PhD Researcher in Secure and Privacy-Preserving Data Exchange for Cyber-Physical Systems

24 Dec 2025
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Tilburg University

Research Field

Computer science » Cybernetics
Computer science » Database management

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Netherlands

Application Deadline

5 Jan 2026 - 22:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Not Applicable

Hours Per Week

40.0

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by a EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Your position
Tilburg University (Tilburg School of Humanities and Digital Sciences – TSHD) and Jheronimus Academy of Data Science (JADS) host a fully funded PhD position within the NWO-funded project NEPTARGOS – Nautical Empowerment for Proactive Threat Analysis and Resilience with Guardian Oversight Systems. The position is embedded in Work Package 4 (WP4): Secure Data Exchange, led by prof. dr. Willem-Jan van den Heuvel, and is central to the technical and scientific objectives of the project. NEPTARGOS is a large, interdisciplinary research project aiming to enhance the cyber resilience of maritime and cyber-physical infrastructures through AI-enabled, data-driven, and governance-aware approaches.

The PhD project focuses on the design and implementation of secure, privacy-preserving, and trustworthy data exchange mechanisms for cyber-physical systems (CPSs) operating in regulated and safety-critical environments. A central challenge addressed in this work package is how data can be shared, analysed, or jointly computed without exposing raw data, while continuously complying with evolving legal, ethical, and policy frameworks. The main research goal is to advance CPS data and information exchange workflows by introducing security- and privacy-by-design techniques that address challenges related to data secrecy, integrity, confidentiality, and availability.

Key research questions include:

• How can data be exchanged and analysed securely in CPS settings under strict governance and regulatory constraints?
• Which mechanisms and protocols enable trustworthy computation and collaboration without sharing raw data?
• How can secure data exchange solutions be adapted dynamically to legal, policy, and operational changes?

Research Objectives
The PhD researcher will work on the following main objectives in the context of project’s WP4 – Secure Data Exchange:

Design a security- and privacy-preserving data exchange framework tailored to cyber-physical systems, addressing data confidentiality, integrity, availability, and governance constraints.

Investigate and apply standards and data modeling and exchange protocols enhancing security, privacy, and interoperability of data.

Investigate and integrate state-of-the-art techniques for secure data sharing and computation without exposing raw data, including:
-Federated learning
-Secure multi-party computation
-Homomorphic encryption
-Blockchain-based provenance and audit mechanisms

Develop a subsystem or service that provides “security-by-design” recommendations for AI/ML, IT, and software developers, cybersecurity professionals, and governmental actors.

Align technical solutions with legal, ethical, and policy frameworks, including the Data Governance Act, relevant EU directives, and policy recommendations applicable to critical infrastructures.

Contribute to the implementation and validation of secure data exchange workflows within the NEPTARGOS simulation and CPS environments.

Where to apply

Website

https://www.academictransfer.com/en/jobs/357430/phd-researcher-in-secure-and-pr…

Requirements
Specific Requirements

We are looking for a highly motivated candidate who meets the following criteria:

• A Master’s degree (with minimum grade 7,5 out of 10) in Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or a closely related field.
• Strong and proven experience in secure systems, data governance, privacy-preserving technologies, and AI.
• Demonstrable experience or affinity with at least two of the following areas:
  • Data security and privacy
  • Distributed systems
  • Blockchain technologies
  • AI/ML or data engineering
  • LLMs and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)
• Proven experience working on European or national research and innovation projects.
• Strong technical knowledge and skills on decentralizes systems, cloud and edge applications, and data management techniques.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in an interdisciplinary research environment.
• Passion for applied research and being able to organize, conduct, analyze and report experiments independently.
• Excellent English language skills, both written and spoken.
• Strong and proven academic writing and analytical skills.

Additional Information
Benefits

Our offer
Tilburg University offers excellent benefits in a pleasant working environment:

• Employment of 1,0 fte (40 hours per week).
• Salary starting at €3.059 in your first year leading up to €3.881 in your fourth year, gross per month for full-time employment (UFO-profile Promovendus, salary scale PR). Tilburg University uses a neutral remuneration system based on relevant work experience.
• This is a vacancy for a PhD in accordance with Article 2.3 paragraph 8 sub b CLA DU. You will initially be given a temporary contract for the duration of 12 months. After a positive evaluation your contract will be extended with another 36 months.
• Vacation pay of 8% and a year-end bonus of 8.3%.
• Over 8 weeks of vacation leave.
• Hybrid working with home working allowance (€2 p/day) and internet allowance (€25 p/month).
• Reimbursement sustainable commuting: walking, cycling, and public transport.
• Options model for additional leave, pension, a bicycle or personal training.
• Moving allowance (subject to conditions).
• 30% rule for international employees (if applicable).
• Pension through ABP.
• Ample training offer: personal development, leadership, education, research or language courses. 
• Inclusive work culture: everyone welcome, equal opportunities. 
• A green, inviting campus that’s easily accessible by public transport.

For more information, please see our website  and the CLA Dutch Universities .

Selection process

Want to apply?
We kindly invite you to apply before January 5th, 2026; this can only be done online. To apply, please submit:

• a motivation letter in which you describe why you want to do this research, and why you are the right person to do it;
• a full curriculum vitae, demonstrating academic excellence, experience in research programs, including publications (if applicable);
• academic transcripts of your Bachelor and Master’s degrees;
• a sample of writing, such as your Master’s thesis or a relevant paper;
• contact details of two academic referees.

You will ideally start working for Tilburg University as soon as possible. Keep in mind, a VGB screening is part of the selection process. More information about this can be found on the website of the AIVD.

This vacancy has been published simultaneously internally and externally. In case of equal suitability, our preference is for an internal candidate.

Additional comments

Want to know more?
Would you like to know more before applying? Feel free to contact Prof. Dr. Willem-Jan van den Heuvel (w.j.a.m.vdnheuvel@tilburguniversity.edu ) and Dr. Georgios Manias  (g.manias@tilburguniversity.edu .

Website for additional job details

https://www.academictransfer.com/357430/

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Tilburg University

Country

Netherlands

City

Tilburg

Postal Code

5037 AB

Street

Warandelaan 2

Geofield

Contact

City

Tilburg

Website

http://www.uvt.nl/

Street

Warandelaan 2

Postal Code

5037 AB

STATUS: EXPIRED

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