Supervisor: Dr Majid Zamani
Competition Funded PhD Project (Students Worldwide)
Southampton, United Kingdom
Subjects: Artificial Intelligence, Biomedical Engineering, Cyber Security
About the Project
Supervisor: Dr Majid Zamani
A brain implant cannot be given a new password. Neural data reveals intention and identity, and once stolen it cannot be reset. Yet most security research for brain–computer interfaces stops at the software. This project builds protection into the chip itself, and proves it on silicon you design and fabricate.
Brain–computer interfaces are entering clinics and consumer markets, yet the World Economic Forum reports that over 70% of commercial neurotechnology devices contain exploitable vulnerabilities. Neural data cannot be reset once stolen, and a device that stimulates can be turned against the person it is inside.
Almost every countermeasure proposed for these devices is software, and none reaches the chip inside the implant. Meanwhile implants are moving computation on board, because streaming raw data from a thousand channels costs more power than a patient can carry. On-device processing is assumed to improve privacy. Nobody has measured whether it does.
You will ask what it costs, in microwatts, to make an implant trustworthy, working from threat modelling to lightweight cryptographic design, an FPGA prototype, a fabricated chip, and side-channel evaluation of hardware you designed.
Outcomes:
- a threat model
- measured costs for on-chip protection
- a demonstrator device
You will join BrainLoop, which has taken four neural-interface chips through fabrication, with industry-standard CAD, wafer fabrication and side-channel measurement equipment. Supervision spans biomedical electronics and cyber security.
Entry requirements
You must have a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in one of the following:
- computer science
- electronic or electrical engineering
- physics
- mathematics
- a closely related subject
Essential skills:
- strong programming ability in at least one systems language (C, C++, Rust) or in Python for numerical work
- working understanding of applied security: authentication, access control, key handling, or adversarial machine learning
- sufficient mathematical maturity to read and write formal arguments about security properties
Desirable skills:
- any exposure to digital design, embedded C, FPGAs, hardware description languages, cryptographic implementation, side-channel analysis, or digital signal processing
- evidence of independent research output
- professional experience of building or defending production systems with real security requirements, such as regulated payments, healthcare data, or critical infrastructure, is valued as highly as academic security coursework
Applicants whose first language is not English must meet the University's English language requirements (IELTS 6.5 overall with a minimum of 6.0 in each component).
Fees and funding
We offer a range of funding opportunities for both UK and international students. Horizon Europe fee waivers automatically cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for qualifying students.
Competition-based Presidential Bursaries from the University cover the difference between overseas and UK fees for top-ranked applicants.
Competition-based studentships offered by our schools typically cover UK-level tuition fees and a stipend for living costs for top-ranked applicants.
Funding will be awarded on a rolling basis, so apply early for the best opportunity to be considered.
For more information, please visit our postgraduate research funding pages.
How to apply
You need to:
- choose programme type (Research), 2027/28, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
- select Full time or Part time
- search for programme PhD Electronic & Electrical Engineering (7092)
- add name of the supervisor in section 2 of the application
Applications should include:
- research proposal
- your CV (resumé)
- 2 academic references
- degree transcripts and certificates to date
- English language qualification (if applicable)
Contact us
Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences
For questions about applying, doctoralcollege-admissions@soton.ac.uk.
Project leader
For an initial conversation, M.Zamani@soton.ac.uk.
The School of Electronics and Computer Science is committed to promoting equality, diversity inclusivity as demonstrated by our Athena SWAN award. We welcome all applicants regardless of their gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or age, and will give full consideration to applicants seeking flexible working patterns and those who have taken a career break. The University has a generous maternity policy, onsite childcare facilities, and offers a range of benefits to help ensure employees’ well-being and work-life balance. The University of Southampton is committed to sustainability and has been awarded the Platinum EcoAward.