Flinders and CyberCX Industry Enterprise PhD Scholarship in Cybersecurity and Offensive Security (Project 2)

Change lives and change the world with impactful PhD research co-funded by Flinders and CyberCX.

• Receive a $35,010.00 per annum (indexed annually) scholarship tax-free for up to 3.5 years
• Apply your research skills during an internship with CyberCX

Flinders University and CyberCX offer an Industry PhD Scholarship to undertake innovative research into Offensive Security using a cybersecurity penetration testing framework (Project 2).

The College of Science and Engineering at Flinders University and CyberCX are collaborating on this research project to investigate offensive security using penetration testing and risk profiling to create a holistic and scalable ‘protection, detection and response’ framework.

Bringing significant industry experience to the project, CyberCX is a well-respected and leading provider of professional cyber security and cloud services across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. With a workforce of over 1,300 professionals, CyberCX is a trusted partner to private and public sector organisations, assisting organisations in confidently managing cyber risk, responding to incidents and building resilience in an increasingly complex and challenging threat environment.

The College of Science and Engineering is also committed to creating a safer digital environment through cybersecurity research and has complementary research strengths in cybersecurity, securing critical infrastructure and research methodologies, and ensuring timely PhD completions.  Together, we are seeking innovative solutions to this challenging area of research through this PhD project. 

This inspiring project involves:

• Penetration testing, also called ethical hacking, is an essential component of modern cybersecurity defence for all organisations. The technique duplicates the strategies of malicious attackers legally and assists in identifying security vulnerabilities so they can be addressed before any attacks occur. This research will investigate offensive security using penetration testing and risk profiling to create a holistic and scalable ‘protection, detection and response’ framework. The research will provide technical assurance in cybersecurity that aligns with the Australian Government’s new six Cyber-Shield themes.   

The Flinders Industry PhD Scholarship also includes an internship of at least 60 full-time equivalent days, agreed to in written form within 18 months of candidature, undertaken and completed prior to completion of the PhD, during which you will be embedded with the Industry Partner team, developing your network, and gaining insight into the everyday research practices of an industry-leading/service driven organisation.

This Scholarship offers:

• $35,010.00 (2024 full-time rate, indexed annually) per annum tax-free for up to 3.5 years
• A 3-month industry internship allowing you to apply your research into practice during candidature
• Access to academic and industry expertise through joint supervision
• A supportive environment to learn leading-edge research methods and become an expert in your area
• The opportunity to manage a complex research project and respond innovatively to challenges
• A collaborative research community where you can enhance your skills and build your network to progress your research career

To be eligible for the Scholarship you will need:

• to be an Australian citizen or an Australian permanent resident; and
• to have or able to apply for a National Police Criminal History Check; and
• meet Flinders University PhD admission requirements – an Australian Honours degree Class 1 or 2A or equivalent qualification (at least AQF Level 8), or evidence of equivalent research experience, such as refereed publications or significant experience as a lead researcher; and
• Scholarship recipients are expected to take up their studies as soon as practicable within a timeframe specified by the Office of Graduate Research in consultation with the Industry Partner, up to maximum of 3 months from the time of acceptance of the scholarship.  In exceptional circumstances and with approval of the Industry Partner and the University, this time may be extended to 6 months.

It is desirable for applicants to also have:

• Possess a degree in cybersecurity, computer science, information security, software engineering, information technology, or adjacent areas.
• A desire to engage with the broader security community by publishing and presenting research outcomes.
• Participated in capture-the-flag hacking challenges, such as Hack-the-Box or similar.
• Knowledge of web applications and network security.
• Knowledge of various operating systems and networks, especially Linux and Windows.
• Experience in programming languages like Python, Java, JavaScript, or C++.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Effective communication skills.