PhD in Secure and Privacy-Preserving Collaborative Language Models

About the opportunity

The Department of Electronic Systems at Aalborg University is seeking a highly motivated PhD researcher to join the cybersecurity group. This position focuses on secure and privacy-preserving collaborative language models, addressing challenges in distributed environments where multiple parties train, fine-tune, or deploy large language models while safeguarding data confidentiality and model integrity. The research will explore privacy-preserving distributed learning, cryptographic protection mechanisms, defenses against model extraction, and secure agentic AI. The successful candidate will work in an interdisciplinary environment, collaborating with the AI:SECURITY LAB and benefiting from a research culture that emphasizes psychological safety, mentorship, and rigorous academic inquiry.

Salary and benefits

• Full-time employment as a PhD researcher
• Salary and terms of employment in accordance with the collective agreement between the Danish Confederation of Professional Associations and the state (AC collective agreement)
• Opportunity to conduct research in a world-leading department with unique research infrastructure and lab facilities
• Individualized mentorship and participation in regular research seminars

Who can apply?

• Hold a Master's degree in Information Engineering, Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, or related fields
• Strong programming skills (e.g., Python)
• Strong motivation to contribute to cutting-edge research in AI and security
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within interdisciplinary teams
• Prior background in privacy-preserving machine learning, distributed training, large language models, agentic AI, or cryptographic protocols is advantageous

Required documents

• Application stating reasons for applying and qualifications
• Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• Diplomas (Bachelor's and Master's degree, including grades)
• Project description (maximum 2 pages) outlining motivation, intentions, introduction to the topic, state-of-the-art, relevant techniques, and expected outcomes
• Other relevant documents

When to apply

• Application deadline: 2026-10-04

How to apply

• Prepare all required documents including the project description and academic diplomas
• Submit the application via the official Aalborg University recruitment system accessible through the job advertisement page

Additional information

• The PhD stipend is normally for a period of 3 years.
• The position is expected to start on November 1, 2026, or as soon as possible thereafter.
• Shortlisting will be applied; all applicants will be informed if they have been selected for assessment.
• The hiring process may include a risk assessment.
• Aalborg University is an equal opportunity employer and encourages all qualified candidates to apply regardless of personal background.