PhD Candidate in Modelling and Executing Cascading Effects within a Cyber Range

The Department of Information Security and Communication Technology has a vacancy for

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At NTNU 9000 employees and 43000 students work to create knowledge for a better world.

You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate cascading cyber effects cyber resilience and advanced cyber range modelling. The research combines simulation software development and experimental validation in the Norwegian Cyber Range.

Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities As a PhD research fellow with us you will work to achieve your doctorate and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a range of leading positions in business administration higher education and research.

Your immediate manager will be the Head of Discipline.

This PhD project focuses on advancing the modelling simulation and execution of complex cybersecurity scenarios within the Norwegian Cyber Range (NCR). The research aims to investigate how cascading cyber effects can be represented and executed across interconnected digital environments including both IT and Operational Technology (OT) systems. Building on the Norwegian Cyber Ranges existing capabilities the project will explore new methods for representing system dependencies designing realistic cyber scenarios and evaluating cyber resilience through automated and scalable cyber range exercises.
The project provides flexibility for the successful candidate to shape the research direction within the broader topic

RO1: Develop methods for modelling dependencies and cascading cyber effects in interconnected systems. The research will investigate approaches for representing how cyber incidents propagate across complex infrastructures and how these dependencies influence system resilience.
RO2: Explore techniques for describing and executing realistic cascading cyber scenarios within a cyber range environment. This includes extending or adapting existing scenario modelling approaches to support increasingly complex cybersecurity exercises.
RO3: Investigate simulation and predictive modelling approaches for analysing cascading cyber threats and evaluating the resilience of interconnected systems under different attack conditions.
RO4: Validate the proposed modelling and execution framework through implementation and experimentation in the Norwegian Cyber Range assessing its applicability for cybersecurity training research and resilience evaluation.

Expected Contributions
The project is expected to contribute to the advancement of cyber range technologies and cyber resilience research through:
Novel methods for modelling cascading cyber effects in interconnected systems.
Enhanced capabilities for designing and executing complex cybersecurity scenarios in cyber ranges.
New approaches for analysing and evaluating cyber resilience through simulation and experimentation.
Open research outputs including software components models datasets or methodologies that support future cyber range research and education.

Relevant Resourses

Norwegian Cyber Range
Modeling and executing cyber security exercise scenarios in cyber ranges
Cyber ranges and security testbeds
Evaluating ASCERT: generative AI for cyber-range scenario generation
A Design Science Approach to Bridging Operational Cyber Detection and Strategic Crisis Management

• Complete doctoral education and obtain a doctorate
• Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above
• Academic publications and popular science dissemination
• Participate in the research group eHealth and System Security Group HS2G
• Participate in international activities such as conferences
• Teaching responsibilities as well as other career-enhancing work

• You must meet the requirements for admission to the facultys Doctoral Programme (link)seeSection 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information.
• You must have a relevant Masters degree in Computer Science Cyber Security or an equivalent field. Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a masters thesis
• You must have a strong and relevant academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Masters degree study or equivalent education which is equal to B or better compared toNTNUs grading scale. If you do not have letter grades from previous studies you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker academic background you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education for example through relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed academic works.
• Excellent oral and written presentation skills in English (C1-C2 level)

The appointment is to be made in accordance withNTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position.

• Strong motivation for pursuing doctoral research in cybersecurity
• Experience in cybersecurity cyber ranges Capture-the-Flag (CTF) or related practical security activities
• Experience with programming system development or data-driven approaches in cybersecurity is an advantage.
• Relevant cybersecurity certifications (e.g. OSCP OSCE or SANS) are considered a plus
• Norwegian/Scandinavian language (please state your level)

To complete a doctoral degree (PhD) it is important that you are able to:

• work independently and take initiative in research
• collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary research team
• motivated to communicate research findings through writing and presentations.

Emphasis will be placed on personal suitability.

• An exciting job with an importantmission in society
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment
• Career guidance andfollow-up during the PhD period
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues
• Working capitalthat can be used to implement the project
• Mentor programme as anew employee at NTNU
• Favorable terms as a member of theNorwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a PhD research fellow at NTNU you will have access toemployee benefits.

Diversity is a strength and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the populations collective skills. Our vision isKnowledge for a better worldandour values are creative critical constructive and respectful. We believe that an organization that is equal diverse and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.

We strive to attract employees with different skills life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.

If you think this position is relevant and interesting we encourage you to apply regardless of gender functional ability and cultural background or whether you have been out of work for a period of time.

At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number ofmeasures to promote equality.

In the position of PhD research fellow code 1017 your gross salary will normally be NOK 580 000- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.

The employment period is3 years for the doctoral work in addition to 12 months of career promotion work totally 4 years.

The successful candidate will be granted conditional admission to the relevant doctoral programme when employed in the PhD research fellow position. It is a prerequisite for continued employment that the requirements for full admission are met within three months and that you continue to participate in the organized doctoral programme for the remainder of the employment period. For more information about the requirements for full admission please seeSection 6 of the PhD regulations.

As an employee at NTNU it is important that you keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and adapt to them.

For the necessary professional and social interaction it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of theState Employees Act andExport control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge technology and services). Candidates who after assessment of the application and attachments are considered to be in conflict with the criteria in the latter act will not be able to be employed.

The application and all required attachments must be sent electronically via before the documents must be in English or Norwegian/another Scandinavian language

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above. If you are invited for an interview you must present certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request.

The application must include:

• A cover letter describing your motivation for the position relevant experience research interests and how your background fits the PhD project.
• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelors and Masters degrees including diploma supplement
• CV filled out in Jobbnorge
• Copy of Masters thesis. If you have recently submitted your Masters thesis you can attach a draft of the thesis. Documentation of a completed Masters degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• Project outline containing proposals for an overall description of research questions theoretical perspectives methodological design for the project and progress plan (maximum 1500 words/4 pages)(decide on what must be required of a project description/outline including length and scope and include a link if the programme has its own template)
• Short letter of motivation (400 words/1 page)
• Any publications or other relevant research work
• Any relevant certificates
• Names and contact information of three relevant referees

If all or parts of your education has been taken abroad we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education both Bachelors and Masters education in addition to other higher education. If your institution does not offer diploma supplement you must attach information about the grading scale from the education institution.

We further recommend that you enclose a statement about your education abroad from theNorwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir). Follow the link to their web site for more information about how to obtain such a statement:Apply for recognition of foreign higher education. See alsoNTNUs web site for documentation requirements for education obtained outside Norway.

When assessing the best qualified we emphasize necessary qualifications such as education experience and personal suitability. Motivation for the position ambitions and potential for research will also count when assessing the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and has committed itself toThe San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment andCoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNUs social mission).

A public list of applicants with name age job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public applicant list this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance withcurrent legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you have any questions about the position please contact Associate Professor Muhammad M. Yamin email: .

If you have any questions about the recruitment process please contact HR Katrine Rennan e-mail: .

Application deadline: 04.10.2026.

For practical information aboutworking at NTNU please visit this webpage.

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The Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) creates knowledge for a better world and solutions that can change everyday life.

Department of Information Security and Communication Technology

Research is vital to the security of our society. We teach and conduct research in cyber security information security communications networks and networked services. Our areas of expertise include biometrics cyber defence cryptography digital forensics security in e-health and welfare technology intelligent transportation systems and malware. The Department of Information Security and Communication Technology is one of seven departments in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering .