PhD Position F/M Post-Quantum Protocol Transition for Internet-of-Things Systems

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Type de contrat : CDD

Niveau de diplôme exigé : Bac + 5 ou équivalent

Fonction : Doctorant

Contexte et atouts du poste

The position is funded within the scope of PQ-LIFE, a Horizon Europe project dedicated to advancing quantum-resistance for real-world IoT deployments. PQ-LIFE brings together a diverse consortium of industrial and academic partners, combining applied research expertise with industry-driven requirements to deliver tangible, large-scale impact on the security of connected devices. The PhD candidate will benefit from direct exposure to this collaborative ecosystem, including joint work with consortium partners, participation in project meetings and dissemination activities, and the opportunity to shape outcomes that go beyond academic research into concrete industry adoption.

Mission confiée

The PhD project will contribute to the PQ-LIFE research agenda, from protocol design to verified implementation. The work will be structured around the following three interconnected themes:

• Quantum-resistant protocol design — specification and analysis of communication protocols for IoT systems that are secure against both classical and quantum adversaries, covering key exchange, authentication, and session management in constrained network environments.
 
• Formal verification and security modelling of post-quantum IoT protocol stacks — application of formal methods (e.g. ProVerif, Tamarin, SAPIC+) to rigorously verify security properties of designed protocols and identify subtle flaws prior to deployment
 
• Protocol implementation for embedded devices and its formal verification — development of efficient, side-channel-aware implementations of the designed protocols on resource-constrained platforms (ARM Cortex-M, RISC-V), paired with formal correctness and security proofs of the resulting code
 
The exact research focus will be defined jointly with the candidate based on background and interests, and may span multiple themes.

Principales activités

Protocol Design & Analysis:

• Survey and benchmark existing IoT security protocols against quantum threat models
• Design and specify quantum-resistant variants of commonly used protocols (TLS 1.3, EDHOC, OSCORE)
• Evaluate protocol performance under constrained network and energy conditions
 
Formal Verification:
• Model designed protocols using formal specification languages (e.g. ProVerif, Tamarin, SAPIC+)
• Prove or disprove security properties against quantum adversaries
 
Implementation & Verification:
• Apply formal correctness proofs or equivalence checking to critical implementation components
 
Dissemination & Collaboration:
• Publish research findings in top-tier venues
• Contribute to PQ-LIFE consortium deliverables, reports, and standardisation inputs
• Present work at project meetings, workshops, and international conferences

Compétences

 

Required:
• MSc (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering,
Cybersecurity, Applied Mathematics, or a closely related field (must be completed before the start date)
• Solid understanding of cryptographic principles and/or network security protocols
• Programming proficiency in C/C++ and/or Python; experience with embedded systems is a plus
• Strong analytical and academic writing skills
• Fluency in English (written and spoken)
 
Desirable:
• Familiarity with NIST PQC algorithms
• Hands-on experience with microcontrollers (ARM Cortex-M, RISC-V),
FPGAs, or IoT platforms
• Knowledge of formal methods or protocol verification tools (ProVerif, Tamarin, SAPIC+)
• Prior publications or thesis work in a relevant area

Avantages

  • Subsidized meals
  • Partial reimbursement of public transport costs
  • Leave: 7 weeks of annual leave + 10 extra days off due to RTT (statutory reduction in working hours) + possibility of exceptional leave (sick children, moving home, etc.)
  • Possibility of teleworking (after 6 months of employment) and flexible organization of working hours
  • Professional equipment available (videoconferencing, loan of computer equipment, etc.)
  • Social, cultural and sports events and activities
  • Access to vocational training
  • Social security coverage