PhD Research Fellow position in Knowledge-Grounded LLM Agents for Defensive Cyber Operations

About this job

About the position We invite applications for a PhD Research Fellow position in Knowledge-Grounded LLM Agents for Defensive Cyber Operations, available at the Digital Security Research Group within the Department of Informatics at the University of Oslo. Starting date as soon as possible and no later than 01.05.2027. The fellowship period is three years. A fourth year may be considered, which would involve 25% other career-promoting work. Other career-promoting work may consist of teaching, supervision, and/or research assistance. This depends on the applicant's qualifications and the department's current needs. No one can be appointed for more than one PhD Research Fellowship period at the University of Oslo. Project description The position will investigate knowledge-grounded and neuro-symbolic approaches to large language models and agentic AI for defensive cyber operations. The PhD project will be carried out in close collaboration with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI), including co-supervision from FFI with potential to connect the research to relevant cybersecurity and cyber-defence challenges. The research will explore how heterogeneous cybersecurity intelligence and evidence sources, including telemetry and observations, can be transformed into structured cybersecurity knowledge, represented through semantic knowledge graphs, and combined with symbolic reasoning, modern language models, and autonomous agents to support security analysis, situational awareness, decision-making, and response. Particular emphasis will be placed on developing trustworthy, reliable, interpretable, and secure AI systems, including methods for grounding, reasoning, validation, and the control of agentic behaviour in security-critical environments. The security and robustness of LLM-based and agentic systems, including adversarial manipulation, uncertainty, provenance, and the validation of AI-generated decisions and actions, may also be explored as part of this position. What skills are important in this role? The Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has a strategic ambition to be among Europe’s leading communities for research, education and innovation. Candidates for these fellowships will be selected in accordance with this, and expected to be in the upper segment of their class with respect to academic credentials. Required qualifications: Master’s degree or equivalent in cybersecurity, computer science (informatics), artificial intelligence, or a closely related field. Foreign completed degree (M.Sc.-level) corresponding to a minimum of four years in the Norwegian educational system Strong foundation in computer science or artificial intelligence/machine learning, with knowledge of cybersecurity or a demonstrated motivation to apply AI/ML in cybersecurity Strong programming and software development skills, demonstrated through relevant projects, research, or equivalent experience Fluent oral and written communication skills in English Candidates who have not yet completed their master’s degree must have completed all requirements for the degree by 31.12.2026. The position will involve cooperation with stakeholders related to Norwegian national security, and candidates' suitability for this will also be taken into account. Desired qualifications: Knowledge of or experience with large language models (LLMs), agentic AI, and related AI/ML methods Knowledge of or experience with semantic technologies, including knowledge graphs, ontologies, knowledge representation, and/or symbolic reasoning Knowledge of or experience with cybersecurity, particularly cybersecurity operations, security analysis, threat detection and response, cyber threat intelligence, or security automation Knowledge of or interest in trustworthy and secure AI, including robustness, interpretability, validation, uncertainty, or the security of LLM-based and agentic systems Previous research experience, for example, through a master’s thesis, scientific publication, research project, or equivalent work, is considered an advantage Language requirement: Good oral and written communication skills in English English requirements for applicants from outside of EU/ EEA countries and exemptions from the requirements: https://www.mn.uio.no/english/research/phd/regulations/regulations.html#toc8 Grade requirements: The norm is as follows: The average grade point for courses included in the Bachelor’s degree must be C or better in the Norwegian educational system The average grade point for courses included in the Master’s degree must be B or better in the Norwegian educational system The Master’s thesis must have the grade B or better in the Norwegian educational system For more information see: The purpose of the fellowship is research training leading to the successful completion of a PhD degree. UiO is subject to the Security Act, which governs the organisation's protection of security-sensitive objects and knowledge, in addition to other

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