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Measurement, Assurance and Trustworthiness of Hybrid Cyber Ranges for Research and Operational Readiness

School: School of Science and Technology

Study mode(s): Full-time

Starting: 2026

Funding: UK student / EU student (non-UK) / International student (non-EU) / Fully-funded

Apply online

Project overview

This project will investigate how the trustworthiness, validity and assurance of Hybrid Cyber Ranges can be systematically measured and improved. The research will develop emerging cyber risk metrics, frameworks and governance approaches to evaluate realism, repeatability and ethical use, ensuring that cyber-range outputs can be confidently used for research evidence, skills development and operational decision-making.

Research Aim and Question:

  • Establishes assurance models and metrics that enable stakeholders to confidently use cyber range outcomes for research, training and operational decision-making.
  • What metrics and frameworks are required to measure and assure the trustworthiness, resilience against emerging cyber risks, reproducibility and ethical governance of hybrid cyber range experiments?

This project will be a lab based and there's an opportunity to collaborate with the funder.

This research will provide a novel contribution by establishing formal metrics, assurance frameworks and governance models to evaluate the trustworthiness, validity and repeatability of hybrid cyber range experiments.

Supervisory team

Tawfik Al-Hadhrami

Ali Sadiq

Omprakash Kaiwartya

David Brown

Abdallah Naser

Entry qualifications

  • A bachelor (First Class or 2:1 equivalent in UK and master’s degree (or equivalent) in Computer Science, Cyber Security or related field.
  • Strong software skills in an experience or exposure with ML frameworks.
  • Familiarity with networking hardware, tools, technologies
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills
  • Knowledge of operational technology is an advantage.
  • Proven ability to publish papers in peer journals is and advantage.

How to apply

Please visit our how to apply page for a step-by-step guide.

Applications close Friday 30 January 2026 with interviews planned to take place from Monday 2 February to Friday 16 February 2026.

This project belongs to a series of similar research projects, name the project title at the start of your application statement to ensure your application is considered for the correct title.

Fees and funding

The PhD will be fully funded by the University (via an Externally funded Research Project). The funding covers monthly stipend, tuition fee, travel for conferences as well as access to state-of-the-art Cyber Range testbed lab and related research equipment.

Guidance and support

Find out about guidance and support for PhD students.

Still need help?

Contact Dr Tawfik Al-Hadhrami on: