PhD Position in Automated Side-Channel Reverse Engineering

This PhD position focuses on enhancing side-channel reverse engineering through the application of machine learning, probabilistic models, and exact time-series metrics. Hosted at the TIMA laboratory in Grenoble, France, the research addresses challenges such as noise, jitter, and prior attacker knowledge to automate the detection of cryptographic primitives and target routines on complex systems-on-chip. The successful candidate will work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary public research environment, engaging with both academic and industrial partners. Applicants are expected to conduct rigorous research, contribute to project deliverables, and prepare scientific publications.

• Develop unprofiled methodologies and tools for automated side-channel reverse engineering.
• Investigate machine learning algorithms, probabilistic models, and exact metrics suited for time-series data.
• Handle challenges specific to SoC side-channel measurements, including signal noise and jitter.
• Model attacker prior knowledge regarding executed code and manipulated data.
• Apply developed techniques to scenarios such as bootloader reverse engineering and neural network architecture discovery.
• Collaborate with academic and industrial partners within national and European research projects.