PhD Opportunity – Hardware and Cyber Security at George Mason University
Location: SPIRE Lab, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
Start Date: August 2025
The SPIRE Lab at George Mason University is seeking highly motivated candidates for a fully funded PhD Research Assistant position in Hardware and Cyber Security. The selected PhD student will work on cutting-edge research involving reverse engineering, side-channel attacks, fault injection, and security of emerging computer architectures, leveraging machine learning and cryptographic techniques.
Research Areas:
- Hardware and cyber security
- Reverse engineering
- Side-channel and fault injection attacks
- Machine learning and cryptography
- FPGA design and analysis
Basic Qualifications:
- Master’s degree in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or a related field
- Prior research experience in computer security
- Proficiency in C++ or Java (Python is a plus)
- Passion, motivation, and discipline for PhD-level research
Preferred Qualifications:
- Experience in reverse engineering, FPGA, or Chipwhisperer-based side-channel analysis
How to Apply:
Send the following documents to Prof. Arafin at marafin@gmu.edu:
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Academic transcripts
- Any prior publications
Note: This opportunity is for PhD applicants only. Selected candidates will be invited for an interview. The successful candidate(s) will be admitted to the PhD in Information Technology program at George Mason University.
