Overview
Large language model (LLM) agents represent the next generation of artificial intelligence (AI) systems, integrating LLMs with external tools and memory components to execute complex reasoning and decision-making tasks. These agents are increasingly deployed in domains such as healthcare, finance, cybersecurity, and autonomous vehicles, where they interact dynamically with external knowledge sources, retain memory across sessions, and autonomously generate responses and actions. While their adoption brings transformative benefits, it also exposes them to new and critical security risks that remain poorly understood. Among these risks, memory poisoning attacks pose a severe and immediate threat to the reliability and security of LLM agents. These attacks exploit the agent’s ability to store, retrieve, and adapt knowledge over time, leading to biased decisions, manipulation of real-time behavior, security breaches, and system-wide failures. The goal of this project is to develop a theoretical foundation for understanding and mitigating memory poisoning in LLM agents.
This position, funded by the Swedish Research Council (VR), offers an exciting opportunity to work at the forefront of AI security, tackling some of the most pressing challenges in the field.
As a PhD student, you devote most of your time to doctoral studies and the research projects of which you are part. Your work may also include teaching or other departmental duties, up to a maximum of 20 percent of full-time.
Company:
Linköping University
Qualifications:
You have have graduated at Master’s level in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Applied Mathematics with a minimum of 240 credits, at least 60 of which must be in advanced courses in Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or Applied Mathematics. Alternatively, you have gained essentially corresponding knowledge in another way. The requirement for a degree must be met no later than the time the employment decision is finalized, which occurs when the employment contract is signed.
Applicants must demonstrate strong mathematical maturity and programming skills, and have an excellent ability to communicate in English, both orally and in writing. Furthermore, you should be able to work independently, be goal-oriented, and have strong problem-solving skills. You should also be clear in your communication and able to collaborate effectively with others.
Educational level:
Master Degree
About Linköping University
Linköping University is a school in Linköping.
