Newswise — College of Engineering and Computer Science of florida atlantic university has received a $2.6 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to establish a scholarship program in the rapidly growing and important field of cybersecurity. NSF’s CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service program aims to increase the number of qualified cybersecurity professionals working in federal, state, local, territorial, and tribal governments.
This program is managed by NSF in collaboration with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. FAU is one of only six universities to receive the NSF Cyber Corps Award this year.
The program is designed to increase the volume and strength of the nation’s cybersecurity talent pool and provides full scholarships and scholarships to students pursuing research at the intersection of cybersecurity and AI.
“This dynamic program will help address the tremendous shortage of highly trained professionals in the cybersecurity field,” he said. Hari KarvaPh.D., Principal Investigator, Interim Chair and Professor, FAU Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science within Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science. “We are committed to the success of this program due to our long-standing commitment to our students and strong course offerings related to cybersecurity. We are committed to providing advanced courses that meet national and state needs. We are very pleased to be able to contribute to the development of cybersecurity personnel with these skills.”
The FAU project team developed an integrated cybersecurity workforce development model that combines foundational preparation through coursework, deeper skills development through cutting-edge research, hands-on experience through internships, and integrated professional development. . Professional development activities, such as certifications, will be included in the program to prepare scholarship recipients for cybersecurity careers in the federal government. This project further leverages the faculty’s deep expertise and course offerings to train and develop students’ skills in the intersection of cybersecurity and the subject areas of AI, post-quantum cryptography, and hardware security. promotes it.
Students gain a broad understanding of cybersecurity opportunities in the federal government and are trained to compete and secure jobs in the federal government. They graduate with deep cybersecurity skills and preparation and respond to national security needs by completing their service obligations. Students accepted into this program receive two years of scholarships and training to prepare them for competitive employment in the federal and/or state cybersecurity workforce.
The co-representatives of the project are: Hanki Zuan, Ph.D., associate dean and professor in the FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science. Dr. Nancy Romance, Research Professor – Engineering Education, FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. Francesco SicaPh.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Mathematical Sciences,FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Science; and Natalia NeschenkoPh.D., Assistant Professor, Information Technology/Operations Management Department,FAU business college.
“The expertise of our team and that of the broader FAU faculty community in the project’s thematic areas will provide critical training to our students,” said Calva. “Furthermore, student research participation is expected to advance faculty research at the intersection of cybersecurity, AI, post-quantum cryptography, and hardware security.”
The project team is also identifying collaborators with experience in addressing the federal government’s cybersecurity needs who will contribute a wealth of extracurricular activities. These activities serve multiple purposes, including attracting and recruiting students, educating them about the benefits and challenges of working in the federal government, and helping them secure internship opportunities and jobs.
“Cybersecurity talent shortage is a major concern for our nation. To maintain a leading role in the cybersecurity field, the United States needs a strong and robust cybersecurity workforce to develop next-generation infrastructure and technology. I need it.” Stella Batama, Ph.D., FAU School of Engineering and Computer Science Dean. “This prestigious NSF-funded project, led by Professor Calva in collaboration with an outstanding project team, is a testament to the high quality of FAU’s research, scholarship, collaboration, and support. With increasing complexity, our project will help prepare Florida for a well-trained cybersecurity workforce to serve the federal and state governments.”
According to the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Careers and Studies, there are more than 570,000 cybersecurity job openings in the United States, a 35% increase in the past year.
This project is in line with the U.S. National Cyber Strategy to develop outstanding cybersecurity talent. After graduation, scholarship recipients must work in the field of cybersecurity for a federal, state, local, or tribal government agency for the same period of time as supported by the scholarship.
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About FAU’s School of Engineering and Computer Science:
The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science offers computer science and artificial intelligence (AI), computer engineering, electrical engineering, biomedical engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, geoengineering, mechanical engineering, and ocean engineering. Research conducted by faculty and their teams exposes students to the technological innovations that drive today’s cutting-edge fields. The University’s research activities are supported by the National Science Foundation (NSF), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Defense (DOD), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Education (DOEd), and the states. of florida and industry. The FAU College of Engineering and Computer Science offers modern degrees with specializations in national priority areas such as AI, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things, transportation and supply chain management, and data science. Masu. New degree programs include a Master of Science in AI (a first in Florida), a Master of Science and Bachelor of Science in Data Science and Analytics, and new professional Master of Science and Doctorate degrees. In the field of computer science for working professionals. Click here to learn more about the college. eng.fau.edu.
About Florida Atlantic University: Florida Atlantic University was founded in 1961 and officially opened in 1964 as Florida’s fifth public university. Currently, the university hosts more than 30,000 undergraduate and graduate students at its six campuses along the southeast Florida coast. In recent years, the university has doubled its research spending and surpassed its peers in student achievement. FAU embodies an innovative model that closes traditional achievement gaps through the coexistence of access and excellence. FAU is designated as a Hispanic-serving institution and is recognized as a top public university by U.S. News & World Report and as an institution with high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Education. For more information, please visit: www.fau.edu.