In August 2012, UMBC professors Alan Sherman and Richard Forno were awarded a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant of $2.5 over five years to fund 22 students studying cybersecurity at UMBC. The scholarships are funded through NSF’s Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, the aim of which is to develop the nation’s cybersecurity workforce. In 2018, Drs. Sherman and Forno received nearly $5 million for a 5-year renewal grant to expand UMBC’s SFS program enrollment and also build SFS-based matriculation agreements with local community colleges.
SFS Scholars at UMBC receive a full scholarship and stipend. Students will also engage in paid summer internships with federal government agencies and have opportunities to carry out mentored research projects at UMBC and its cyber partners from government and industry. After graduation, scholars must serve at a Federal agency in a cybersecurity position for each year of their SFS funding.
Application Criteria
- Applicants must be US citizens or lawful permanent residents.
- Full-time rising college juniors, MS, or Ph.D. students in cybersecurity-related programs at UMBC (including CMSC, CMPE, IS, CYBR) or cybersecurity-related fields, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and aerospace. CMSC students, both BS and MS, must be enrolled in the CMSC cybersecurity track and IS students must be enrolled in the Cybersecurity Analytics track/certificate.
- Minimum cumulative GPA required is 3.0.
- Must agree to comply with NSF, OPM, SFS, and UMBC policies regarding the SFS program.
- Must agree to conduct at least one summer internship with the federal government while an SFS Scholar.
- Must agree to work for the government (preferably federal) for each year of scholarship funding (1-3 years) after graduation.
We seek students with a high GPA (> 3.0) with a solid interest in and/or passion for cybersecurity who are dedicated to working for the government. Multiple scholarships are available each year. We will announce new calls for applications by e-mail, Mastodon, etc as necessary.
What Are The Benefits
- Full-time UMBC tuition fees paid!
- Personal Stipend $27,000 – $37,000 (depending on academic level)
- Professional Development: $6,000 per year for certifications, equipment, conferences, etc.
As of Fall 2024 we are awaiting the successful renewal of our SFS funding from the National Science Foundation. However we are accepting applications during Fall 2024 to recruit the next cohort if/when funding has been renewed. Eligible and currently-enrolled UMBC students may apply online via Scholarship Retriever. Depending on when our funding is approved, our next round of SFS awards will be begin either in Spring ’25 or Fall ’25.
For more information visit: https://www.sfs.opm.gov/
Contact: Dr. Alan Sherman or Dr. Roberto Yus.