Project description 

This PhD project investigates the cybersecurity of autonomous AI agents in human–AI teaming environments, focusing on how personality-inspired behavioural traits may introduce vulnerabilities and misalignment risks. It will identify how unwanted traits, such as overconfidence, inconsistency, covert manipulation, or resistance to control, can be exploited through adversarial attacks or strategic behaviour, and develop a taxonomy of threat vectors specific to collaborative AI systems. The core deliverable will be a personality-trait security framework for identifying and mitigating unwanted behaviours, providing risk analysis, mitigation strategies, and design guidelines to ensure AI agents remain trustworthy, controllable, and safe in their deployments.

The project builds on previous and ongoing research at HiØ, including SecuRoPS (User-Centred Security Framework for Social Robots in Public Spaces). These projects have contributed to the secure and ethical deployment of autonomous systems in public and healthcare contexts. Building on this foundation, the PhD extends the focus from social robots and assistive systems to autonomous AI agents that operate with adaptive, personality-like behaviours in digital-society environments, where loss of control, manipulation, or emergent autonomy introduce new types of security and governance threats.

The project will result in a Personality-Trait Security Framework that strengthens the security, trust, and accountability of AI systems in human–AI collaboration. By improving the ability to detect and mitigate unwanted behaviours in AI agents, the research will contribute to more secure and responsible digital transformation across sectors.

About Research fellowship  

The Doctoral Research Fellowship is a full time (100%) fixed term position for 3 years funded by Østfold University College. 

The candidate will be employed at Østfold University College. The candidate is expected to apply and be accepted in our Doctoral Programme “Digitalisation and Society”. Read more on our website: Digitalisation and Society 

Estimated starting date: 01.05.2026The candidate is expected to:
• Participate actively in relevant research activities organized by the research community.
• Disseminate the project’s research findings through high-quality scientific publications.

Video: https://youtu.be/UDMirdRpu4wAbout the position 

A Doctoral Research Fellowship in Securing AI Agents in Human–AI Teaming (HATS)is available at the Faculty of Computer Science, Engineering and Economics at Østfold University College (ØUC).

The successful candidate will be a member of an active research group at Østfold University College and is expected to do research, develop prototype implementations, and write research papers on the topic of the project. Research visits to different relevant research groups in European countries will also be possible on availability of funds and opportunity.

Location: The main place of work will be at our campus in Halden.

Qualification requirements 

Essential Qualifications 

The successful candidate is required to have: 
• completed a master's degree (normally equivalent to 120 credits according to Norwegian standard definitions) within the fields of Computer Science or related disciplines, or other fields relevant for the position. Candidates that are close to completion may also be evaluated.  Any appointment is conditional upon submission of documentation confirming completion of a master's degree at the required level.
• been awarded the grade B or better for the Master thesis - in terms of the Norwegian grading scale. If the research summary is of excellent quality, grade C candidates can be considered. 
• excellent oral and written communication skills in English. For international candidates (outside of EU/EEA area), approved TOEFL English proficiency test with min score 90 or IELTS test with min. score 7.5.

Desired qualificationsWe would like you to have:
• relevant work and/or academic experience
• knowledge of Cybersecurity Frameworks

Personal qualificationsThe successful candidate has:
• motivation and potential in the field of research
• ability to work independently and in collaboration with other researchers
• innovative and creative personality with attention to detail
• positive and enthusiastic attitude, even in challenging situations

Emphasis will be placed on the following

In the evaluation of the applicants, emphasis will be placed on education, experience and personal and interpersonal qualities. Motivation, ambitions, and potential will also count in the assessment of the candidates.

Furthermore, emphasis will be placed on the following:
• relevance of proposed activities to HATS aims and objectives
• relevant publications and their quality and writing style
• prior academic and/or research experience particularly within the field of cybersecurity and robots and software engineering
• prior relevant research experience (if applicable)
• good collaboration skills and an ability to join interdisciplinary academic communities

   

We offer
• a gross annual salary between NOK 550 800 - 570 000, and automatically development with a 3 % annual increase during the period. In addition to taxes, a further 2% is deducted for the Norwegian Public Service Pension Fund.
• an exciting job opportunity at Østfold University College
• participation in an interdisciplinary doctoral programme and a research group where the project is located
• beneficial pension arrangements with the Norwegian State Pension Fund
• good employee welfare arrangements
• working locations at Østfold University College, Halden/Fredrikstad (Norway)

Submitting an application  

Please submit your application electronically via our recruitment system Jobbnorge.no. All attached documentation must be in a Scandinavian language or in English. All attachments should be included electronically within the application deadline. Other documentation may be claimed at a later stage, e.g., proof of claimed English proficiency. Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Application must include the following: • A short (1-2 page) cover letter describing your motivation, your suitability for the position, relevant qualifications, and research interests for this position.
• A research outline presenting the activities you would like to pursue providing relevant research questions, short description of activities, and a rough timeline (up to three A4 pages, 11pt, excluding references)
• A copy of your CV 
• List of publications (if applicable). Include a short description of your contribution in multi-authored publications. 
• Copies of degree certificates and transcripts of academic records. Higher education taken outside the Nordic countries must be documented by the submission of a dated and signed diploma/certificate and a transcript of grades in the original language. If the original language is not English or a Nordic language, you must also enclose an official translation. Foreign applicants must attach an explanation of their university’s grading system.
• Names and contact details of 2-3 references (name, relation to candidate, e-mail and telephone number). 

All attachments should be included electronically in the Jobbnorge portal within the application deadline. Other documentation may be claimed at a later stage.

Documents to be sent as hard copies by post

Applicants with degrees from: Cameroon, Canada, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Ghana, Nigeria, the Philippines and the USA must send their transcripts and diploma of master’s and bachelor’s education as hard copies directly from the relevant college/university, in addition to uploading them online. The hard copies must be received by us within 4 weeks after the application deadline expires. 

To send hard copies to ØUC, please use the following address:

Høgskolen i Østfold
HR-section
Postboks 700
1757 HALDEN

Please note that incomplete applications will not be considered.

Admission and appointment 

Admission to the doctoral programme Digitalisation and Society is a condition for appointment as a research fellow. The final plan for research training shall be approved and regulated by contract at the latest three months after the appointment is taken up.

The successful candidate will receive assistance in the application process to the PhD programme Digitalisation and Society at Østfold University College when starting in the position.  

The appointment is to be made in accordance with the State Employees law, the act relating to Universities and Universities Colleges and the national guidelines for appointment as a PhD student, a postdoctoral fellow or a research assistant. 

Contact persons 

For further information about the project, please contact the supervisor(s). For other information, please contact the Vice-Dean or the advisors:
• Supervisors: Dr. Harald Holone, e-mail: harald.holone@hiof.no and Prof. Dr. Ricardo Colomo Palacios, e-mail ricardo.
• Dean: Dr. Susanne Koch Stigberg, +47 69 60 83 44, e-mail: susanne.k.stigberg@hiof.no 
• Senior advisor for the PhD program: Liv Simensen, +47 69 60 85 61, e-mail: liv.simensen@hiof.no
• HR Senior Advisor: Hilde Gunn Avløyp, e-mail: hildegav@hiof.no

Other information

The university college is committed to fostering a diverse and gender-balanced workforce. We seek employees with diverse skills, academic backgrounds, life experiences, and perspectives. If there are qualified applicants with disabilities, gaps in their CVs, or immigrant backgrounds, we will invite at least one applicant from each of these groups for an interview.

In accordance with the Norwegian Freedom of Information Act § 25, paragraph 2, information about the applicant may be disclosed even if the applicant has requested not to be included on the list of applicants.

If you disclose that you have an immigrant background, disability, or gaps in your CV, this information, in anonymized form, may be used for statistical purposes.