PhD on Extending Functional Safety approaches in the Process Industry for Cybersecurity Risks

☞ KU Leuven

Ver: 100

Dia de atualização: 06-12-2025

Localização: Leuven Flemish Brabant

Categoria: IT - Software IT - Hardware / Rede Tecnologia da Informação

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Conteúdo do emprego

PhD on Extending Functional Safety approaches in the Process Industry for Cybersecurity Risks

(ref. BAP-2025-33)
Laatst aangepast: 18/01/25

The research (and teaching) activities of KU Leuven/ESAT/ELECTA cover a wide spectrum in smart energy systems and control. In one of our earlier projects we investigated cybersecurity aspects of the bulk power system. We are also active on how functional safety ensures that industrial processes remain safe when components break down or systematic failures occur. These two items (cybersecurity and functional safety) come together in this project

The research group has been active since the 1960s and currently has 11 full-time professors and 85+ PhD students. ELECTA is a founding member of the KU Leuven Institute for Energy and Society. ELECTA is also one of the driving forces behind EnergyVille (www.energyville.be), which unites KU Leuven, VITO, imec and UHasselt for research on sustainable energy and intelligent energy systems. Since 2016 EnergyVille has its research facilities in Genk, where it hosts advanced smart grid laboratories.

Prof. Deconinck’s team is focussing on different aspects of dependability and distributed control in industrial automation systems, since the end of previous century.

Website van de eenheid

Project

This PhD research is part of the Vlaio-catalisti-cSBO project “Functional Safety in the Process Industry: Towards a Science Based Approach (Functionary)”, the general objective of which is to establish a set of guiding principles for functional safety in the chemical process industry following a novel, enriched, science-based approach.

The PhD focus will be on the second pillar of this project, which is establishing a cybersecurity risk assessment framework for functional safety in process industry. It is basically linking together the world of functional safety and the world of cybersecurity for industrial control systems, both with their own standards (IEC61511 and 62443) and methodologies. Starting from mapping the connectivity between Operational Technology (OT) and Safety Instrumented Systems (SIS) a security-aware safety methodology needs to be develeped, which is then applied to several industrial cases.


Profile

You are a highly motivated and enthusiastic researcher with a strong interest in dependability aspects of industrial control systems. Knowledge and experience of industrial process control, functional safey and OT-security are a clear advantage.

You have:
  • A master’s degree in Engineering Science e.g energy, electrical, mechanical, computer science, mathematical engineering .
  • Critical and creative thinking skills.
  • Independence and initiative.
  • Reliability in teamwork and good communication skills.
  • Excellent proficiency in English (speaking, listening and writing).

Please indicate clearly in the motivation letter your research interests and your previous experience and knowledge, and your grades.

Offer

  • A four-year doctoral scholarship at KU Leuven’s doctoral school, and a PhD in Engineering Science, if successful
  • The opportunity to participate in exciting scientific projects carried out within ELECTA, in close collaboration with the academic project partners and the process industry.
  • Access to state-of-the-art technologies, core facilities and technical support
  • The opportunity to be part of in an exciting and international research environment, engage in research collaborations and participate at international conferences
  • A flexible working culture with opportunity to up to 40% remote working.
  • Benefits such as health insurance, access to university sports facilities, etc.

Interested?

For more information please contact Prof. dr. ir. Geert Deconinck, tel.: +32 16 32 11 26, mail: geert.deconinck@kuleuven.be.
You can apply for this job no later than February 14, 2025 via the online application tool

KU Leuven strives for an inclusive, respectful and socially safe environment. We embrace diversity among individuals and groups as an asset. Open dialogue and differences in perspective are essential for an ambitious research and educational environment. In our commitment to equal opportunity, we recognize the consequences of historical inequalities. We do not accept any form of discrimination based on, but not limited to, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, ethnic or national background, skin colour, religious and philosophical diversity, neurodivergence, employment disability, health, or socioeconomic status. For questions about accessibility or support offered, we are happy to assist you at this email address.

    Heb je een vraag over de online sollicitatieprocedure? Raadpleeg onze veelgestelde vragen of stuur een e-mail naar solliciteren@kuleuven.be

    Solliciteer voor deze functie

    av_timer Tewerkstellingspercentage: Voltijds

    location_city Locatie : Leuven

    timer Solliciteren tot en met:
    14/02/2025 23:59 CET

    bookmarks Tags: Ingenieurswetenschappen

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    Data limite: 20-01-2026

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