PhD Candidate in Modelling and Executing Cascading Effects within a Cyber Range

This is NTNU NTNU is a broad-based university with a technical-scientific profile and a focus in professional education. The university is located in three cities with headquarters in Trondheim. At NTNU, 9,000 employees and 43,000 students work to create knowledge for a better world. You will find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.   Video: https://youtu.be/Xt-yHCN5QS0?si=VvgEPS9s6a7_Cw7z About the position We are seeking a highly motivated PhD candidate to investigate cascading cyber effects, cyber resilience, and advanced cyber range modelling. The research combines simulation, software development, and experimental validation in the Norwegian Cyber Range. Are you motivated to take a step towards a doctorate and open up exciting career opportunities? As a PhD research fellow with us, you will work to achieve your doctorate, and at the same time gain valuable experience that qualifies you for a range of leading positions in business, administration, higher education and research.  Your immediate manager will be the Head of Discipline. About the project This PhD project focuses on advancing the modelling, simulation, and execution of complex cybersecurity scenarios within the Norwegian Cyber Range (NCR). The research aims to investigate how cascading cyber effects can be represented and executed across interconnected digital environments, including both IT and Operational Technology (OT) systems. Building on the Norwegian Cyber Range's existing capabilities, the project will explore new methods for representing system dependencies, designing realistic cyber scenarios, and evaluating cyber resilience through automated and scalable cyber range exercises. The project provides flexibility for the successful candidate to shape the research direction within the broader topic Research Objectives and Contributions RO1: Develop methods for modelling dependencies and cascading cyber effects in interconnected systems. The research will investigate approaches for representing how cyber incidents propagate across complex infrastructures and how these dependencies influence system resilience. RO2: Explore techniques for describing and executing realistic cascading cyber scenarios within a cyber range environment. This includes extending or adapting existing scenario modelling approaches to support increasingly complex cybersecurity exercises. RO3: Investigate simulation and predictive modelling approaches for analysing cascading cyber threats and evaluating the resilience of interconnected systems under different attack conditions. RO4: Validate the proposed modelling and execution framework through implementation and experimentation in the Norwegian Cyber Range, assessing its applicability for cybersecurity training, research, and resilience evaluation. Expected Contributions The project is expected to contribute to the advancement of cyber range technologies and cyber resilience research through: • Novel methods for modelling cascading cyber effects in interconnected systems. • Enhanced capabilities for designing and executing complex cybersecurity scenarios in cyber ranges. • New approaches for analysing and evaluating cyber resilience through simulation and experimentation. • Open research outputs, including software components, models, datasets, or methodologies that support future cyber range research and education. Relevant Resourses Norwegian Cyber Range Modeling and executing cyber security exercise scenarios in cyber ranges  Cyber ranges and security testbeds  Evaluating ASCERT: generative AI for cyber-range scenario generation A Design Science Approach to Bridging Operational Cyber Detection and Strategic Crisis Management Duties of the position • Complete doctoral education and obtain a doctorate • Carry out research of good quality within the framework described above • Academic publications and popular science dissemination • Participate in the research group eHealth and System Security Group HS2G • Participate in international activities such as conferences • Teaching responsibilities, as well as other career-enhancing work Required selection criteria  • You must meet the requirements for admission to the faculty's Doctoral Programme (link), see  Section 6-1 of the PhD regulations for more information. • You must have a relevant Master's degree in Computer Science, Cyber Security, or an equivalent field. Your degree must include a major independent project (minimum 30 ECTS) equivalent to a master’s thesis • You must have a strong and relevant academic background from your previous studies and have an average grade from your Master's degree study, or equivalent education, which is equal to B or better compared to  NTNU's grading scale . If you do not have letter grades from previous studies, you must have an equally good academic foundation. If you have a weaker academic background, you may be considered if you can document that you are exceptionally suited for a PhD education, for example through relevant work experience and/or peer-reviewed academic works. • Excellent oral and written presentation skills in English (C1-C2 level) The appointment is to be made in accordance with  NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions for general criteria for the position. Preferred selection criteria • Strong motivation for pursuing doctoral research in cybersecurity • Experience in cybersecurity, cyber ranges, Capture-the-Flag (CTF), or related practical security activities • Experience with programming, system development, or data-driven approaches in cybersecurity is an advantage.  • Relevant cybersecurity certifications (e.g., OSCP, OSCE, or SANS) are considered a plus • Norwegian/Scandinavian language (please state your level) Personal characteristics To complete a doctoral degree (PhD), it is important that you are able to:  • work independently and take initiative in research • collaborate effectively in an interdisciplinary research team • motivated to communicate research findings through writing and presentations. Emphasis will be placed on personal suitability. We offer • An exciting job with an important  mission in society • Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment • Career guidance and  follow-up during the PhD period • Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues • Working capital  that can be used to implement the project • Mentor programme as a  new employee at NTNU • Favorable terms as a member of the  Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund (SPK)   • Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2) As a PhD research fellow at NTNU, you will have access to  employee benefits . Diversity Diversity is a strength, and at NTNU we aim to be an employer that reflects the diversity in society and that makes use of the potential of the population's collective skills. Our vision is  Knowledge for a better world  and  our values ​​are creative, critical, constructive and respectful . We believe that an organization that is equal, diverse, and gender-balanced is essential for us to achieve our goals.  We strive to attract employees with different skills, life experiences and perspectives to contribute to even better problem solving of our societal mission in research and education.  If you think this position is relevant and interesting, we encourage you to apply, regardless of gender, functional ability, and cultural background, or whether you have been out of work for a period of time. At NTNU we want to increase the proportion of women in scientific positions. We have a number of  measures to promote equality.  Salary and conditions In the position of PhD research fellow, code 1017, your gross salary will normally be NOK 580 000,- per annum depending on qualifications and seniority. A 2% statutory contribution to the State Pension Fund is deducted from the salary.  The employment period is 3 years for the doctoral work in a