Apply for Mentorship Program
About the program
While there have been extensive technical efforts to prevent the development and progression of cybercrimes over the last twenty years, the effectiveness of these efforts has not been well assessed. To better support, the decision-making processes by security professionals, law enforcement agencies, and policymakers on matters of cybersecurity, more rigorous scientific investigations in the wilds of cyberspace and cybersecurity infrastructures are needed. This calls for researchers who not only are experienced in scientific methodology and theory but who also understand matters of cybersecurity from a technical and industry perspective. However, researchers with such skillsets are rare, and opportunities for students to develop them are far and few between.
To address the widening skills gap in the cybersecurity field, the Evidence-Based Cybersecurity (EBCS) Research Group at Georgia State University (GSU) has been awarded $300,000 from the National Science Foundation to develop an innovative research program titled the Training and Mentorship Program for Students (TMPS). In the program, participating students will be paired with a team of industry experts to develop a project which offers a practical solution to a real-world cybersecurity issue. Students will also attend weekly lectures on the GSU campus over an 8-week period on conducting scientific research on cybersecurity matters.
The mentorship is designed to acclimate each student to the fundamentals and concepts of cybersecurity within the framework of an evidence-based approach. While applying their own knowledge, students will broaden their skills and gain valuable experience as they will be exposed to cybersecurity issues in real-world settings.
In participating in the EBCS TMPS, students will:
· Acquire hands-on experience by formulating a project which offers a practical solution to a cybersecurity issue faced by industry experts.
· Be assigned to work under the supervision of cybersecurity professionals in a team environment.
· Develop scholarly and technical skillset under the guidance of academic scholars and industry experts.
· Use this mentorship as an opportunity to network and explore job opportunities within the cybersecurity industry.
· Attend weekly lectures on conducting cybersecurity research. This includes topics such as research design, theories of human behavior, and data collection.
· Commit twenty hours each week towards their program project. Please note the time spent in lectures does not count towards this weekly total.
· Receive a stipend of $2,400.00 USD (before taxes) in the form of bi-weekly payments. This stipend requires each student’s full commitment to the program.
To be an ideal candidate, students should have:
· Scholarly interest in an evidence-based mentorship program within the cybersecurity industry.
· The capacity to work in a collaborative and fast-paced environment.
· Strong communication and leadership skills.
· Technical experience with computers and/or cybersecurity infrastructure.
· An identified graduation date within a year of applying.
· A 3.0 GPA or better in their major area of study.
To qualify as a candidate, students must be:
· A current full-time enrolled undergraduate or graduate student.
· Majoring and/or minoring in a cybersecurity-related field.
· A U.S. Citizen (dual citizenship allowed).
· Able to commit your time for the periods of June 6th – July 29th, 2022.
For an application to be considered, it needs to include:
1. Resume or CV with cover letter.
2. Personal statement in which you explain your interest in the program while also describing an experience (e.g., research, work, or volunteer) that required you to use an evidence-based approach.
3. Letter of Recommendation. For this, the application will simply request the e-mail address of the faculty member submitting the recommendation letter on a student’s behalf.
Application
Applications are being accepted until April 8, 2022.
For more information contact Marolyn Lucy Gentles, [email protected].