environment at the KU Leuven High Tech Campus,
• You will have access to a range of skills trainings organized by the doctoral school. 

More information about doing a PhD in Belgium at KU Leuven

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. Jo Van Bulck, tel.: +32 16 37 42 69, mail: jo.vanbulck@kuleuven.be.You can apply for this job no later than January 03, 2025 via the online application tool

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

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