Institute of Information Assurance
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
NSF Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service

Application Deadline EXTENDED to: 

May 2nd, 2011
Northeastern University has been awarded a new four-year Federal Cyber Service grant from National Science Foundation to educate graduate and undergraduate students in the area of information assurance and cyber security. For 2011-2012, we will be admitting up to five new MS students and four undergraduate students into the program.

Information about the NSF Federal Cyber Service Program

The Federal Cyber Service Scholarship for Service (SFS) program seeks to increase the number of qualified students entering the fields of information assurance and computer security and to increase the capacity of the United States higher education enterprise to continue to produce professionals in these fields to meet the needs of our increasingly technological society

Eligibility

• Only students that fall within the following categories may apply:
  • All majors in the College of Computer and Information Science or in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering are eligible to apply. The Scholarship program starts in the Spring of the middler year or summer 2.
  • Second and third year undergraduates may apply, with the scholarship program starting in Spring or Summer 2 semester of the third year (depending on the co-op division that the student is in.)
• Must be an American citizen
• Must have at least a 3.0 undergraduate GPA
• Must be able to meet the established criteria for U.S. federal employment
• Must be eligible for a U.S. security clearance

Benefits

• Undergraduate Students
  • The Scholarship program will support the equivalent of 4 full semesters during the last years of a student's degree program.
  • Annual academic stipend ($4,000 for a full semester, $2,000 for a half summer semester)1,2
  • Full tuition scholarship (while in school)1, 2
  • Coverage of all activity fees up to $2,000/year
  • Two years of employment with a Federal Agency listed above (student is responsible to apply for and obtain a position to fulfill this service obligation. The Scholarship program, as well as the Coop department, will provide help in identifying employment opportunities.)
  • Travel funds to attend Information Assurance related conferences/activities
  • Students will be advised by Information Assurance faculty
• Graduate Students
  • Annual academic stipend ($12,000 for a two academic semesters)1,2
  • Full tuition scholarship (while in school)1,2
  • Coverage of all activity fees up to $2,000/year
  • Two years of employment with a Federal Agency listed above (student is responsible to apply for and obtain a position to fulfill this service obligation. The Scholarship program will provide help in identifying employment opportunities.)
  • Travel funds to attend Information Assurance related conferences/activities
  • Students will be advised by Information Assurance faculty
  • Opportunity to mentor undergraduates participating in the program

1 Please note that the 2nd year of scholarship award is pending availability of federal funding obligations of the U.S. Federal Government.

2 Participation in the program is limited to 2 years.

Student Obligation

• Complete the degree program successfully.
• Complete co-op at Federal Agency, Independent Agency, Government Corporation, Commission, or Quasi-Official Agency, or at a National Laboratory that signs a memorandum of understanding setting forth the parameters for participation. (See http://www.firstgov.gov/Agencies/federal.shtml for a list of organizations. See http://dir.yahoo.com/government/u_s__government/research_labs/ a list of National Laboratories, and see http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf0536/ for a list of FFRDCs.)
• Complete one year of work at a participating agency for every year of scholarship received.

Application Materials

Applicants should provide the following:

1. Completed and signed Northeastern University's Federal Cyber Service: Scholarship for Service Application Form.
2. A signed letter of intent, expressing interest in participating in the Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, including a statement that indicates an understanding of the two year commitment to federal government after graduation (one year if the student participates in the SFS program only for one year).
3. A resume listing all education, employment history, extracurricular activities and interests.
4. Copies of transcripts from all colleges attended.
5. At least 2 letters of recommendations, one of which must come from a faculty member.
6. A 2-5 pages of personal statement describing the applicant's interest and past experiences (if any) with Information Assurance.

NOTE: students applying to the DoD Scholarship program may use the same application materials for IASP, together with items 1 and 2.

Applications should be submitted to:
Institute of Information Assurance
College of Computer and Information Science
Northeastern University
Boston, MA 02115

Point of Contact

• Prof. Agnes Chan, CCIS (ahchan@ccs.neu.edu)
• Prof. David Kaeli, ECE (Kaeli@ece.neu.edu)
• Prof. Riccardo Pucella, CCIS (Riccardo@ccs.neu.edu)