PhD Scholarship in Computing

PhD Research Studentship

Improved Visualisation of Network Attacks

Glasgow Caledonian University -School of Engineering and Built Environment

Reference Number:  11/12_29

Applications are invited for this full-time PhD research studentship within the School of Engineering and Built Environment at Glasgow Caledonian University.  The studentship is for a period of three and a half years (42 months), subject to satisfactory progress and provides payment of tuition fees at the UK/EU rate plus an annual stipend of £14,600 [please note that students from outside the EU are required to pay the difference between International and EU fees, currently this would amount to £6,672 per annum].  The successful candidate is expected to undertake up to 6 hours of academic support activity per week.

Project Description

As computer networks grow with an increasing number of users and connecting devices, and a wide variety of communicating applications, it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between good and bad network traffic. For criminals, the Internet provides a fertile playground for nefarious activities in which they can often hide and move about with relative ease. While there are numerous tools for detecting network attacks, it remains a challenge to present the information in a manner that facilitates clear and consistent actions by a network investigator or administrator. 

The ultimate goal of this project is to develop new, usable methods for visualising network attacks that take into account the 'human factor'. Such a result will require effort in other areas, such as the source and manner of network data collection, and the method of data analysis so that the project is likely to involve novel contributions in these areas as well.

This project will allow the candidate to be part of a large Scottish networking community and encourage the application of their technical skills to practical problems. The candidate will gain experience in a number of skill areas, including networks, network security, machine learning, human-computer interaction, and visualisation.  

Project Lead:  Dr Mike Just (Mike.Just@gcu.ac.uk)  

Further information available here 

Required background and/or experience of the candidate:

The candidate should possess a 1st or 2.1 honours degree in engineering or computer science. It is desirable for the candidate to have strong networking skills to facilitate data collection, and ideally have some experience with either machine learning or human-computer interaction techniques.  The candidate should also be creative, and possess a strong curiosity for understanding the behaviour of networks. It is anticipated that the candidate will liaise with industry and that he/she will have to travel nationally/internationally for meetings and conference presentations.

How to Apply:

Application forms are available here  and once completed should be returned to GCUStudentships@gcu.ac.uk 

Please state the Project Title and reference number (as above) on the completed application form.

The closing date for applications is Friday 7^th September; short-listed candidates will be contacted by 28^thSeptember with interview details.