ONE research grant for candidates with BSc degree with reference number BI|2023/416 is now available under the scope of project SmartRetail – Refª C6632206063-00466847, Real-time Privacy-preserving Systems for Smart-Retail Stores

Public notice for research grant

SmartRetail – Refª C6632206063-00466847

Real-time Privacy-preserving Systems for Smart-Retail Stores

BI|2023/416

INESC-ID - Instituto de Engenharia de Sistemas e Computadores, Investigação e Desenvolvimento em Lisboa is a R&D institute dedicated to advanced research and development in the fields of Information Technologies, Electronics, Communications, and Energy. INESC-ID has participated in more than 50 research projects funded by the European Union and more than 190 funded by national entities. Until today, our researchers have published more than 700 papers in international journal papers, more than 3000 papers in international conferences, and have registered 15 patents and/or brands.

1 | RESEARCH GRANT TYPE

ONE research grant for candidates with BSc degree with reference number BI|2023/416 is now available under the scope of project SmartRetail – Refª C6632206063-00466847, Real-time Privacy-preserving Systems for Smart-Retail Stores funded by Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP)  https://recuperarportugal.gov.pt/ and by european funds Next Generation EU, under the following conditions:

2 | DURATION

SIX (6) months, starting in July 2023

-      Renewable, if the candidate is enrolled in a MSc program -  art. 6º, n.4 b)

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf

subject to suitable performance within the period of the project, not exceeding the maximum period set by FCT for such grants – 2 years (included contract renewals)

-      Renewable, if the candidate is enrolled in a non-degree programme – art. 6º, n. 4 a)

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf  

subject to suitable performance within the period of the project, not exceeding the maximum period set by FCT for such grants – 1 year (included contract renewals)

3 | LEGISLATION

A fellowship contract will be celebrated according to:

1. Law 40/2004 of 18^th of August (Scientific Research Fellow Status) and its successive amendments, including the amendments introduced by the Decree Law n. 123/2019 of 28 ^th of August 
   https://dre.pt/web/guest/legislacao-consolidada/-/lc/124281176/201912061112/73740605/diploma/indice?lcq=estatuto+do+bolseiro,
    
2. Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology in force  (https://www.fct.pt/apoios/bolsas/docs/RegulamentoBolsasFCT2019.pdf )
    
3. INESC-ID Lisboa Grant Regulations

https://www.inesc-id.pt/scholarship-regulations/

1. Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP)

https://recuperarportugal.gov.pt/

The fellowship contract is awarded on an exclusive dedication basis – art. 5 of Scientific Research Fellow Status and art. 16 of Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology.

4 | MONTHLY AMOUNT

The monthly amount of the grant 930.98€is in accordance with the values stipulated in the “Regulations for Research Grants of the Foundation for Science and Technology” in force https://www.fct.pt/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Tabela-de-Valores-SMM_2023.pdf and shall be rendered through a monthly bank transfer to an account held by the grantee.

5 | OBJECTIVES/WORKPLAN

The goal of this project is to contribute to the development of advanced security and privacy-preserving technologies for smart-retail stores. Specifically, this project aims to design and implement a security infrastructure for protecting the confidentiality of sensor data and proprietary data processing algorithms using trusted execution environments based on enclave computing techniques. By leveraging trusted hardware such as Intel SGX, trusted pieces of software will be able to run in isolation (inside enclaves), thereby ensuring that privacy-sensitive data cannot be extracted and algorithms cannot be reverse-engineered in run-time even if the local operating system is compromised. To develop this project, three main tasks will be pursued: 1) study the hardware features of server platforms to better understand the security and performance trade-offs provided by the underlying enclave technology, 2) develop a software prototype that leverages enclave technology to provide end-to-end confidential computing, and 3) study the evolution of this system to incorporate fault tolerance mechanisms. The expected outcome of this project includes both a report of the analysed solutions and a software prototype of the implemented solution.

6 | SCIENTIFIC SUPERVISION

The activity will be supervised by Nuno Miguel Carvalho Santos, Associate Professor at Instituto Superior Técnico and Researcher at INESC-ID.

INESC ID will integrate the grantee in the research team of the scientific advisor.

7 | ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The candidates should have a BSc in Operating Systems and Architectures, or related areas.

By the grant start date, the candidate must be enrolled in

1. a MSc programme – art. 6º, n.1

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf

or

1. a non-degree programme – art. 6º, n. 2

https://files.dre.pt/2s/2019/12/241000000/0009100105.pdf

Preferential factors:

The candidate must be enrolled in a master’s degree in Computer Engineering or Computer Science.

This project requires extensive expertise across multiple fields, namely security, computer networks, and distributed systems Preference will be given to candidates with experience in Intel SGX technology.

• Portuguese, full professional proficiency
• English, full professional proficiency

8 | EVALUATION CRITERIA AND COMMITTEE

The selection will be according to the following criteria:

1. 20% proficiency in at least one programming language
2. 40% track record in computer science/engineering courses, especially in security and distributed systems
3. 40% experience (and/or interest) in trusted execution environment techniques, e.g.,Intel SGX

The jury may also decide not to assign the scholarship, if none of candidates meets the required conditions.

The Jury may interview the first three (3) candidates with higher classification. In order to perform a more objective evaluation of some of the criteria, the interview will count for 50% of the evaluation of each criteria above.

9 | COMPLAIN AND APPEAL DEADLINES AND PROCEDURES

The jury has the faculty not to select a candidate who does not prove the requirements mentioned in required education Level and research experience

The admitted and excluded candidates will be notified by email of the final ranking list, including the copy of the Preliminary Report of the jury.

Prior Hearing and Deadline for Final Decision: After being notified, candidates have 10 working days to submit, if applicable, a formal rebuttal.

After that period, the jury notifies the candidates of the Final Report.

Excluded applicants may complain about the jury's final report for 15 working days after notification or appeal the jury's decision to the INESC ID Board of Directors for 30 working days after notification.

According to the Portuguese Law, a disabled candidate has a preference when in equal classification, which prevails over any other legal preference. Candidates must declare their respective degree of disability, the type of disability and the means of communication / expression to be used in the selection process, under the law.

10 | FORMALISATION OF APPLICATIONS

11 | Application Dates