Postdoc Software Engineering

The University of Gothenburg tackles society’s challenges with diverse knowledge. 56 000 students and 6 600 employees make the university a large and inspiring place to work and study. Strong research and attractive study programmes attract researchers and students from around the world. With new knowledge and new perspectives, the University contributes to a better future.

The department of Computer Science and Engineering is strongly international, with approximately 300 employees from over 30 countries. The department is a fully integrated department with the University of Gothenburg and Chalmers University of Technology as principals. The position as a postdoctor is placed in the Division for Interaction Design and Software Engineering at the department, with the University of Gothenburg as the employer, in close cooperation with the division of Networks and Systems at Chalmers. Both divisions actively work within an ecosystem of software-intensive companies. The department is connected to three science parks in the areas of intelligent vehicles and transport systems, mobile internet, energy, nanotechnology, and biotechnology

The successful candidate will conduct research in close collaboration with world-class researchers in the Interaction Design and Software Engineering Division, which has a strong software development and AI Engineering focus, which is a part of the Software Center (www.software-center.se). The research project is done in collaboration with the division of Networks and Systems as well as the Area of Advance Transport at Chalmers and Strategic Research Area Transport at University of Gothenburg.

The Department aims to actively improve our gender balance and we work broadly with equality projects. Equality and diversity are substantial foundations in all activities at the University and Department.

Subject area

Software Engineering

Subject area description

Modern software products are increasingly more connected, which allows for smarter and better products. The automotive industry is highly affected by this trend on several levels – vehicle to vehicle communication, vehicle to infrastructure communication and vehicle to OEM (car manufacturer) communication. Two examples of highly connected functions are the autonomous driving and over-the-air updates. However, even if connectivity opens up for new functions, it also brings in new risks.

Our project addresses the challenges that affect connected systems from the perspective of software security. The project aims at exploring and developing software mechanisms that enable interconnectivity in a secure way. It requires multidisciplinary studies of how software of vehicles, car manufacturers’ infrastructure and traffic infrastructure is constructed. It requires studies of which potential new attack surfaces are introduced and which mechanisms are required to secure our transport systems in the future.

Duties

The work in the project consists of 80% research and 20% teaching within the area of software engineering and network- and system development.

The research tasks in this project consist of literature reviews and case studies of connected vehicles. In the first part of the project, the focus is on the existing software architectures and communication protocols within a vehicle. In the second part of the project, the focus is on studies of communication mechanisms between vehicles and their infrastructure, including other road users. The third and the fourth parts of the project require development of prototypes of mechanisms to detect and prevent attacks on vehicles or infrastructure. The results include both theories and prototypes.

The teaching activities at the department consist of lecturing, supervising exercises, supervising Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis projects for at most 20% of her/his time.

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for employing teaching staff are set out in Chapter 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance and in the Appointment Procedure for Teaching Posts at the University of Gothenburg.

To be eligible for appointment as a postdoc, the applicant is required to have a doctoral degree in a relevant area according to the specific position stated in the advertisement, for example xxxx, or a foreign degree that is deemed to be equivalent to a doctoral degree. This eligibility requirement must be met before the employment decision is made.

In the first instance, those who have completed their degree no more than three years prior to the end of the application period shall be considered. Those who have completed their degree more than three years prior to the end of the application period may also be considered in the first instance if special grounds exist. Special grounds relate to leave of absence due to illness, parental leave, commissions of trust within union organisations, service within the defence services or other similar circumstances, as well as clinical service or service/assignment relevant to the subject area.

Assessment criteria

Regulations for the evaluation of qualifications for academic positions are given in Chapter 4, Section 3 – 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance.

The candidate needs to have:

• • Fundamental knowledge about software architectures, including the types of architectures and architecture assessment methods,

• • Fundamental knowledge about software security, including methods for security analyses,

• • Fundamental knowledge about software requirements, including scenarios, non-functional requirements, and methods of writing and analyzing requirements,

• • Experience with planning, conducting, and analyzing research in applied information technology, computer science and software engineering by using, for example, Action Research, Design Science,

• Advanced skills in empirical research, e.g., interviews and case studies

Furthermore, the following merits are a bonus:

• • Good programming skills (C, C++, Python) and experience with Linux,

• • Good knowledge of the automotive industry and its specific communication protocols and software architectures,

• • Published articles in well-renowned conferences and/or journals,

• • Experience with self-propelled research within the automotive industry,

• • Teaching experience, and

• Being able to read and write in Swedish and English

Employment

Type of employment: Fixed-term employment, 24 months, central agreement
Extent: 100 % of full time
Location: Department of Computer Science and Engineering /Division of Interaction Design and Software Engineering
First day of employment: 2024-01-01 or as soon as possible

Contact information

If you have any questions about the project, please contact Miroslaw Staron (miroslaw.staron@gu.se)
If you have any questions about the position, please contact Eric Knauss (eric.knauss@cse.gu.se)
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact Robin Garnham (robin.garnham@chalmers.se)

Unions

Union representatives at the University of Gothenburg can be found here: https://www.gu.se/om-universitetet/jobba-hos-oss/hjalp-for-sokande

Application

Submit your application via the University of Gothenburg’s recruitment portal by clicking the “Apply” button. It is your responsibility to ensure that the application is complete as per the vacancy notice, and that the University receives it by the final application deadline.

The selection of candidates is made on the basis of the qualifications registered in the application. The application is to be written in English.

Applications must be received by: 2023-10-15

Information for International Applicants

Choosing a career in a foreign country is a big step. Thus, to give you a general idea of what we and Gothenburg have to offer in terms of benefits and life in general for you and your family/spouse/partner please visit:

https://www.gu.se/en/about-the-university/welcome-services
https://www.movetogothenburg.com/

The University works actively to achieve a working environment with equal conditions, and values the qualities that diversity brings to its operations.

Salaries are set individually at the University.

In accordance with the National Archives of Sweden’s regulations, the University must archive application documents for two years after the appointment is filled. If you request that your documents are returned, they will be returned to you once the two years have passed. Otherwise, they will be destroyed.

In connection to this recruitment, we have already decided which recruitment channels we should use. We therefore decline further contact with vendors, recruitment and staffing companies.