Doctoral student in Computer Science - Secure Distributed AI

Örebro University and the School of Science and Technology are looking for a doctoral student (PhD student) for the doctoral programme in Computer Science, concluding with a doctoral degree.

Start date: 1st of December 2026

Project description

The multi-disciplinary center for cyber resilient AI, RESIST, is a national effort funded by the Swedish Strategic Research Foundation (SSF) to bring together leading researchers in AI and cybersecurity to develop novel solutions to cyber resilient AI for the benefit of Swedish industry and society. The vision is to make Sweden a role model in secure trustworthy AI by pioneering cyber resilience across the AI lifecycle. The research program focuses on four key themes: Trustworthy and Verifiable AI, Runtime Security Assurance, Robust and Secure AI-Supported Development, and Resilient Distributed and Agentic AI. RESIST will drive world-class research in the intersection between AI and cybersecurity through a strong, stimulating and well-connected international research environment. Research outcomes will be validated in real-world scenarios with industry and public-sector partners. RESIST will also serve as a national hub for cyber resilient AI, promoting education, knowledge sharing, and policy development.

This PhD position is associated with the research theme Resilient Distributed and Agentic AI. For systems with multiple agents - robots, AI agents or humans, we will look at their interactions and analyze whether we can use explicit interaction protocols as a basis to secure interaction on a higher level than communication frameworks. Such high-level negotiation protocols can be pre-defined or learnt, yet they also need to capture flexibility in exchanging information or giving instructions for modelling modern multi-agent workflows. Research will concern the generation of explicit interaction protocols adapted to the agents involved, as well as the generation of execution guards from those learnt protocols. The overall goal is to make interaction robust, safe, and secure. Also, testing and evaluation in realistic, sandboxed environments as well as in real operational contexts is part of the project. Research is tightly integrated with other research themes within the center.

Supervision: The doctoral student will be supervised by Prof. Amy Loutfi (primary), Prof. Franziska Klügl (secondary) and Dr. Alberto Giaretta (secondary).

The programme, doctoral studentship, entry requirements and selection

To see the job advertisement in its entirety, visit: https://www.oru.se/english/career/available-positions/

Information

For more information about the programme and the doctoral studentship, please contact Prof. Amy Loutfi, email: amy.loutfi@oru.se, and/or Prof. Franziska Klügl, email: franziska.klugl@oru.se or Dr. Alberto Giaretta, email: alberto.giaretta@oru.se. For administration issues, contact Head of Unit Martin Magnusson, email: martin.magnusson@oru.se.

At Örebro University, we expect each member of staff to be open to development and change; take responsibility for their work and performance; demonstrate a keen interest in collaboration and contribute to development; as well as to show respect for others by adopting a constructive and professional approach.

Örebro University actively pursues equal opportunities and gender equality as well as a work environment characterized by openness, trust and respect. We value the qualities that diversity adds to our operations.

Application to the programme and for the doctoral studentship

The application is made online. Click the button "Apply" to begin the application procedure.

For the application to be complete, the following electronic documents must be included:

CV

Proof that you meet the general and specific entry requirements (copies of the original certificate and official transcript for bachelor's and master's degrees)

Independent project (degree project)

Other relevant documents, course and degree certificates verifying eligibility

Description of research interests - explaining why you are interested in this project and why you would be a good candidate for the role (1 page)

As a main rule, application documents and attachments are to be written in Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, or English. Certificates and documents in other languages verifying your qualifications and experience must be translated by an authorised translator to Swedish or English. A list of authorised translators can be obtained from Kammarkollegiet (the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency), http://www.kammarkollegiet.se/engelska/start.

When you apply for admission, you automatically also apply for a doctoral studentship.

More information for applicants will be found on our career site: https://www.oru.se/english/career/available-positions/applicants-and-external-experts/

The application deadline is 2 November 2026. We look forward to receiving your application!

As we have already made our choices in terms of external collaboration partners and marketing efforts for this recruitment process, we decline any contact with recruitment agencies and advertisers.

As directed by the National Archives of Sweden (Riksarkivet), we are required to deposit one file copy of the application documents, excluding publications, for a period of two years after the appointment decision has gained legal force.