Novel Side Channels across Boundaries: Attacks and Defences

Novel Side Channels across Boundaries: Attacks and Defences

In a side channel, sensitive information leaks accidentally via some medium or mechanism that was not designed or intended for communication. Exploiting a side channel, an adversary can compromise completely the security of a cryptographic scheme (which would otherwise be secure), or even an entire computer system. Side channels have been a major topic in cybersecurity, with growing interests in both academia and industry. 

Working alongside Professor Jeff Yan and Dr Ahmad Atamli in the School of Electronics and Computer Science, and Dr Aaron Zhao (Imperial College), this project aims to discover novel side-channels and investigate their countermeasures. Depending on technical backgrounds and research interests, you may work on either cryptographical side-channels or non-cryptographical ones, with a focus on one or several of the following strands. 

1.    Physical side-channels (e.g. acoustic, optical or EM ones) that cross the boundary between the physical and the digital.

2.    Software and hardware side-channels that will break Deep Learning models.

3.    Side-channels between virtual machines and trusted hardware. 

You will build on our award-winning research. In either strand, you will find machine learning may help detect complex pattern of attacks that may result in information exposure or performance reduction.

You will have opportunities for working with our collaborators in academia and industry, including Cambridge, Imperial, Microsoft, Nvidia, ARM, and Google DeepMind.

Industry connections

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 from both your peers and the numerous industry partners supporting the Centre.

This PhD studentship is open only to UK applicants. This project is suitable for applicants with technical backgrounds in CS, EE, acoustics, maths or physics. We welcome applicants onto the CDT from underrepresented groups.

Entry Requirements

A very good undergraduate degree (at least a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent).

Closing date: 30 June 2024. 

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: HERE Select programme type (Research), 2024/25, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, next page select “PhD Integrated PhD in Complex Integrated Systems for Defence and Security (2024-25) (Full time)”. In Section 2 of the application form you should insert the name of the supervisor Jeff Yan

Applications should include:

Research Proposal (2 pages)

Curriculum Vitae

Two reference letters

Degree Transcripts/Certificates to date