University College London

This is an exciting opportunity to conduct a funded full-time, four-year long PhD at University College London (UCL) a world leading research university. The funding is available to UK/EU/Third Country Nationals. The successful candidate will benefit from the opportunities presented by a thriving research community as part of the Centre for Doctoral Training (CDT) in Cybersecurity at UCL, which encompasses the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP), the Department of Security and Crime Science (SCS), and the Department of Computer Science (CS).

The Supervisory Team

The supervisory team for this project will include Dr Leonie Maria Tanczer (UCL STEaPP) and Professor Shane D. Johnson (UCL Crime Sciences).

About the PhD Project

Intimate partner violence such as domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking describes a continuum of behaviours, ranging from verbal abuse, threats and intimidation, manipulative behaviour, physical and sexual assault, through to rape and homicide. Increasingly, abuse enabled through smartphones, laptops or even emerging technologies such as “smart”, Internet-connected household devices are being at the centre of attention in research, policy, and practice. So-called “technology-facilitated abuse” or “tech abuse” describes the breadth of harmful actions perpetrators may use to harass and intimidate victims and survivors through digital means.

The proposed PhD project is expected to produce unique insights on a specific issue of tech abuse. Existing literature has focused on topics such as image-based abuse (“revenge porn”), malicious software such as “stalkerware”, as well as harms that derive from “Internet of Things” devices. However, more research needs to be conducted to quantify the scale and nature of tech abuse, to examine legal and industry responses, and to design, develop and assess possible interventions.

The exact remit of the project will be defined by the student in the first year of their PhD and in interaction with their supervisors. However, an aspired vision/topic must be set out at the application stage and showcased in the applicant’s proposal.

This PhD will run in affiliation with the “Gender and IoT” research project at UCL STEaPP, with the candidate having a chance to gain teaching experience through their contribution to module offerings.

Further Information:

About the PhD: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/.../files/phd_studentship_2020.pdf

About the CDT: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/.../centre-doctoral-training...

Relevant Deadlines

Submission Deadline: 29th January 2021

Start Date: 27th of September 2021