Policy makers around the world, especially in Europe, are increasingly focused on enhancing the resilience and security of their critical infrastructures, given the increasing cyber threats targeting supply chains. The DReSC project addresses this issue by enhancing cyber resilience within the logistics, high-tech and healthcare sectors.

As an EngD, you will work within a multidisciplinary team on this project, which is funded by TKI Health~Holland and TKI DINALOG. The DReSC project aims to identify cybersecurity risks, design tailored interventions, and develop gain-sharing mechanisms. By raising awareness, implementing collaborative security measures, and validating their effectiveness, the project seeks to reduce risk exposure and foster a culture of security among supply chain partners.

We are seeking an EngD candidate to join our interdisciplinary team focused on developing frameworks to identify and track digital supply chain vulnerabilities and their potential impacts. The successful candidate will create a decision support tool to guide security managers on effective supply chain security strategies.

The EngD candidate will develop a modular framework to track and visualize security vulnerabilities and digital dependencies within supply chains. They will use available data to enhance companies’ cyber resilience and collaborate with team members to integrate various methodologies and approaches.

The ideal candidate will have strong modelling skills, experience in software development, and a background in requirement and software engineering. Proficiency in design science methodology and knowledge of cyber security management frameworks and solutions are essential.

Outcomes include the development of a decision support tool/expert system for supply chain security strategies and enhanced frameworks for tracking and mitigating supply chain vulnerabilities.

Join us to contribute to cutting-edge research in digital supply chain security and shape the future of cyber resilience.

• MSc degree in Business, Information Technology or related field;
• Excellent teammate in an enthusiastic and hardworking group of scientists;
• Proven curiosity about data analysis and business-case development. You do not shy away from conducting interviews;
• Excellent communications skills;
• Proficient in written and oral English;
• Able to do independent research and willing to develop writing and publication skills.

We offer you a contract for 24 months. During these two years you follow a tailor made post-master design programme with a combination of education (50%) and working on a design project (50%). Additionally, the UT provides excellent facilities for professional and personal development, a holiday allowance and an end-of-year bonus. On successfully completing the programme, you will receive a certified and recognized degree. You will be entitled to use the academic degree EngD and will be registered as a Technological Designer in the Dutch register kept by the Royal Institution of Engineers in the Netherlands (KIVI). Further we offer:

• Gross monthly salary of € 2.715,--;
• Holiday allowance of 8% of the gross annual salary, and end of year bonus (8.3%);
• 29 holidays per year in case of full-time employment;
• A green campus with free access to sports facilities and an international scientific community;
• Employee status at the UT, including pension and health care benefits. UT is an equal opportunities employer.

The HBE cluster is dedicated to encouraging a supportive and inclusive working culture. Our aim is that all job applicants are given equal opportunities. When we select candidates for employment, it will be on the basis of their competence and ability. To support the workforce diversity, we are open to offer flexible working conditions on an individual basis to support work-life balance, that may include contract of employment, working hours and location, or child care arrangements.

The High Business Entrepreneurship corporate video can be watched via this link.

Submit your application before September 30, 2024, and include:

• Full Curriculum Vitae, contact information for at least two academic references, and if applicable, a list of publications;
• Cover letter of at most 1.5 page A4, explaining specific interests, the motivation for the application, and why your fit to this project;
• An IELTS-test, Internet TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT), or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE). Applicants with a non-Dutch qualification and who have not had secondary and tertiary education in English can only be admitted with an IELTS-test showing a total band score of at least 6.5, internet. TOEFL test (TOEFL-iBT) showing a score of at least 90, or a Cambridge CAE-C (CPE).

Note that Master students who graduate in the coming months are also welcome to apply, and we can make reasonable accommodation.

Additional information can be obtained via email from Dr. A. Abhishta (s.abhishta@utwente.nl) or dr.ir. M.J. van Sinderen (m.j.vansinderen@utwente.nl).