nsf-sfs

The National Science Foundation has endowed the Florida State University Information Security program with funding for as many as 10 to 15 awards. Scholarship recipients shall pursue academic prosgrams in information assurance for the final two years of undergraduate study, or for two years of master’s-level study, or for the final two years of Ph.D.-level study. These students will participate as a cohort during two years of study and activities, including a summer internship in a federal agency at the end of their first year of support. The recipients of the scholarships will become part of the Federal Cyber Service of information technology specialists whose responsibility is to ensure the protection of the United States Government’s information infrastructure. Upon graduation after their two-year scholarships, recipients will be required to work for a federal agency for two years in fulfillment of their Federal Cyber Service commitment. The scholarships provide academic year stipends of $8,000 per year for undergraduate students and $12,000 per year for graduate students.

Program Documents

• NSF-SFS Publication [HTML]
• SAIT Scholarship Program Policy [PDF]
• Federal Government SFS FAQ [HTML]
• Federal Government Service Agreement [DOC] [HTML] [PDF]

Scholarship Benefits:

• A stipend, in addition to the cost of tuition, fees, books, lab expenses, supplies and equipment, the student will be awarded with a stipend of $12,000 for graduate students and $8,000 for undergraduate students.
• Research projects, related to large externally funded projects, will be assigned to some students. These students may also receive additional funding throughout the academic year.
• Internships and job opportunities with the world’s leading security organization.

For more information visit the NSF publication on this scholarship offer at http://www.nsf.gov/ pubs/2002/nsf02181/nsf02181.htm and review the SAIT Scholarship Program Policy.

Note: This scholarship is only available to full U.S. citizens!

How & When to Apply

Important: Participating in this program obliges you to a period of service in the federal government. Please click here for a SFS FAQ on this program.

If accepted, you will need to enter the following agreement for service to the federal government: [DOC] [HTML] [PDF]

Each applicant should provide the following:

• Letter expressing interest in the NSF Cyber Training Scholarship program that includes a statement that indicates an understanding of the two year degree seeking nature of the program and of the two year commitment to the federal government after graduation
• Transcripts of all college work
• Standardized test scores (SAT, GRE)
• Statement of purpose and description of goals in your computer science MS degree program and in the field of computer security and information assurance
• Recommendation letters from at least two faculty members or employment managers familiar with the student’s background
• Official acceptance into Florida State University
• Current personal Resumé

Please send your complete application to ...

• Melody Venable
  NSF SFS Program
  253 Love Building
  Florida State University
  Tallahassee
  FL
  32306-4530

Eligibility Requirements

The following minimum requirements must be met for eligibility:

• You must be at least 18 years of age.
• You must be a citizen of the United States.
• You must have completed at a minimum of an undergraduate degree program and be eligible to, begin either the third or fourth years of an undergraduate degree program, begin the first or second year of a masters degree program, pursue the last two years of doctoral studies, or complete a graduate certificate program in information assurance.
• You must be a full time student within two years of graduation at Florida State University with either a Baccalaureate or Master’s degree in computer science. Ph.D. students that are within two years of completing their degree are eligible for this program. Holders of associate degrees and Junior college students that have acquired sufficient credit hours to be within two years of graduation at FSU are eligible.
• Successful applicants will demonstrate in the application process academic merit as well as indicators of future professional success.
• You must meet selection criteria for federal employment (you may be required to undergo a background investigation).

Assessment of Applications

Applications will be evaluated in the following three stages:

• Stage 1: Verification – Upon receipt of an application, The Department of Computer Science will review it for completeness and to ensure that the applicant meets the minimum requirements for the program. The applicant will then be marked as “Insufficient Potential”, “Sufficient Potential”, “Average Potential”, “High Potential”, or “Superior Potential” based upon his or her transcript, GPA, Academic honors, distinctions or awards and letters of reference.
• Stage 2: Classification – Upon completion of the application period, a panel of Information Security professors will objectively rate the applicants as “No Knowledge or Ability”, “Basic Knowledge or Ability“, ”Intermediate Knowledge or Ability“, “Advanced Knowledge or Ability”, “Superior Knowledge or Ability” based on the selection criteria.
• Stage 3: Ranking – The FSU NSF Scholarship Principal Investigator will compile a list of students who have been selected for the awards along with two alternates and forward these names to the NSF for approval.

The final applicant list, including the applicant’s respective classification and ranking, will then be sent to The National Science Foundation for confirmation.

Criteria for Selection

The criteria used to classify and rank applicants are:

• Cumulative Undergraduate GPA
• Major Undergraduate GPA
• Cumulative Graduate GPA
• Major Graduate GPA
• Academic record (course content)
• Standardized test scores
• Evaluation of the student’s statement of purpose.
• One (1) Letter of Reference from a current faculty member
• One (1) Letter of Reference from a current or former faculty member or a current or former supervisor
• Demonstrated leadership, participation in team activities, prior social service, and/or evidence of creative and independent thinking and/or acting
• Knowledge of the techniques of the information technology and/or information security (assurance) discipline, including encryption, access control, physical security, training, threat analysis, and authentication
• Knowledge of the human factors in the information technology and/or information security (assurance), including human computer interaction, design, training, sabotage, human error prevention and identification, personal use policies, and monitoring
• Ability to identify and analyze problems, distinguish between relevant and irrelevant information to make logical decisions, and provide solutions to individual and organizational problems
• Ability to consider and respond appropriately to the needs, feelings, and capabilities of different people in different situations; is tactful, compassionate and sensitive, and treats others with respect
• Ability to make clear and convincing oral presentations to individuals or groups; listens effectively and clarifies information as needed, facilitates an open exchange of ideas and fosters an atmosphere of open communication
• Ability to express facts and ideas in writing in a clear, convincing and organized manner appropriate to the audience and occasion

More Information

For more information, please contact one of the following people:

• Melody Venable
  Senior Secretary / Scholarship Contact
  253 James J. Love Building
  Florida State University
  Tallahassee

  FL

  32306-4530
  850

  644

  2644
  850

  644

  7660
  mvenable@cs.fsu.edu

Last Updated: Tuesday, March 06, 2007 @ 01:54:07AM EST/EDT Designed by Jonathan C. Nilson. Published by FSU SAIT. Please view our legal notices and privacy policy.