[AISWorld] PhD position on secure data collection and analysis in the European music industry - VU Amsterdam, The Netherlands

[Gordijn, J. (J)]

PhD position on secure data collection and analysis in the European music industry 

Do you have a background in Computer Science or Security? Are you interested in doing a PhD with multi-disciplinary collaborations on Business and Security? Please apply at Vrije Universiteit.

Location: AMSTERDAM FTE: 0,8 - 1

Job description
Vrije Universiteit, a highly ranked university, will start a Europe Horizon funded research project (Music360) on the value of music. The project will collect data to calculate the value of music and related statistics via several channels. This data comes with privacy concerns and should not be readable by all parties, however some of these parties should use the data for calculations.

The PhD candidate will execute a thorough requirements elicitation process to find out the precise calculations to be done, the required data, and the parties who need access to such data. This will be done in close cooperation with the second VU PhD in this project (on the economic value of music), the researchers at the Polytechnical University Valencia, and a number of intellectual property rights societies in Europe.
Furthermore, the candidate will develop a proof-of-concept of a distributed system that can carry out the required calculations in a secure and privacy respecting way. Likely existing techniques on secure multi-party computing and/or homomorphic encryption will be used to solve the problem that some data needed for calculations should not be readable in plain text to the parties doing the calculations.

Your duties
- To understand the security and privacy requirements with respect to calculating the value of music.
- To design and implement a proof-of-concept of a distributed system that can perform the required financial calculations, without disclosing the source data.
- To validate the proof-of-concept in the EU music sector, specifically creative entities, professional music users, intellectual property societies and policy makers.
- To work as part of a team of fellow researchers and relevant parties in the music industry, share research ideas, results, and effectively communicate progress to produce top quality results
- Writing scientific publications as the main driving force and as co-author, attending international conferences, workshops and venues in the music industry to present your own work and to remain up-to date with the latest research findings
- Support educational activities related to one’s research field.
Requirements

We are looking for applicants who have an outstanding education that is equivalent to a MSc in Computer Science, Security, or other related topics with a proven interest in any of the above areas.
- MSc degree in Computer Science, Security, or related field
- Knowledge of conceptual modelling and requirements engineering
- Solid experience in software development
- Preferably knowledge on multi-party computing and/or modern encryption techniques
- Experience with business-oriented topics such as digital ecosystems and platforms would be useful
- Fluency in speaking and writing in the English language and good communication skills (interpersonal and presentation skills)

A pre-employment screening can be part of the selection procedure.

What are we offering?
A challenging position in an international research project in the music sector. The salary will be in accordance with university regulations for academic personnel and amounts €2.541 (scale phd) per month during the first year and increases to €3.247 (scale phd) per month during the fourth year, based on a full-time employment. The job profile is based on the university job ranking system and is vacant for 0.8 - 1.0 FTE.

The appointment will initially be for 18 months. After a satisfactory evaluation of the initial appointment, the contract will be extended to a duration of 4 years.
Additionally, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam offers excellent fringe benefits and various schemes and regulations to promote a good work/life balance, such as:
- a maximum of 41 days of annual leave based on full-time employment,
- 8% holiday allowance and 8.3% end-of-year bonus
- a wide range of sports facilities which staff may use at a modest charge
- contribution to commuting expenses

About Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
The ambition of Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is clear: to contribute to a better world through outstanding education and ground-breaking research. We strive to be a university where personal development and commitment to society play a leading role. A university where people from different disciplines and backgrounds collaborate to achieve innovations and to generate new knowledge. Our teaching and research encompass the entire spectrum of academic endeavor – from the humanities, the social sciences and the natural sciences through to the life sciences and the medical sciences.

Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam is home to more than 30,000 students. We employ over 5,500 individuals. The VU campus is easily accessible and located in the heart of Amsterdam’s Zuidas district, a truly inspiring environment for teaching and research.

Diversity
We are an inclusive university community. Diversity is one of our most important values. We believe that engaging in international activities and welcoming students and staff from a wide variety of backgrounds enhances the quality of our education and research. We are always looking for people who can enrich our world with their own unique perspectives and experiences.

The Faculty of Science
The Faculty of Science inspires researchers and students to find sustainable solutions for complex societal issues. From forest fires to big data, from obesity to medicines and from molecules to the moon: our teaching and research programmes cover the full spectrum of the natural sciences. We share knowledge and experience with leading research institutes and industries, both here in the Netherlands and abroad.
 
Working at the Faculty of Science means working with students, PhD candidates and researchers, all with a clear focus on their field and a broad view of the world. We employ more than 1,250 staff members, and we are home to more than 11,000 students.

Application
Are you interested in this position? Please apply here (https://werkenbij.vu.nl/apply/phd-position-on-secure-data-collection-and-analysis-in-the-european-music-industr/uy62sd/en) and upload your curriculum vitae and cover letter until 24th of February 2023.

Applications received by e-mail will not be processed.

Vacancy questions
If you have any questions regarding this vacancy, you may contact Jaap Gordijn, j.gordijn at vu.nl

No agencies

-- Jaap Gordijn
Associate Professor VU Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Visiting Professor UNIMAS, Malaysia
CEO The Value Engineers, The Netherlands

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