Post-Doctoral Scholar Position: Attention to Cybersecurity in Organizations at University of Waterloo – Canada

Summary

The School of Accounting and Finance at the University of Waterloo is inviting applications for a Post-Doctoral Scholar position in a project funded by the National Cybersecurity Consortium. The research focuses on organizational attention to cybersecurity from a human-centric perspective, specifically examining how the volume and complexity of cybersecurity duties impact employee attention during crises using qualitative methods. Key duties include planning research activities, participant recruitment, interviewing, and co-authoring scholarly papers or teaching cases. Applicants must hold a PhD in a relevant field obtained within the last 5 years and be legally eligible to work in Canada. Strong background in behavioural cybersecurity is required, while experience with NVivo and qualitative interviewing is preferred. No teaching or service duties are associated with the role. Application deadline is not mentioned on the official advertisement.

Key Facts

Department	School of Accounting and Finance
Position Type	Postdoctoral Scholar
Discipline	Information Systems / Cybersecurity / Management Science
Research Area	Attention to Cybersecurity in Organizations
Degree Required	PhD or equivalent degree
Experience	PhD completed not more than 5 years (60 months) prior to the start date. Must be legally entitled to work in Canada. Strong understanding of behavioural cybersecurity concepts required. Experience with qualitative research methods advantageous.
Funding	National Cybersecurity Consortium-funded project
Employer Address	Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
Employer Contact	Dr. W. Alec Cram

About the Project

The project investigates human-centric cybersecurity, focusing on managerial challenges in directing employee attention toward cybersecurity duties. The post-doctoral researcher will lead a qualitative investigation involving cybersecurity professionals (such as analysts, managers, and incident responders) to study how workload volume and complexity affect attention during organizational crises like cyberattacks.

Key Responsibilities

• Helping to plan and oversee the project's research activities
• Recruiting research participants
• Conducting interviews with participants and other data collection activities
• Contributing to scholarly and practitioner conference papers, journal articles, and teaching cases
• Disseminating research findings to academic and practitioner audiences

Required Skills

• PhD or equivalent degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., information systems, cybersecurity, computer science, management science) completed within the last 5 years
• Legal entitlement to work in Canada
• Strong understanding of behavioural cybersecurity concepts (e.g., policy compliance, education, control, insider threats, culture, governance)
• Experience with qualitative research methods, including conducting interviews and using NVivo (advantageous)

Who Should Apply

Qualified researchers who are legally entitled to work in Canada and have completed a PhD in information systems, cybersecurity, computer science, management science, or a related discipline within the past 5 years. Candidates should possess a strong foundation in behavioural cybersecurity concepts and experience or interest in qualitative methodologies.

About the Employer

The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive university in Canada situated in Waterloo, Ontario. Its School of Accounting and Finance offers eight academic programs and provides a collegial environment focused on collaboration and interdisciplinary research.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the eligibility criteria regarding work status?

Candidates must already be legally entitled to work in Canada.

When must the PhD degree have been completed?

Applicants must have completed their PhD or equivalent degree by the start date and no more than 5 years (60 months) prior to the start date.

Are there any teaching duties attached to this role?

No, there are no teaching, teaching assistant, or service responsibilities required for this position.

Who will supervise the post-doctoral scholar?

The scholar will work under the supervision of Dr. W. Alec Cram.