PhD Student in Computer Science

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Karlstad University has approximately 1,400 employees and 17,700 students distributed across two inspiring campus environments in Karlstad and Arvika. Read more about us at: https://www.kau.se/jobba-hos-oss (https://www.kau.se/jobba-hos-oss)

Description

The Faculty of Health, Nature, and Engineering Sciences is now announcing a position within the doctoral education program culminating in a PhD in Computer Science.

A PhD position is announced within the framework of the Privacy & Security (PriSec) research group at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at Karlstad University. The research conducted within PriSec focuses on privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs), network security, and user-friendly security and privacy.

As a PhD student, you will be part of Cybercampus Sweden's new doctoral school (About Cybercampus doctoral school) and work on a doctoral project in close collaboration with researchers from Jönköping University, who will contribute as co-supervisors with their complementary interdisciplinary perspectives and expertise in usable security and privacy research as well as in human-computer interaction (HCI) and artificial intelligence (AI)/robotics.

The current doctoral project is titled “Towards Privacy-Compliant and Trustworthy AI-Powered Social Robots.” The project will investigate privacy risks and other challenges related to principles of trustworthy AI in the use of social robots in homes and institutions, as well as identify appropriate measures to address privacy and security risks. The project will also explore new usable forms of interaction concepts and interfaces between humans and social robots to communicate privacy information, obtain consent, or enable the exercise of user rights in relation to social robots, considering the needs, preferences, and rights of various stakeholders. The project applies a human-centered perspective, and as a PhD student, you will have the opportunity to collaborate interdisciplinary with researchers from other fields.

Connection to Cybercampus Sweden and the Doctoral School

The PhD position is part of Cybercampus's doctoral school, which is the first national Swedish doctoral school in cybersecurity with 15 PhD positions to strengthen national research and competence in cybersecurity. Cybercampus Sweden is a national initiative and a collaboration between universities, research institutes, authorities, and companies across Sweden with the aim of strengthening research, education, and innovation in cybersecurity. The initiative aims to address existing and future cybersecurity challenges that critical infrastructure, businesses, and society at large face, and supports interdisciplinary and joint research involving more than one Cybercampus partner. As part of Cybercampus's doctoral school, you are expected to actively engage in the broader research community in cybersecurity in Sweden, contribute to joint research activities, and participate in joint events, workshops, and training sessions organized within Cybercampus Sweden.

As a PhD student, you will primarily be based at Karlstad University, but to support collaboration, you are also expected to undertake longer research stays at Jönköping University and make regular visits to Cybercampus Sweden in Stockholm. This arrangement provides access to an expanded national research environment in cybersecurity and promotes a broader research perspective through research stays and participation in Cybercampus Sweden's joint research and educational activities within the doctoral school.

The doctoral project is co-financed by Cybercampus Sweden and includes funding for longer research stays and travel.

Video about the position: https://kauplay.kau.se/media/t/0_ch1torqj (https://kauplay.kau.se/media/t/0_ch1torqj)

We are looking for someone with great commitment who wants to drive the latest technology forward with us!

Responsibilities

As a PhD student, you will primarily focus on your own doctoral education. The doctoral education, which consists of 240 higher education credits (hp) for the PhD and 120 hp for the licentiate degree, is an opportunity for studies with a salary in combination with work and a chance to start an academic career. As a PhD student, you work independently and are prepared to contribute in various ways to the subject's and department's work and development. You are given the opportunity, together with others, to deepen your areas of interest. It may be relevant to participate in teaching and administration, known as departmental duties, by agreement. Such work can comprise a maximum of 20% of full working time. The work as a PhD student gives you great freedom to plan and organize your work, which requires commitment, drive, and the ability to structure your work to successfully complete a dissertation.

To contribute to a good working environment and the development of operations within both the department and Cybercampus Sweden, as well as your own personal development, you are present and participate in the daily work and community.

For eligibility and assessment criteria, terms, and what the application should contain, see the full advertisement via the link.

Application deadline: March 16, 2026

Reference number: REK2025/247

Welcome with your application!

Karlstad University has made a medieval for this recruitment and we therefore decline contacts with advertising sellers of recruitment services.

HR Excellence in Research
Karlstad University received the HR Excellence in Research award in September 2020. The award is given to employers who have a stimulating work environment and good conditions for researchers and continuously work to develop these. The award demonstrates the institution's commitment to fair and transparent recruitment as well as favorable professional development for researchers. Read more at https://www.kau.se/jobba-hos-oss/karlstads-universitet-som-arbetsgivare/human-resources-strategi-forskare-hrs4r (https://www.kau.se/jobba-hos-oss/karlstads-universitet-som-arbetsgivare/human-resources-strategi-forskare-hrs4r)