Research Assistant

Who We Are

The Cybersecurity Group at the Qatar Computing Research Institute (QCRI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University and the Qatar Foundation, is in Education City, Doha—a global hub for research, innovation, and higher education.

We advance cutting-edge research in AI safety and security, AI for Security, and cyber-physical system security, tackling both foundational challenges and practical applications. Collaborating with international institutions, industry, and government, our work translates research into solutions that impact society worldwide.

Impactful QCRI Projects:

• Fanar: Arabic-focused AI and large language models.
• aiXamine: An evaluation platform for LLM safety and security.
• AIDR: Humanitarian crisis management system used by the UN.
• ATS: Highly accurate speech recognition and translation systems.

About the Research Project

This project investigates cutting-edge privacy and security challenges in large language models (LLMs), particularly in applications using agents and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG). Privacy risks include memorization and leakage of sensitive data, model inversion or extraction attacks, and exposure of proprietary information through RAG and agent workflows. Security challenges involve prompt injection and jailbreak attacks, ensuring reliable agent-based decision-making, and safeguarding the integrity of RAG pipelines.

As part of the team, you will contribute to both fundamental research—leading to publications at top-tier venues—and the development of practical tools. These tools will be integrated into aiXamine and other cybersecurity frameworks under development by our group, ensuring that the project delivers both real-world impact and high-profile academic contributions.

Your Role

As a Research Assistant, you will:

• Collect and analyze research data to achieve the greatest benefit from conducted research
• Develop and design prototypes utilizing appropriate tools, methodologies, and techniques to achieve the required results of the project
• Help prepare reports and presentations related to research activities

Who We Are Looking For

• BSc. or MSc. in Computer Science, Cybersecurity, or related field
• 1-2 years of relevant research experience
• Demonstrated strong programming skills
• Commitment to research
• Strong communication and collaboration skills
• Extensive programming experience in Python, Java, C, C++, or in any similar development environment

What We Offer:

• Competitive international salary with housing & transport allowances
• Medical coverage
• Three weeks of paid vacation
• State of the art computer infrastructure (GPUs, private cloud, etc.)
• Vibrant, collaborative research environment with global impact

How to Apply?

Send your CV and a one-page cover letter highlighting your achievements to cs-jobs@qcri.org

Application deadline: open until filled