CyberCorps Scholarship for Service: Preparing a Diverse Next-Generation Workforce Through Integrated Cybersecurity and Artificial Intelligence Scholar Experience

迫切需要网络安全和人工智能（AI）技术专家致力于担任政府角色。这些人可以提供知识渊博和面向未来的指导，保护国防和资源，同时促进整个社会的发展。博伊西州立大学（BSU）的CyberCorps®服务奖学金（SFS）项目将通过将17名学者培养成准备在公共部门组织服务的网络安全专业人员来帮助满足这一需求。BSU的计算机科学系为本科，硕士和博士水平的网络安全和AI学生提供最先进的技术指导和持续的实践研究经验。学者将配备必要的知识和技能，以保护人工智能系统，同时利用人工智能来提高网络安全系统的效率和有效性。该项目与联邦网络安全研究和发展战略计划保持一致，该计划将人工智能和教育与劳动力发展（EWD）作为关键领域。该项目旨在实现以下目标：1）招募对网络安全感兴趣的多元化群体，2）在人工智能和网络安全的交叉点建立学者的能力，3）促进参与，确保保留，促进就业。项目团队将系统地参与当代学习科学和绩效改进方法。此外，该项目团队将与其他爱达荷州社区和四年制学院以及现有的BSU网络安全项目合作，以吸引和留住学者。该项目将强调改善在网络安全方面代表性不足的群体成员和具有不同生活经历的群体的参与。除了课程，研讨会和指导支持，学者将参加各种活动，包括实习和实践培训在BSU的研究所普及网络安全。该项目由CyberCorps®服务奖学金（SFS）计划支持，该计划为建立或继续网络安全奖学金计划的提案提供资金，并与美国国家网络战略保持一致，以培养一支上级网络安全人才队伍。毕业后，奖学金获得者需要在联邦，州，地方或部落政府组织的网络安全工作与他们的奖学金支持相同的时间。这个奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

There is an urgent need for technical experts in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) committed to serving in government roles. These individuals can provide knowledgeable and future-oriented guidance that protects national defense and resources while facilitating growth across society. The CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) project at Boise State University (BSU) will help to meet that need by nurturing a diverse cohort of 17 scholars into cybersecurity professionals ready to serve in public sector organizations. BSU’s Computer Science department provides state-of-the-art technical instruction and continuous hands-on research experiences for Undergraduate, Master's, and PhD level cybersecurity and AI students. Scholars will be equipped with the requisite knowledge and skills to safeguard AI systems while leveraging AI to enhance cybersecurity systems' efficiency and effectiveness ethically. The project is aligned with the Federal Cybersecurity Research and Development Strategic Plan, which highlights AI and Education and Workforce Development (EWD) as key areas.This project aims to achieve the following objectives: 1) recruit a diverse cohort interested in serving in cybersecurity, 2) build scholars’ competencies at the Intersection of AI and cybersecurity, and 3) foster engagement, ensure retention, and facilitate employment. The project team will systemically engage contemporary learning science and performance-improving methods. In addition, the project team will partner with other Idaho community and four-year colleges, and existing BSU cybersecurity programs to attract and retain scholars. The project will emphasize improving the participation of members of groups underrepresented in cybersecurity and those with diverse life experiences. In addition to coursework, seminars, and mentoring support, scholars will participate in various activities, including internships and hands-on training in BSU’s Institute for Pervasive Cybersecurity. This project is supported by the CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, which funds proposals establishing or continuing scholarship programs in cybersecurity and aligns with the U.S. National Cyber Strategy to develop a superior cybersecurity workforce. Following graduation, scholarship recipients are required to work in cybersecurity for a federal, state, local, or tribal Government organization for the same duration as their scholarship support.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.