Research Associate in Cybersecurity

Fixed-term until 30 September 2022

You will join a team focused on conducting research into developing models for understanding and predicting cyber-risk. Specifically, joining the Refining Cyber-Value-at-Risk project, sponsored by AXIS Capital. The research will involve refining the CVaR model and testing its predictive capabilities when used to model organisations’ potential exposure to loss from cyber-attacks, even after using risk controls (including security technologies and processes). It will also involve consideration of emerging technologies and the ability of controls to cope with associated threat capability enhancements, as well as the development of methods for reasoning about aggregated and systemic risk across multiple organisations and supply chains. You will contribute to the experimentation using the CVaR model, construct system simulations to test hypotheses and analyse results. You will conduct experiments designed to explore the effectiveness of technological risk controls, with a view to enhancing the data available to the research community. You will also contribute to the construction of simulations and other models designed to explore the potential for systemic cyber-risk, and the relative importance and effectiveness of different cybersecurity policies and behaviours. You will consult with the expert and stakeholder community to evolve and validate findings, and will be involved in the production of academic research papers for publication, as well as white papers for the business and policy-maker communities.

You will hold a relevant PhD or DPhil (Computer Science or a related subject), (or close to completion) together with relevant experience in implementing rapid prototyping of software, modelling systems and agent-based simulations.

You will possess sufficient specialist knowledge in the cybersecurity discipline to work within this project and other established research programmes of the group, with knowledge of operational security measures, specifically including intrusion detection technologies, access control technologies and the controls contained in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework, along with a background in probability theory and statistics, you will have experience in managing your own academic research and associated activities,

Excellent communication skills, including the ability to write for publication, present research proposals and results, and represent the research group at meetings.

Whilst the role is a grade 7 position, we would be willing to consider candidates with potential but less experience who are seeking a development opportunity, for which an initial appointment would be at grade 6 (£29,176 - £34,804 p.a.) with the responsibilities adjusted accordingly (for Grade 6, you would be expected to hold a doctoral degree in Computer Science or be close to completion). This would be discussed with applicants at interview/appointment where appropriate.

The closing date for applications is 12 noon on Monday, 15 February 2021,  with Interviews are expected to be held between 10am-3pm on Thursday, 25 February 2021

In order to apply please visit https://my.corehr.com/pls/uoxrecruit/erq_jobspec_details_form.jobspec?p_id=149201

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