Detecting Malware through Execution Trace Monitoring
Laboratoire d’Informatique Formelle
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi
Chicoutimi, Québec, Canada
The Formal Computer Science Laboratory (http://lif.uqac.ca) is seeking high-quality applications for a fully-funded PhD position in Malware Detection. Candidates should be highly self-motivated, possess high organizational skills, be open minded, and be interested in tackling challenging research problems.
The lab offers a stimulating learning environment where students from diverse backgrounds can collaborate on different projects. Outstanding candidates with the clear objective of building an excellent publication record are strongly encouraged to apply.
Position in malware detection
Research topics typically span several years, or projects, and possibly involve more students and activities. A good knowledge of spoken and written English is a requirement.
Research at the LIF spans all aspects of formal methods and software security, including runtime verification, software tracing and malware detection in execution traces. The applicant’s research could focus on trace abstraction and program comprehension in traces, the detection of malware and malicious patterns in traces, or any other related topic in which he/she is sufficiently knowledgeable to undertake graduate studies. Much of our research is applied and has been funded by industry, including Ericsson, Hydro-Québec and the Canadian Armed forces.
The applicant should have a strong background in theoretical computer science, and have demonstrated proficiency in at least one major programming language. Expertise in the following fields will also be favourably considered: runtime verification, computer security, execution/log trace analysis, trace abstraction, intrusion detection. The applicant should have a demonstrated potential for high-caliber academic and industrial research.
The PhD is funded for three years, including a monthly stipend plus full tuition exemption. The position also comes with opportunities to teach at UQAC, which yield extra salary (typically about $7000/class). In addition, the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics awards a small number of Fellowships, which can provide complementary funding to their recipients. Also, UQAC rents low-cost subsidized apartments near campus for both single students and students with families. Knowledge I French is a pre-requisite for teaching positions.
About the LIF
The Formal Computer Science Lab (Laboratoire d’informatique formelle or LIF) is a research group in the Department of Computer Science and Mathematics at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC), Canada. There are over 15 students currently enrolled at LIF and the professors of the lab are regularly solicited by students who seek to pursue Master’s or Ph.D. studies. The lively scientific environment at the department of Computer Science and Mathematics is also enhanced by the interaction of the 150 graduate students currently enrolled at both the Master’s and Ph.D. levels which give LIF students the opportunity to be exposed to emerging ideas in several different fields of Computer Science.
About UQAC
Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) is a dynamic and growing research university located in the scenic Saguenay area of Québec, in the heart of the Boreal Forests of Canada. Indeed, in recent years UQAC has been recognised as the most productive regional university in Canada in terms of research funding, according to a Research Infosource survey. UQAC has also recently been designated “Most diverse university in Canada”, with 600 of its 7,000 students coming from abroad.
Application
Applications must be sent to Professor Raphaël Khoury (rkhoury@uqac.ca) with Subject line “Security PhD” before November 15 2015. Applications should include a CV, transcript of grades, a motivation letter as well as the names of at least two referees.
- Prof. Raphaël Khoury: http://www.uqac.ca/portfolio/raphaelkhoury
- Formal CS Lab: http://lif.uqac.ca
- UQAC: http://www.uqac.ca
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