Back to search results

PhD Studentship: Resilient-by-design Cyber Physical Systems against Data Integrity Attacks

University of Greenwich - FES/CMS, Research Centre: CS2

Qualification Type: PhD
Location: London
Funding for: UK Students, EU Students, International Students, Self-funded Students
Funding amount: Bursary available (subject to satisfactory performance): Year 1: £19,237 (FT) or pro-rata (PT), Year 2: In line with UKRI rate, Year 3: In line with UKRI rate
Hours: Full Time, Part Time
Placed On: 9th July 2025
Closes: 15th August 2025
Reference: VCS-FES-03-25
 

Modern cyber-physical systems (CPS), such as UAVs, next-generation fighter aircraft, and command-and-control (C2) platforms, integrate digital computation with physical processes to make mission-critical decisions in real time. These systems rely heavily on sensor data (e.g., GPS, pressure transducers, image processors), making them vulnerable to stealthy threats like False Data Injection (FDI) and sensor spoofing. These attacks manipulate input data while maintaining apparent operational normality, potentially leading to unsafe decisions without detection.

This project aims to develop a novel verification methodology and corresponding toolchain to detect and mitigate such threats to CPS at the design time making the CPS resilient-by-design. Typically, CPS are modelled as hybrid systems, comprising discrete (cyber) and continuous (physical) components. The core technical innovation lies in modelling the verification problem as a delta-decision problem, solved using an extended SMT (Satisfiability Modulo Theories) solver.

The work aims to demonstrate methodology through the application of the prototype to a real-world industrial system (provided by our industrial partner - Evolution Measurement) that is used in flight test environment and is a true representative of a defence C2 system. Specifically, the project aims to test C2 operations that involve differential pressure scanner (e.g., P10-D) by estimating physical state for FDI vulnerabilities through modelling the system and evaluating the provided aerodynamics flight data by comparing the consistency between real-time “observations” (i.e., extracted from the collected data) and “predications” (generated by the C2 operational model). The tool will detect subtle discrepancies indicative of stealthy data manipulation with zero false alarms, outperforming conventional static, dynamic and AI-based techniques. Specifically, in case of any inconsistency, the tool produces a counter example with values that constitute the vulnerability. Such pressure sensors are widely used in C2 defence systems, e.g., missile and aircraft testing, battlefield environmental monitoring, and UAV and autonomous system applications, to name a few.

With 50+ researchers and PhD students, the Centre for Sustainable Cyber Security (CS2) has been conducting pioneering research across several areas of cyber security, from trustworthy IoT, and XR cyber security to certified cybersecurity of cyber physical systems and protection against disinformation in social media. Thanks to these successes, the university is now one of only nine in the UK recognised as Academic Centre of Excellence for Cyber Security in both Research and Education (NCSC-CSR, NCSC-CSE). The successful candidate will actively collaborate with industrial partner – Evolution Measurement and will have the opportunity to work in a vibrant research environment in CS2.

We value your feedback on the quality of our adverts. If you have a comment to make about the overall quality of this advert, or its categorisation then please send us your feedback
Advert information

Type / Role:

Subject Area(s):

Location(s):

PhD tools
 

PhD Alert Created

Job Alert Created

Your PhD alert has been successfully created for this search.

Your job alert has been successfully created for this search.

Ok Ok

PhD Alert Created

Job Alert Created

Your PhD alert has been successfully created for this search.

Your job alert has been successfully created for this search.

Manage your job alerts Manage your job alerts

Account Verification Missing

In order to create multiple job alerts, you must first verify your email address to complete your account creation

Request verification email Request verification email

jobs.ac.uk Account Required

In order to create multiple alerts, you must create a jobs.ac.uk jobseeker account

Create Account Create Account

Alert Creation Failed

Unfortunately, your account is currently blocked. Please login to unblock your account.

Email Address Blocked

We received a delivery failure message when attempting to send you an email and therefore your email address has been blocked. You will not receive job alerts until your email address is unblocked. To do so, please choose from one of the two options below.

Max Alerts Reached

A maximum of 5 Job Alerts can be created against your account. Please remove an existing alert in order to create this new Job Alert

Manage your job alerts Manage your job alerts

Creation Failed

Unfortunately, your alert was not created at this time. Please try again.

Ok Ok

Create PhD Alert

Create Job Alert

When you create this PhD alert we will email you a selection of PhDs matching your criteria.When you create this job alert we will email you a selection of jobs matching your criteria. Our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy apply to this service. Any personal data you provide in setting up this alert is processed in accordance with our Privacy Notice

Create PhD Alert

Create Job Alert

When you create this PhD alert we will email you a selection of PhDs matching your criteria.When you create this job alert we will email you a selection of jobs matching your criteria. Our Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy apply to this service. Any personal data you provide in setting up this alert is processed in accordance with our Privacy Notice

 
 
 
More PhDs like this
Join in and follow us

Browser Upgrade Recommended

jobs.ac.uk has been optimised for the latest browsers.

For the best user experience, we recommend viewing jobs.ac.uk on one of the following:

Google Chrome Firefox Microsoft Edge