Research Assistant/Research Associate (Fixed Term)

The Department of Computer Science and Technology is an academic department that encompasses computer science along with many aspects of engineering, technology and mathematics. We have a world wide reputation for academic research with consistent top research ratings. The Department has an open and collaborative culture, supporting revolutionary fundamental computer science research, strong cross-cutting collaborations internally and externally, and ideas which transform computing outside the University. Please follow the link at: https://www.cst.cam.ac.uk to find out more about our Department. 

A 12-month position is available for a full-time Research Assistant or Research Associate to work on the security and privacy of Android and iOS applications and the wider app ecosystem they operate in. The successful candidate will have a strong track record of academic research in this area combined with a good technical knowledge of how operating systems and applications function on these platforms. The successful applicant will work with Professor Alastair Beresford alongside the PhD students and researchers he works with in the Security Group in the Department. 

Benefits of working with us 

• Be part of a friendly, established research team which includes weekly group catch-ups and an academic reading group which includes both academic and industry attendees. 
• Conduct cutting edge research and submit papers for consideration at top venues in computer security 
• An opportunity to work independently and as part of a team, co-designing the programme of research 

Essential requirements 

• Candidates should hold, or be close to obtaining, a PhD in computer science, or equivalent experience 
• Significant experience with iOS and Android operating systems and the APIs which applications use to communicate with those operating systems 
• A deep understanding of how applications on mobile operating systems are obtained and installed by users, including how app stores function and how apps may be side loaded onto devices 
• Demonstrable experience in the security and privacy considerations of apps and operating systems in the mobile ecosystem. 
• Strong software engineering skills which allow you to rapidly produce prototype apps and analyse large datasets. 

Desirable skills 

• Experience conducting surveys and user studies. 
• Knowledge of how to apply statistical tests to data in order to measure significance. 

Appointment at Research Associate level is dependent on having a PhD including those who have submitted but not yet received their PhD in which case appointment will initially be made at Research Assistant (Grade 5) and amended to Research Associate (Grade 7) when the PhD is awarded. 

If you have any questions about this vacancy, please contact Professor Alastair Beresford at arb33@cam.ac.uk  

In addition to the base salary stated above, the successful candidate for this post will receive an additional 2.5% supplement to their pay.

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