PhD Studentship - Securing the Future of E-Governance in a Post-Quantum World

Technologies for e-governance and civic engagement play a crucial role in supporting and transforming public services and community interactions, with the potential to foster greater citizen participation and transparency. As digital technologies become increasingly central to the delivery of these services, ensuring their security and resilience is more vital than ever. From digital identity and voting platforms to public consultation tools, these platforms must not only serve communities effectively but also withstand rapidly evolving security threats.

The impending transition to a post-quantum world introduces new challenges. Attackers equipped with quantum computing capabilities will be able to break traditional cryptographic systems, rendering them obsolete and posing a significant threat to the security of e-governance systems.

About the Project

This PhD project will focus on the design of secure e-governance systems, ensuring their resilience against post-quantum attackers. You will select an application area (indicative areas include voting systems, digital identity, public consultation platforms, portals for nationally delivered services), and will investigate its functional and security requirements.

Taking an interdisciplinary approach to guide system design and evaluation, you will engage with key stakeholders (e.g., technologists, citizens and governments) to build an understanding of their needs. Based on these findings, you will design and develop e-governance systems that are secure against post-quantum adversaries.

You will join a growing multidisciplinary research team in cryptography and cyber security at Lancaster University, gaining access to expert mentorship, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and professional development opportunities. The supervisory team is embedded within Lancaster’s Security and Protection Science initiative (www.lancaster.ac.uk/security-and-protection-science) and Security Lancaster (www.lancaster.ac.uk/security-lancaster), one of the UK’s largest security research institutes.

Supervisors:

• Dr. Ashley Fraser, School of Computing and Communications
• Dr. Jessica Jay, School of Mathematical Sciences
• Dr. Dan Fretwell, School of Mathematical Sciences

Qualifications and Experience

We are looking for motivated individuals who are eager to tackle real-world cyber security challenges. Applicants must have (or expect to obtain) a first or upper second class honours degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Cyber Security, Mathematics, or a related discipline. Applicants with a lower second class degree but having a relevant Master’s qualification will also be considered.

The ideal applicant will have a strong interest in cyber security and cryptography, and will have an interest in interdisciplinary research. Knowledge of mathematics to the equivalent of first-year undergraduate level is desirable.

We strongly encourage applications from underrepresented groups in STEM.

How to Apply

Please apply though Lancaster University Admissions Portal. Please specify that you are applying to the Computer Science PhD programme, supervised by Dr Ashley Fraser.

For your application, you will need:

• Two-page CV with names and contact details of two referees (one must be academic).
• In place of a Research Proposal, you may submit a copy of this advertisement.
• One-page personal statement demonstrating your research experience, motivation for choosing a PhD project on post-quantum secure e-governance, and readiness for PhD study.

This PhD studentship is fully funded for up to 3.5 years with a tax-free stipend of £20,780, along with paid tuition fees, subject to satisfactory progress. A budget for training and attending conferences will be provided. Due to tuition fee restrictions, the position is only available to applicants who are eligible for UK fee status (see www.lancaster.ac.uk/study/fees-and-funding/feestatus for further details).

For informal enquiries, please contact Dr Ashley Fraser (a.fraser5@lancaster.ac.uk).

Studentship start date: October 2025 or soon after.

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