PST 2027 Call for PhD Thesis Competition
Download the official flyer for a concise overview of the PhD Thesis Competition scope, eligibility rules, blind submission format, important dates, and competition chairs.
View Call for PhD Thesis Competition (PDF)Aim & Research Areas
PST 2027 invites recent PhD graduates and soon-to-graduate PhD students to submit to the PhD Thesis Competition. The aim of this competition is to highlight theses that advance the state of the art or otherwise significantly contribute to research in the areas of privacy, security, and trust. Submissions are invited from any of the following areas:
System security, cryptography, network defense, hardware security, intrusion detection, and trustworthy computing architectures.
Privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs), anonymity, data protection, privacy-preserving machine learning, and regulatory compliance.
Trust models, identity management, decentralized architectures, reputation systems, and trustworthy human-AI interaction.
New technologies in the PST space, emerging problems, and forward-looking research.
Eligibility
Current PhD students defending their thesis no later than August 1, 2027 and PhD graduates who completed their degree after July 31, 2025 are eligible for the competition.
Soon-to-Graduate Candidates
Current PhD students with a thesis defense scheduled on or before August 1, 2027.
Recent PhD Graduates
Doctoral graduates who completed their PhD after July 31, 2025.
Format & Submission
Participants must submit a single 3-page PDF consisting of a 1-page cover letter and a 2-page extended abstract. Images may be included, provided the complete document fits within the 3-page length limit.
1-Page Cover Letter
Your cover letter should include:
- Date of graduation or intended thesis defense date.
- Number and venues of published papers on the thesis topic (do not include author names, paper titles, or conference years, to avoid compromising blind review).
- Number of papers on which you were first author or sole corresponding author.
2-Page Extended Abstract
Your extended abstract should explain:
- The problem area and objectives of your doctoral research.
- The novelty and methodology / approach taken.
- How your work is unique and how it advances the state of the art.
Double-Blind Review & Finalist Presentations
- Double-Blind Review: The review process is double blind, so all author names, affiliations, and identifying information must be removed from the submitted PDF.
- Presentations & Awards: Participants whose submissions are accepted will be invited to give a short presentation on their thesis at PST 2027 (Sheffield, UK) to decide the Winner and Runner-Up awards.
Ready to submit?
Submit a single 3-page PDF file via EasyChair and choose the Thesis Competition track.
Competition Chairs
For questions regarding eligibility, double-blind formatting, or submissions, please contact the PST 2027 PhD Thesis Competition Chairs: