AI:X is an ambitious initiative at Aalborg University that aims to advance AI research and create real-world impact through interdisciplinary collaboration, and five labs will be initiated in 2025 with a total of 20 PhD stipends.
The AI:DEFENCE Lab is part of the AI:X initiative with four PhD stipends and is a col-laboration between the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Electronic Systems, The Technical Faculty of IT and Design.
This lab will be physically located at the AAU Copenhagen campus. The four stipends are open for appointment from 1 August 2025 (or soon thereafter).
Copenhagen
Deadline: 28.04.2025
Job description
AI has drastically accelerated how cybercriminals can cause societal harm. The AI:DEFENCE lab addresses this threat by exploring new synergies between Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Cybersecurity. We propose to use NLP to fortify cyber defenses, while leveraging cybersecurity for fundamentally new approaches to NLP security and safety. Our vision with the lab is automated mitigation of cyber threats, and safe NLP models, contributing to a safe and secure society.
The lab is looking for candidates for the following four stipends:
Stipend 1: Security in NLP models
Using insights from Cybersecurity to improve systematic security in NLP models. The candidate should have an MSc. in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Software, Natural Language Processing, or a closely related area. Candidates with strong backgrounds in NLP are preferred.
Stipend 2: Safety alignment in NLP models
Using Cybersecurity expertise to guarantee consistency and robustness in model behavior. The candidate should have an MSc. in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Software, Natural Language Processing, or a closely related area. Candidates with strong backgrounds in NLP are preferred.
Stipend 3: Provable security in networked systems
Designing secure and privacy-preserving AI in distributed environments, with strong emphasis on provable security guarantees. Topics include federated learning, secure computation, and robust optimization under adversarial threats. The candidate should have an MSc. in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Software, Cybersecurity, or a closely related area. Candidates with strong backgrounds in cybersecurity and machine learning are preferred.
Stipend 4: Autonomous Cyber Defense
Developing AI-driven systems for autonomous cyber defense, combining techniques from reinforcement learning, LLMs, and multi-agent systems. The candidate should have an MSc. in Machine Learning, Computer Science, Software, Cybersecurity, or a closely related area. Candidates with strong backgrounds in cybersecurity and machine learning are preferred.
You may obtain further information concerning the scientific aspects of the stipends for project 1 and 2 from Professor Johannes Bjerva, Department of Computer Science, email: jbjerva@cs.aau.dk and for project 3 and 4 from Tenure-Track Assistant Professor Qiongxiu Li, Department of Electronic Systems, email: qili@es.aau.dk
Please clearly indicate at the top of your application which of the stipends you are applying for.
