13 Feb 2025
Job Information
- Organisation/Company
CNRS- Department
Laboratoire d'analyse et d'architecture des systèmes- Research Field
Engineering
Computer science
Mathematics- Researcher Profile
First Stage Researcher (R1)- Country
France- Application Deadline
5 Mar 2025 - 23:59 (UTC)- Type of Contract
Temporary- Job Status
Full-time- Hours Per Week
35- Offer Starting Date
10 Mar 2025- Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?
Not funded by a EU programme- Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?
No
Offer Description
The Laboratory for Analysis and Architecture of Systems (LAAS-CNRS) is an independent research unit of the CNRS, affiliated with the CNRS Institutes of Computer Science and Engineering. Located in Toulouse, it is associated with six founding members of the University of Toulouse.
The laboratory focuses on four major scientific fields: automatic control, computer science, robotics, and micro/nanosciences. By placing the concept of "systems" at the core of its research, LAAS-CNRS explores large-scale distributed systems, autonomous systems for critical infrastructures, mobile systems, embedded systems, integrated systems, micro and nano-systems, and even biological systems.
Its research targets a wide range of application domains, including aeronautics, space, energy, transportation and mobility, telecommunications, healthcare, agri-food, environment, manufacturing and the industry of the future, as well as defense.
For many years, security research on vulnerabilities, attacks, and corresponding countermeasures has been conducted on computing equipment to ensure its protection. The very first studies focused on the vulnerabilities of traditional personal computers and their operating systems. Recent geopolitical events have brought cybersecurity into the public eye, highlighting its growing importance in the space domain: satellite network security has become a critical issue, as their compromise can have significant repercussions on our daily lives as well as on national defense.
To ensure ubiquitous communications, satellite constellations are set to become essential, providing continuous, global connectivity for critical applications such as aviation and defense. When equipped with inter-satellite links, they operate independently of ground stations and can be enhanced by mobile relay systems such as balloons or drones to locally increase their capacity—this is known as 3D networking. As they become the backbone of mobile communications, they also risk becoming prime targets for attacks, particularly in a context of increasing conflicts and hybrid threats.
These new types of networks present unknown attack surfaces and scenarios. Currently, this remains a relatively unexplored research area in academic work, even though it can draw inspiration from related fields such as wireless mesh networks or cybersecurity on the Internet. Indeed, there are shared characteristics: wireless communications, multi-hop routing, mobility, and limited resources. However, they also have unique features, such as restricted access and monitoring, sporadic visibility, periodic topologies, and potentially high latency, which justify in-depth study.
This research topic lies at the intersection of two teams within the RISC department at LAAS-CNRS, TRUST and SARA, and requires a complementary approach combining protocol development and embedded cybersecurity. It opens a new research field within the department.
This PhD thesis aims to address multiple aspects of cybersecurity challenges in satellite constellations and 3D networks, including:
Identifying possible attacks on these networks and the associated risks: One example is a local denial of service by blinding a satellite, but more severe attacks, such as network congestion, routing disruption, legitimate traffic manipulation, or system compromises (satellites, drones), would be far more damaging.
Identifying countermeasures: Beyond preventive measures, system redundancy—such as deploying relay drones—or information redundancy through resilient multi-path routing could be potential solutions.
Considering the capabilities of satellites and drones in terms of computing performance, memory, energy, and availability to design new embedded security mechanisms and protocols.
Determining the hardware requirements for executing and mitigating an attack: It will be relevant to quantify the number of ground stations or rogue/compromised satellites needed to carry out an attack, based on the constellation's topology and routing mechanisms, as well as the resources (such as redundant systems) necessary to defend against it.
Evaluating the relevance of this work in relation to the emerging 5G protocol in the space domain or proprietary protocols during the course of the research.
Where to apply
- Website
- https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Offre/UPR8001-PASBER-004/Candidater.aspx
Requirements
- Research Field
- Engineering
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
- Research Field
- Computer science
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
- Research Field
- Mathematics
- Education Level
- Master Degree or equivalent
- Languages
- FRENCH
- Level
- Basic
- Research Field
- Engineering
- Years of Research Experience
- None
- Research Field
- Computer science
- Years of Research Experience
- None
- Research Field
- Mathematics
- Years of Research Experience
- None
Additional Information
- Website for additional job details
https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/Doctorant/UPR8001-PASBER-004/Default.aspx
Work Location(s)
- Number of offers available
- 1
- Company/Institute
- Laboratoire d'analyse et d'architecture des systèmes
- Country
- France
- City
- TOULOUSE
- Geofield
Contact
- City
TOULOUSE- Website
http://www.laas.fr
STATUS: EXPIRED
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