PhD & Research Assistant Positions in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

PhD & Research Assistant Positions in Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Department: Center for Environmental Intelligence (CEI)

Location: VinUniversity, Hanoi, Vietnam

Position Type: Full-time / Part-time

About CEI

The Center for Environmental Intelligence (CEI) is a hub for “Green and Sustainable Tech Transfer” at VinUni. It fosters global collaborations to address environmental challenges using advanced technology and interdisciplinary research. CEI focuses on smart and sustainable development, driving transformative solutions for Vietnam and beyond. Its mission includes creating a robust platform for technology transfer and partnering to tackle climate change and sustainability. Key research areas involve the development of AI-driven advanced materials for energy storage, energy conversion, and green chemical production.

Project Summary

This project offers a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of hardware, software, artificial intelligence (AI), and cybersecurity, applied to the design of smart urban sensing systems. The central focus is on the development of secure and intelligent air quality
monitoring networks for deployment in real-world urban environments, addressing both environmental and digital safety concerns.

As part of this interdisciplinary initiative, PhD candidates and Research Assistants will be actively involved in the end-to-end development process—from prototyping sensor devices and embedded systems to designing robust communication protocols and integrating AI-based models for system optimization and anomaly detection. Particular emphasis is placed on exploring cybersecurity challenges in distributed sensor networks, such as data integrity, firmware protection, and intrusion detection, all within the constraints of low-power, resource limited hardware. Participants will have the opportunity to work closely on real-world deployments, engaging in field testing, system evaluation, and iterative design improvements. At the same time, they will contribute to technical reports and high-quality academic publications, gaining
valuable experience in applied research and scientific communication.

This project is ideal for those interested in practical innovation, offering the chance to bridge theory and application in a way that directly impacts urban sustainability, public health, and secure IoT infrastructure. Candidates will join a collaborative and forward-thinking team working on cutting-edge problems at the interface of technology and society

Key responsibilities:

• Conduct high-impact research at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, and IoT, focusing on the development of secure and intelligent sensor systems for real-world applications.
• Design, implement, and evaluate machine learning models, security protocols, and embedded solutions to support anomaly detection, data protection, and system optimization in resource-constrained environments.
• Participate in the end-to-end development of smart sensing platforms, including hardware prototyping, firmware programming, data processing, and system integration.
• Analyze real-world data from deployed sensor networks to identify performance issues, detect security threats, and enhance system intelligence.
• Contribute to academic publications, technical reports, and research documentation targeting top-tier AI and cybersecurity venues.
• Support or lead field testing and system deployments, collecting sensor data, monitoring system behavior, and iterating on hardware/software improvements.
• Collaborate with a multidisciplinary research team across AI, cybersecurity, embedded systems, and environmental sensing to solve complex societal challenges.
• Present findings in internal meetings, academic seminars, and external conferences to communicate scientific insights and project outcomes.

Requirements:

PhD track:

• Experience with academic writing or willingness to learn to publish in scholarly
  venues.
• English proficiency equivalent to IELTS 6.0 or higher.
• Preferred: Previous publications, particularly in Q1-ranked journals or top[1]tier conferences in AI, cybersecurity, or related domains.

Cybersecurity:

• Strong motivation to pursue PhD-level research in Cybersecurity, especially in IoT, embedded systems, or AI-driven security.
• Solid foundation in computer security, cryptography, algorithms, or related areas.
• Proficiency in programming (e.g., Python, C/C++, or system-level scripting) and familiarity with security libraries or tools.

AI:

• Strong motivation to pursue PhD-level research in AI, with applications in cybersecurity and IoT. Solid foundation in machine learning, algorithms, and applied mathematics.
• Programming experience (e.g., Python, PyTorch, TensorFlow, or equivalent).
• Familiarity with or strong interest in AI for anomaly detection, optimization, or secure systems.

Research Assistant track:

• Experience with academic writing.
• English proficiency of at least IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent) to effectively read and write academic papers.

Cybersecurity:

• Strong motivation to conduct research in cybersecurity.
• Good mathematical skills, especially in areas related to cryptography, statistics, and algorithms.
• Programming experience.

AI:

• Strong motivation to conduct research in Artificial Intelligence (AI), especially in areas related to cybersecurity, smart sensing, or IoT.
• Solid mathematical background, particularly in machine learning, statistics, and algorithms.
• Programming experience (e.g., Python, TensorFlow, PyTorch, or similar AI/ML frameworks).
• Familiarity with AI concepts such as supervised learning, anomaly detection, or optimization, or a strong interest in learning them.

What We Offer:

• Opportunities to publish research papers in top-tier venues.
• A strong research environment with collaboration opportunities. Mentorship from internationally connected faculty (Cornell, UPenn, Deakin, UNSW, etc.)
• A stepping stone for applying to master’s and PhD scholarships for RA
  positions.
• Salary is negotiable based on experience and qualifications
• VinUniversity is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.

How to Apply:

Please submit your CV, a brief cover letter, and any relevant project or publication samples as a single PDF file to the CEI Office at cei@vinuni.edu.vn, and cc PI of the project: nha.ndd@vinuni.edu.vn or long.np2@vinuni.edu.vn.

Note: Name the file using the format: “Position_YourName_CV.pdf” (e.g., Postdoc_NguyenThiA_CV.pdf).

• Use the subject line: “PhD/RA – Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence (AI) – Center for Environmental Intelligence”.

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

The project also involves collaboration with distinguished professors at VinUniversity and leading universities in the world. For more details on the research team and related projects, visit Dr. Nha’s Website: https://ducnha.work