Overview:

The Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) is the nonprofit, applied research division of the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech). Founded in 1934 as the Engineering Experiment Station, GTRI has grown to more than 2,900 employees, supporting eight laboratories in over 20 locations around the country and performing more than $940 million of problem-solving research annually for government and industry. GTRI's renowned researchers combine science, engineering, economics, policy, and technical expertise to solve complex problems for the U.S. federal government, state, and industry.

Georgia Tech's Mission and Values:

Georgia Tech's mission is to develop leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition. The Institute has nine key values that are foundational to everything we do:

1. Students are our top priority.
2. We strive for excellence.
3. We thrive on diversity.
4. We celebrate collaboration.
5. We champion innovation.
6. We safeguard freedom of inquiry and expression.
7. We nurture the wellbeing of our community.
8. We act ethically.
9. We are responsible stewards.

Over the next decade, Georgia Tech will become an example of inclusive innovation, a leading technological research university of unmatched scale, relentlessly committed to serving the public good; breaking new ground in addressing the biggest local, national, and global challenges and opportunities of our time; making technology broadly accessible; and developing exceptional, principled leaders from all backgrounds ready to produce novel ideas and create solutions with real human impact.

Job Description

Cybersecurity, Information Protection, and Hardware Evaluation Research Laboratory (CIPHER) provides high-impact solutions to some of today’s most challenging cybersecurity problems, while also turning revolutionary concepts and breakthrough technologies into practical capabilities to address future threats. CIPHER engineers and scientists develop and deploy cutting-edge technologies in computing, network architectures, signal and protocol analysis, hardware security and trust, assured software and algorithms, network forensics, malware analysis, hardware and software reverse engineering, and advanced analytics during Fall 2026.

Student Assistants working within CIPHER can expect to be tasked with impactful research opportunities within one or more of the following core research areas:

• Assessments of embedded and cyber-physical systems
• Reverse engineering and vulnerability analysis of embedded systems
• Assured software, algorithms, and information
• Hardware security and trust
• Quantum computing and sensing
• Resilient command and control systems
• Secure software systems
• Threat analytics

Student tasking will be based on both the nature of the assigned work, as well as the skillset and interest of each individual student.

Required Minimum Qualifications

Student Assistant

• Pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Electrical Engineering or related field
• Must be registered for at least 6 credit hours with your university
• 2.5 or higher cumulative GPA

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with 1 or more software or hardware programming languages
• Basic familiarity with standard laboratory test and/or measurement equipment, or desire to acquire such experience
• Ability to learn complex engineering concepts
• Familiarity with either Windows or Linux and the use of open-source tools
• Ability to clearly communicate technical ideas
• Ability to work either independently or within a team environment

Hours per Week

8–20 hours per week

U.S. Citizenship Requirements

None

Clearance Type Required

None

Housing and Relocation

Housing and relocation assistance are not available for this position.

Equal Employment Opportunity

The Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. The University is committed to maintaining a fair and respectful environment for all. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Board of Regents policy, and University policy, Georgia Tech provides equal opportunity to all faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including applicants for admission and/or employment, contractors, volunteers, and participants in institutional programs, activities, or services. Georgia Tech complies with all applicable laws and regulations governing equal opportunity in the workplace and in educational activities.

Georgia Tech prohibits discrimination, including discriminatory harassment, on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, disability, genetics, or veteran status in its programs, activities, employment, and admissions. This prohibition applies to faculty, staff, students, and all other members of the Georgia Tech community, including affiliates, invitees, and guests. Further, Georgia Tech prohibits citizenship status, immigration status, and national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, and recruitment, except where such restrictions are required in order to comply with law, regulation, executive order, or Attorney General directive, or where they are required by Federal, State, or local government contract.

USG Core Values Statement

The University System of Georgia is comprised of our 26 institutions of higher education and learning as well as the System Office. Our USG Statement of Core Values are Integrity, Excellence, Accountability, and Respect. These values serve as the foundation for all that we do as an organization, and each USG community member is responsible for demonstrating and upholding these standards. More details on the USG Statement of Core Values and Code of Conduct are available in USG Board Policy 8.2.18.1.2 and can be found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section8/C224/#p8.2.18_personnel_conduct.

Additionally, USG supports Freedom of Expression as stated in Board Policy 6.5 Freedom of Expression and Academic Freedom found on-line at https://www.usg.edu/policymanual/section6/C2653.