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 (citizens preferred)
- Full-time rising 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.
- 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, Twitter 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.
APPLY THROUGH SCHOLARSHIP RETRIEVER: https://scholarships.umbc.edu/retriever/
We have scheduled information sessions with information about the program, including hearing from some current (and former) SFS Scholars:
Friday 13 October 2023
from 12-1PM in ITE 325 (CSEE Conference Room) — free food!
from 6-7PM via Webex link sent to registrants.
For more information visit: https://www.sfs.opm.gov/
Contact: Dr. Alan Sherman or Dr. Richard Forno.