Postdoctoral Fellow in Cyber Range applications for Cyber Security

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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 can find more information about working at NTNU and the application process here.

     

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About the position

We are seeking a highly motivated and skilled candidate to join our team for a 3-year Postdoctoral Researcher position focused on cyber range development, testing, and validation of software and hardware components. The position is part of the ATHENA Horizon Europe project, which aims to enhance cybersecurity resilience across critical infrastructure sectors through advanced validation frameworks and collaborative pilot demonstrations.

The successful candidate will be joined in the Critical Infrastructure Security and Resilience (CISaR) group at NTNU and will play a key role in designing, executing, and evaluating cyber range scenarios that simulate real-world cyber threats and system vulnerabilities. 

This is a unique opportunity to work with leading European universities, research centers, and industrial partners in developing next-generation cybersecurity testing environments.

The purpose of a postdoctoral position is to build up a researcher profile that qualifies for a position as associate professor. The position may also offer additional skills that are relevant to the postdoctoral fellow's future career.

Apply for this position to become part of our research environment and take the next step in your career with us.

Your immediate leader will be the Head of Discipline. The place of work will be at campus Gjøvik. 

Duties of the position

The selected applicant will contribute to the research, development, and validation of cyber range capabilities, including:

• Designing and implementing realistic cyber range scenarios for testing ATHENA’s security solutions.
• Supporting the integration and validation of software and hardware components within the cyber range.
• Developing automated testing and validation workflows, including CI/CD pipelines and compliance checks.
• Collaborating with project stakeholders to simulate attacks, assess vulnerabilities, and evaluate mitigation strategies. 
• Contributing to pilot demonstrations and collaborative evaluation phases across multiple use cases. 
• Preparing scientific publications, project deliverables, and dissemination materials.

Required selection criteria

• A completed PhD in Cybersecurity, Computer Science, Software Engineering, or a closely related field. 
• Experience with cyber range environments, testbed development, and security validation frameworks.
• Strong programming and system integration skills.

If you do not already have educational competence that meets the requirements for a position as associate professor in Norway, NTNU will arrange for you to acquire such competence during the employment period.

The appointment is to be made in accordance with NTNUs guidelines for recruitment positions and Regulations concerning the degrees of philosophiae doctor (ph.d.) in artistic development work at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) for general criteria for the position.

As a result of the new Act relating to universities and university colleges with associated regulations of 01/08/2024, NTNU has, during a transitional period (for decisions on employment in recruitment positions before 1 August 2025), chosen to use the terms of employment in the old regulations of 31 January 2006 no. 102 on terms of employment for positions such as postdoctoral fellow, research fellow, scientific assistant and specialist candidate

Preferred selection criteria

• Familiarity with vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, or security compliance testing.
• Experience with CI/CD, DevSecOps, or automated testing tools. 
• Knowledge of AI/ML-based security solutions and their application in testing environments.
• Ability to work collaboratively with academic and industrial partners.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Publications in reputable venues across relevant research topics
• Ability to timely obtain security clearance.

Personal characteristics

We are looking for a candidate who:

• Communicates clearly and effectively, both orally and in writing.
• Is self-driven and able to work independently and in teams.
• Shares knowledge and contributes actively to group discussions and activities.
• Has a friendly and positive attitude and is eager to learn and collaborate.

We will place emphasis on personal and interpersonal qualities.

Working Environment:
Our team fosters a collaborative and inclusive atmosphere, with strong emphasis on professional development and interdisciplinary research. You will be part of a dynamic group working on impactful cybersecurity challenges with real-world relevance.

We offer 

• An exciting job with an important social mission
• Developing tasks in a strong and international professional environment 
• Career guidance throughout the postdoctoral program and together with you we will prepare a career plan, which containsthe skills and knowledge you will acquire
• Open and inclusive working environment with committed colleagues 
• Favorable terms in the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund
• Free Norwegian language training at a basic level (A2)

As a Postdoctoral 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

As a Postdoctoral Fellow (code 1352) you are normally paid from gross NOK 633 400,- per annum before tax, depending on qualifications and seniority. From the salary, 2% is deducted as a contribution to the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.

The period of employment is 3 years, including a course within educational competence.

The position is conditional on external funding.

As an employee at NTNU, it is important to keep yourself up to date with academic and organizational changes and to adapt to them. 

For the necessary professional and social interaction, it is a prerequisite that you are physically present and available to the institution on a daily basis.

The appointment is carried out in accordance with the principles of the State Employees Act, and Export control (legislation that regulates the export of knowledge, technology and services). Candidates who, after assessment of the application and attachments, are considered to bein conflict with the criteria in the latter act, will not be able to be employed

About the application 

The attachments (including a description of your scientific work) must accompany the application as these documents form the basis of the application assessment. The documents must be in Norwegian/a Scandinavian language or English. 

Please note: the application will only be assessed on the basis of the information we have received by the application deadline. Therefore, make sure that your application clearly shows how your skills and experience meet the criteria described above.

The application and all attachments must be sent electronically via Jobbnorge.no. If you are invited to an interview, you must bring certified copies of certificates and diplomas upon request. 

The application must include:

• Transcripts and diplomas for Bachelor's-,Master's- and PhD degrees. If you have not yet completed your PhD, you must provide confirmation on your estimated date for the doctoral dissertation, or confirmation that your PhD thesis has been submitted. Documentation of a completed doctoral degree must be presented before taking up the position.
• CV
• A copy of the doctoral thesis. If you are close to submitting, you can attach a draft of the thesis. 
• Research plan
• Academic works - published or unpublished(up to 10 items)
• Possible recommendation letters
• Name and contact information of three referees

If all or parts of your education hasbeen taken abroad, we also ask you to attach documentation of the scope and quality of your entire education. Description of the documentation requiredcan be found here. If you already have a statement from Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), please attach this as well.

Joint works will be considered. If it is difficult to identify your contribution to joint works, you must attach a brief description of your participation.

If you have had leave or another break in your career, it is important that this is stated in your application so that the selection committee can take this into account and that the amount of your research may be reduced as a result.

In the evaluation of which candidate is best qualified, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal qualities. Motivation, ambitions and potential for research will also be emphasized in the assessment of the candidates.

NTNU recognizes a wide range of academic contributions and is committed to follow evaluation criteria for research quality according to The San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment DORA and the obligations in CoARA (responsible assessment of research and recognition of a greater breadth of academic contributions in accordance with NTNU's social mission).

General information 

A public list of applicants with name, age, job title and municipality of residence is prepared after the application deadline. If you wish to be exempt from entry on the public list of applicants, this must be justified. Assessment will be made in accordance with current legislation. You will be notified if the exemption is not granted.

If you have any questions about the position, please contact Professor Vasileios Gkioulos, email: vasileios.gkioulos@ntnu.no 

If you have any questions about the recruitment process, please contact HR Julie Lindland, email: julie.lindland@ntnu.no. 

If you find this position interesting, and in accordance with your qualifications, please submit your application electronically via jobbnorge.no with your CV, diplomas and certificates attached. 

Application deadline: 31.10.2025

For practical information about working at NTNU, please visit this webpage. 

Gjøvik, a charming town by the shores of Lake Mjøsa, is known for its beautiful nature and rich cultural offerings. The town boasts a vibrant community with excellent schools, modern healthcare services, and a variety of recreational activities. With its strategic location, just a short drive from Oslo, Gjøvik combines the best of urban life and natural experiences. Here, you'll find a dynamic business environment and exciting career opportunities in a setting that values work-life balance.