Open PhD Position in anomaly detection in an identity query management system (LIF24-D3)

2024/01/30 by Sylvain Hallé

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The Formal Computer Science Laboratory (LIF) at Université du Québec à Chicoutimi is seeking an outstanding PhD candidate to fill a 3-year funded position on anomaly detection in an identity query management system.

  • Date d’entrée en fonction: 1er septembre 2024 (ou plus tard)

Project Description

An identity query is any request for personal information made by an entity about an individual. These queries can take various forms and have a varying level of precision; for instance, asking if a person resides in Canada and asking for a person’s exact address are two identity queries, one of which is more precise than the other.

The project considers a system that manages the secure exchange of identity queries between a large number of individuals and organizations, and in which all queries are logged in a decentralized blockchain-type medium. The objective is to detect possible anomalies, policy violations or suspicious behavior of certain agents by analyzing identity query logs produced in real time. The project includes both a formal component, in which identity queries and their properties will be modeled using two modal logics, namely linear temporal logic and epistemic modal logic. It also has a practical aspect, where the formally defined properties will be verified in real time by the implementation of a monitor integrated into the platform of a commercial product in production in a large company.

Research Areas

  • Cybersercurity
  • Privacy protection
  • Runtime monitoring
  • Testing and verification

Environment

L’Université du Québec à Chicoutimi (UQAC) fait partie du plus grand réseau universitaire au Canada. Elle est située dans la région francophone du Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, réputée pour la beauté de son fjord et la majesté de sa nature environnante. L’UQAC accueille chaque année 6 500 étudiants, dont plus de 1 000 provenant de 50 pays différents. Le programme de recherche en informatique est particulièrement dynamique; il est l’hôte de deux chaires de recherche du Canada, comprend actuellement une vingtaine de professeurs, 30 doctorants et boursiers postdoctoraux et plus de 100 étudiants à la maîtrise.

Le travail de doctorat se déroulera au Laboratoire d’informatique formelle, sous la supervision du Pr. Sylvain Hallé, titulaire de la Chaire de recherche du Canada sur les tests, la spécifications et la vérification de systèmes informatiques. Le LIF est spécialisé dans l’application de méthodes formelles au test et à la vérification de divers systèmes logiciels. Les projets antérieurs des membres du corps professoral du LIF ont été réalisés en collaboration avec de nombreuses entreprises, dont Ericsson, Industrielle Alliance, Ubisoft LaForge, Devicom et Eckinox Média.

La recherche au LIF est reconnue internationalement et contribue au développement d’outils logiciels concrets et de haute qualité fondés sur des bases mathématiques solides. Les projets notables de longue date développés au LIF incluent le moteur de traitement de flux d’événements BeepBeep 3, le système de surveillance de la blockchain Artichoke et la bibliothèque de lignage de données Petit Poucet. Toutes ces initiatives ont été récompensées et publiées dans des conférences internationales de premier plan au cours de la dernière décennie.

Required Qualifications

A very good Diploma or Master university degree in computer science, informatics, business informatics, mathematics, or a related discipline is expected. We further seek the following qualifications:

  • Very good formal knowledge: theoretical computer science, mathematical logic. A background in mathematics is considered a plus.
  • Good programming skills; knowledge of Java is considered a plus.
  • Knowledge in blockchain technology or cryptography is a plus.
  • Very good scientific communication and writing skills.
  • Very good knowledge in English communication and writing.
  • In-depth interest in scientific problems and the motivation for independent and goal-oriented research.

Funding

Funding of this position is ensured by grants from the Canada Research Chair on Software Specification, Testing and Verification and the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada. The candidate will receive a scholarship of a net amount of 27,000 CAD per year for three years.

Application Procedure

Prospective applicants are asked to fill the form at https://zfrmz.com/BGLMrz4QFYzkIOZxVtpD?zf_lang=en, make sure to specify project LIF24-D3, and provide the following documents:

  • Letter of motivation
  • Curriculum vitae, including a) list of publications if any; b) names and contact information of at least two references
  • Transcripts of undergraduate and graduate studies
  • A copy of the Master’s thesis, if it has been submitted

Université du Québec à Chicoutimi is committed to equity, diversity and inclusion at all steps of its students’ curriculum; candidates from under-represented groups are especially encouraged to apply. Applications will be evaluated by a panel of three UQAC faculty members by focusing on the criteria mentioned above. Shortlisted applications will be called for an online interview to further assess their technical and communication skills.