PhD Positions in Software Protection

**Job Description**
Ghent University’s Computer Systems Lab seeks to hire multiple Ph.D. students for national and international research projects focused on man-at-the-end software protection. This domain involves techniques like software obfuscation to prevent reverse engineering and software tampering. Research can be offensive, defensive, or a combination, covering topics such as decision support for software protection tools, novel obfuscations against AI-based reverse engineering, using AI for reverse engineering optimization, modeling efforts for reverse engineering and tampering attacks, and integrating software protection into industrial development life cycles. Selected candidates will also assist in teaching one course per academic year.

**Skills & Abilities**
• Highly motivated by applied research involving conceptual and experimental evaluation
• Able to work well in a diverse group
• Comfortable giving and receiving constructive criticism
• Strong in analytical, innovative, and critical thinking and in judgment making
• Proficient in spoken and written English
• Experience in software development and programmer toolboxes (e.g., debuggers, compilers, software analysis and rewriting tools and techniques)
• Experience in software protection (obfuscation)
• Experience in software hacking (reverse engineering, tampering)
• Experience in machine learning, advanced use of LLMs
• Experience with Unix-like environments
• Experience with software development in the context of large (open-source) software projects

**Qualifications**
Required Degree(s) in:
• Computer Science
• Computer Engineering
• Equivalent

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