Research Associate (Postdoc) in Computer Science / Information Systems Engineering on Institutional Applications of Decentralized Finance

SnT is a leading international research and innovation centre in secure, reliable and trustworthy ICT systems and services. We play an instrumental role in Luxembourg by fueling innovation through research partnerships with industry, boosting R&D investments leading to economic growth, and attracting highly qualified talent.

We’re looking for people driven by excellence, excited about innovation, and looking to make a difference. If this sounds like you, you’ve come to the right place!

Your Role...

Successful candidates will join the young, vibrant, and interdisciplinary FINATRAX Research Group, which builds bridges between business research and information systems engineering. Our work is organised around four ‘decentralisation technologies’: Blockchain (DLT), Digital Identities, Federated Learning, and the Internet-of-Things. The group consists of doctoral and post-doctoral researchers from diverse backgrounds (e.g., business, technology, and policy), united in pursuit of sustainable technologies that positively impact society. For more information, please visit our website: https://wwwen.uni.lu/snt/research/finatrax/projects.

Next to other activities, the successful candidates will have the opportunity to engage in a research collaboration with Spuerkeess, Luxembourg’s leading national financial institution. This partnership aims for applying ideas from decentralized finance (DeFi) to an institutional environment, providing for highly relevant but unique research topics. The project includes, among other topics, providing customers with DeFi-related services and constructing decentralized versions of other existing services or processes. Candidates have the opportunity to directly interact with a renowned financial institution to learn their perspective on emerging digital technologies such as DeFi, co-create novel ideas, position their research, and evaluate novel solution ideas and prototypes.

Besides engaging in the industry partnership, the candidate will perform the following tasks:

• Carry out research in fields of interest to the research group, such as:
  • Data analytics
  • Decentralized finance
  • Distributed ledger technology
  • Software engineering
  • Privacy-enhancing technologies, e.g., zero-knowledge proofs
• Provide guidance to PhD students.
• Disseminate results through scientific publications in outlets on the intersection between Information Systems and Computer Science
• Support the conceptualization and writing of research proposals to attract industry partnerships as well as national and European grant projects 
• Conduct research projects and create project deliverables 

Your Profile...

• PhD degree in Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, Applied Physics, Cryptography, Data Science, or a related field
• Experience in publishing high-quality research, as demonstrated by research under review or published in 1stquartile conferences and journals (according to Scopus)
• Experience in research supervision
• Strong knowledge of quantitative and/or computational research methods
• Proficiency in one of the major programming languages, such as Java, JavaScript, Python, or Rust
• A collaborative team player with a desire to make a personal impact within our interdisciplinary research group 
• The commitment to participate in the design, implementation, and theoretical elaboration of high-quality solutions that solve significant problems 
• Self-initiative, creativity, curiosity, flexibility and enthusiasm to work 
• Fluent written and verbal communication skills in English are required. Knowledge of French, German, and Luxembourgish is not required.

Here’s what awaits you at SnT...

• Exciting infrastructures and unique labs. At SnT’s two campuses, our researchers can take a walk on the moon at the LunaLab, build a nanosatellite, or help make autonomous vehicles even better
• The right place for IMPACT. SnT researchers engage in demand-driven projects. Through our Partnership Programme, we work on projects with more than 55 industry partners
• Be part of a multicultural family. At SnT we have more than 60 nationalities. Throughout the year, we organise team-building events, networking activities and more

Find out more about us!

In Short...

• Contract Type: Fixed Term Contract 24 Month
• Work Hours: Full Time 40.0 Hours per Week
• Location: Kirchberg
• Internal Title: Postdoctoral researcher
• Job Reference: UOL05557

The yearly gross salary for every Postdoctoral Researcher at the UL is EUR 77167 (full time)

How to apply...

Applications should include:

• Full CV, including the contact address, work experience, and a list of publications 
• Cover letter including: 
  • A research statement and a list of topics of particular interest to the candidate (250 words) 
  • A statement on the candidate’s personal motivation for applying (250 words) 
  • A strategy for the acquisition of research grants and industry partnerships (250 words) 
• At least one publication in full-text, authored by the candidate 
• (If available) Reference letters by prior employers

All qualified individuals are encouraged to apply.

Early application is highly encouraged, as the applications will be processed upon reception. Please apply ONLINE formally through the HR system. Applications by Email will not be considered.

The University of Luxembourg embraces inclusion and diversity as key values. We are fully committed to removing any discriminatory barrier related to gender, and not only, in recruitment and career progression of our staff.

About the University of Luxembourg...

University of Luxembourg is an international research university with a distinctly multilingual and interdisciplinary character. The University was founded in 2003 and counts more than 6,700 students and more than 2,000 employees from around the world. The University’s faculties and interdisciplinary centres focus on research in the areas of Computer Science and ICT Security, Materials Science, European and International Law, Finance and Financial Innovation, Education, Contemporary and Digital History. In addition, the University focuses on cross-disciplinary research in the areas of Data Modelling and Simulation as well as Health and System Biomedicine. Times Higher Education ranks the University of Luxembourg #3 worldwide for its “international outlook,” #20 in the Young University Ranking 2021 and among the top 250 universities worldwide.

Further information

Please contact Johannes Sedlmeir and Gilbert Fridgen (email address: {first name}.{last name}@uni.lu). 

Use the job title and reference number mentioned above in the subject line of your email.