An Adaptable and Contextual Zero Trust Access Control Mechanism for Critical Infrastructures
Eligibility: UK/International (including EU) graduates with the required entry requirements
Duration: Full-Time – between three and three and a half years fixed term
Application deadline: 27 May 2025
Interview date: Will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates
Start date: September 2025
For further details contact: Dr Adnan Anwar
Introduction
This PhD project is part of the Cotutelle arrangement between Coventry University, UK and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The supervision team will be drawn from the two Universities.
This is a Deakin University Led project. The successful applicant will spend the first year at Deakin University, at least six months at Coventry University, and the remainder of the time back at Deakin University.
Project details
This project starts at Deakin.
This PhD research explores the integration of heterogeneous information sources into a contextual access control system for critical infrastructures, enabling dynamic trust evaluation. It examines the design considerations necessary to develop a robust and adaptable framework that combines Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA), trust algorithms, and reinforcement learning techniques. Additionally, it investigates scalable and practical methods for implementing access control within ZTA, emphasizing validation through simulations. Beyond access control, the study explores the broader application of reinforcement learning in cybersecurity, identifying associated challenges and opportunities in its implementation.
Funding
Tuition fees and stipend
Benefits
The successful candidate will receive comprehensive research training including technical, personal and professional skills. All researchers at Coventry University (from PhD to Professor) are part of the Doctoral Researcher College, which provides support with high-quality training and career development activities.
This is an exciting opportunity to study a PhD as part of a cotutelle arrangement between Coventry University, UK and Deakin University, Melbourne, Australia. The PhD Student will graduate with two PhDs, one from Deakin University and one from Coventry University, each of which recognises that the program was carried out as part of a jointly supervised doctoral program.
Candidate specification
Applicants must meet the admission and scholarship criteria for both Coventry University and Deakin University for entry to the cotutelle programme and apply to both Universities.
For the Deakin application, please visit: http://www.deakin.edu.au/research/become-a-research-student/how-to-apply-research-degrees
- Applicants should have graduated within the top 15% of their undergraduate cohort. This might include a high 2:1 in a relevant discipline/subject area with a minimum 70% mark (80% for Australian graduates) in the project element or equivalent with a minimum 70% overall module average (80% for Australian graduates).
- A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field requiring at least four years of full-time study, and which normally includes a research component which is equivalent to at least 25% of a year’s full-time study in the fourth year, with achievement of a grade for the project equivalent to a H1 standard or 80%.
OR
- a Masters degree, with a significant research component, in a relevant subject area, with overall mark at minimum Distinction.
- In addition, the mark for the Masters thesis (or equivalent) must be a minimum of 80%.
- Please note that where a candidate has 70-79% and can provide evidence of research experience to meet equivalency to the minimum first-class honours equivalent (80%+) additional evidence can be submitted and may include independently peer-reviewed publications, research-related awards or prizes and/or professional reports.
- Language proficiency (IELTS overall minimum score of 7.0 with a minimum of 6.5 in each component).
The potential to engage in innovative research and to complete the PhD within a prescribed period of study.
Interview dates: Will be confirmed to shortlisted candidates in due course.
How to apply
Please submit an intital expression of interest application where you will be asked to upload supporting documentation plus a 2,000 word supporting statement showing how the applicant’s expertise and interests are relevant to the project.
For informal enquiries please contact Dr Adnan Anwar.
Apply to Coventry University
