Postdoc Position: Digital Privacy and Security

1. Introduction

Are you a computer scientist passionate about improving privacy and security for billions of Internet users? Join us as a postdoc to shape the Web Security and Privacy Observatory, developing tools and methods to uncover online threats. Conduct impactful research at the forefront of web security, privacy, and open science.

2. Job description

We are looking for a postdoctoral researcher with a strong background in empirical privacy and security research. As a postdoctoral researcher you will join the Digital Security group under the supervision of Dr Gunes Acar. The position will be funded by Acar’s NWO Vidi project ’Web Security and Privacy Observatory (WeSPO)’. The project will develop novel software, methods and datasets to identify web-based privacy and security threats such as malicious advertising, digital skimming and stealthy online tracking. By leveraging recent advances in machine learning and browser automation, the project aims to provide tools, techniques and data to tackle these challenges effectively.

As a postdoctoral researcher, you will play a key role in launching the Observatory, actively contributing to pioneering research while supporting the principal investigator in directing the activities of a scientific programmer. Furthermore, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with PhD candidates under Acar’s supervision and pursue your own research interests as long as they align with the project’s broader goals.

3. Profile

• You hold or are near completion of a PhD in computer science or a related field.
• During your PhD, you conducted large-scale studies on web privacy and security issues.
• You possess solid knowledge of core web and browser automation technologies.
• You have a good publication record with papers presented at top-tier privacy and security venues such as CCS, NDSS, IEEE S&P, USENIX Security, IMC and PETS.

4. We are

You will be a member of the Digital Security group working with Dr Gunes Acar and a number of PhD candidates. The Digital Security group is one the largest security research groups in the Netherlands focusing on a range of topics in cryptography, privacy and cyber security. Tackling the societal challenges of security and privacy goes beyond just the technical field of computer science. Therefore, some of our group’s research is carried out as part of the Radboud iHub, our university’s interdisciplinary research hub on digitalisation and society.

5. We offer

• Initially, this will be a one-year temporary contract, with the option of extending it for another year.
• Your salary within salary scale 10 depends on your previous education and number of years of (relevant) work experience. The amounts in the scale are based on a 38-hour working week.
• You will receive an 8% holiday allowance and an 8,3% end-of-year bonus. 
• You will be able to use our Dual Career and Family Support Service. The Dual Career Programme assists your partner via support, tools, and resources to improve their chances of independently finding employment in the Netherlands. Our Family Support Service helps you and your partner feel welcome and at home by providing customised assistance in navigating local facilities, schools, and amenities. Also take a look at our support for international staff page to discover all our services for international employees.
• You will receive extra days off. With full-time employment, you can choose between 30 or 41 days of annual leave instead of the statutory 20. 

6. Practical information and applying

You can apply only via the button below. Address your letter of application to Dr Gunes Acar.  In the application form, you will find which documents you need to include with your application.

The first interviews will take place on Wednesday 29 January. You will preferably start your employment on 1 April 2025.  

We can imagine you're curious about our application procedure. It describes what you can expect during the application procedure and how we handle your personal data and internal and external candidates. If you wish to apply for a non-scientific position with a non-EU nationality, please take notice of the following information.