PATCH Research Fellow

About the Opportunity Job Summary The PATCH Research Fellow position offers an opportunity for experienced professionals from government, industry, or academia to join a mission-driven team advancing healthcare cybersecurity. The PATCH Research Fellow helps build Whole-Hospital Simulations, realistic testbeds that emulate complex healthcare environments, and Vulnerability Mitigation Platforms that safeguard both clinical and non-clinical networks. This work will directly impact patient safety and digital resilience in some of the most vulnerable healthcare settings. Success in this role will help revolutionize the healthcare penetration testing marketplace by shifting the focus from compliance-based checklists to understanding how gracefully a hospital system fails and recovers under attack. The platforms are also expected to drive a paradigm shift in medical device security regulation, moving evaluation away from individual components and toward system-level thinking across vast networks of interacting medical devices. The role focuses on applied research and experimentation with these platforms to improve the resilience and security of medical devices, hospital networks, and healthcare delivery systems. PATCH Research Fellows will bring their expertise to guide technical research, mentor students, and collaborate with faculty and industry partners on advancing the state of practice in healthcare cybersecurity. This position is 100% externally funded and will be considered for reappointment on an annual basis based on the continued availability of funding. Appointments may last from several months up to one year, with the possibility of renewal based on mutual interest and performance. Minimum Qualification Knowledge and skills required for this position are typically acquired through the completion of a Masters degree in a technical field or extensive government or industry experience. Significant professional experience in cybersecurity, healthcare technology, embedded systems, or related technical fields is required. PATCH Research Fellows should demonstrate technical expertise in areas such as penetration testing, systems evaluation, requirements engineering, or security of embedded and medical devices. Effective written and verbal communication skills and the ability to collaborate with interdisciplinary teams are essential. Key Accountabilities & responsibilities : Contribute technical expertise to research on hospital-scale cybersecurity simulations and vulnerability mitigation platforms. Lead or participate in experimental studies of medical device and healthcare system security, including penetration testing and evaluation of emerging technologies. Advise faculty, students, and collaborators on technical approaches, research methodologies, and security strategies. Publish or co-author research papers and technical reports, and share findings with academic, industry, and government partners. Present research at conferences, workshops, and seminars as appropriate. Position Type Research Additional Information Northeastern University considers factors such as candidate work experience, education and skills when extending an offer. Northeastern has a comprehensive benefits package for benefit eligible employees. This includes medical, vision, dental, paid time off, tuition assistance, wellness & life, retirement- as well as commuting & transportation. Visit https://hr.northeastern.edu/benefits/ for more information. All qualified applicants are encouraged to apply and will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. Compensation Grade/Pay Type: 107S Expected Hiring Range: $52,820.00 - $74,607.50 With the pay range(s) shown above, the starting salary will depend on several factors, which may include your education, experience, location, knowledge and expertise, and skills as well as a pay comparison to similarly-situated employees already in the role. Salary ranges are reviewed regularly and are subject to change. Founded in 1898, Northeastern is a global research university and the recognized leader in experiential lifelong learning. Our approach of integrating real-world experience with education, research, and innovation empowers our students, faculty, alumni, and partners to create worldwide impact.    Our global university system provides our community and academic, government, and industry partners with unique opportunities to think locally and act globally. The system—which includes 14 campuses across the U.S., U.K., and Canada, 300,000-plus alumni, and 3,000 partners worldwide—serves as a platform for scaling ideas, talent, and solutions. The university’s residential campuses for undergraduate and graduate degrees are located in Boston, London, and Oakland, California. Our research and graduate campuses are in the Massachusetts communities of Burlington and Nahant; Arlington, Virginia; Charlotte, North Carolina; Miami; Portland, Maine; Seattle; Silicon Valley, California; Toronto; and Vancouver. Northeastern’s personalized, experiential undergraduate and graduate programs lead to degrees through the doctorate in 10 colleges and schools across our campuses. Learning emphasizes the intersection of data, technology, and human literacies, uniquely preparing graduates for careers of the future and lives of fulfillment and accomplishment. Our research enterprise, with an R1 Carnegie classification, is solutions oriented and spans the world. Our faculty scholars and students work in teams that cross not just disciplines, but also sectors—aligned around solving today’s highly interconnected global challenges and focused on transformative impact for humankind.

Salary : $52,820 - $74,608