PhD Studentship: Securing Smart Systems via Neural Network Verification

Supervisory Team: Ekaterina Komendantskaya, Erisa Karafili 

Project description: 

Having robust methods and tools for ensuring safety and security of smart systems is a key to their future development and deployment. The long-term objective of this project is to ensure the security of the AI (neural network) components embedded in smart systems against adversarial attacks. 

In this project you will work towards the goal of increasing the level of security for smart systems that rely on NN components. By integrating cutting-edge NN verification methods into smart systems verification, you will discover new ways to make smart systems with NN components more resilient to adversarial attacks. 

In this project you will: Our objective is to answer the following concrete research questions:

• Explore the range of vulnerabilities caused by NNs in smart systems;
• Identify the vulnerabilities that can be formalised as NN verification properties;
• Establish the host smart systems verification environments that are required to embed the NN verification properties into CPS verification. 

You can find some information about the topic here:

https://doi.org/10.29007/5s2x

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2104.01396

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2207.10562 

You will join the Cyber Physical Systems Research Group and the Cyber Security Research Group recognised as Academic Centre of Excellence for Cyber Security Research (ACE-CSR) and Education (ACE-CSR), and work with Prof. Ekaterina Komendantskaya and Dr Erisa Karafili. 

Funding for this project is offered by the Centre for Doctoral Training in Complex Integrated Systems for Defence & Security (CISDnS), which will recruit motivated and inquisitive candidates across the themes of Digital, Physical and Biological systems to provide a diverse and interconnected cohort training environment. As well as carrying out research training in a world-leading research group, membership of CISDnS will provide the opportunity for you to be exposed and trained to handle the interdisciplinary challenges faced in the real-world via a Systems Thinking approach. You will learn about the wider challenges of research and innovation within the Defence & Security sector. 

For further information please get in contact with Prof. Ekaterina Komendantskaya  E.Komendantskaya@soton.ac.uk and Dr Erisa Karafili: e.karafili@soton.ac.uk or for questions related to the CISDnS CDT please email: cisdns@soton.ac.uk 

Entry Requirements 

This PhD studentship requires UK Citizenship. First Honours or 2:1 bachelors or masters degree in Computer Science, Mathematics, Engineering or related areas. We welcome applicants onto the CDT from underrepresented groups. 

Closing date: 31^st August 2024. Applications will be considered in the order that they are received, the position will be considered filled when a suitable candidate has been identified. 

Funding: Full-time studentships will cover UK course fees and an enhanced tax-free stipend of approx. £23,500 per year for 4 years along with a substantial budget for research, travel, and centre activities. A number of studentships are available and will be awarded on a rolling basis, so you are encouraged to apply early for the best opportunity to be considered. 

How To Apply

Apply online: Search for a Postgraduate Programme of Study (soton.ac.uk).

Select programme type (Research), 2024/25, Faculty of Physical Sciences and Engineering, next page select “Integrated PhD in Complex Integrated Systems for Defence and Security (2024-25)” 

In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Prof. Ekaterina Komendantskaya. 

Applications should include:

Curriculum Vitae

Two reference letters

Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date 

For further information please contact: feps-pgr-apply@soton.ac.uk

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