National Science Foundation: CyberCorps: Scholarship for Service – Capacity Track

Cyberspace has transformed the daily lives of people. The rush to adopt cyberspace, however, has exposed its fragility and vulnerabilities: corporations, agencies, national infrastructure and individuals have been victims of cyber-attacks. In December 2011 the National Science and Technology Council with the cooperation of the NSF advanced a broad, coordinated federal strategic plan for cybersecurity research and education to “change the game,” check the misuses of cyber technology, bolster education and training in cybersecurity, establish a science of cybersecurity, and transition promising cybersecurity research into practice. To achieve this strategic plan, the nation needs advanced research within and across disciplines, requiring expertise in human, statistical, mathematical, computational, and computer sciences to develop and transition new concepts and technologies to practice. It also requires an innovative and efficient cybersecurity education system that results in an unrivaled cybersecurity workforce and citizenry capable of advancing America’s economic prosperity and national security in the 21st century.

The CyberCorps(R): Scholarship for Service (SFS) program seeks proposals that address cybersecurity education and workforce development. There are two tracks for applicants:

• The Scholarship Track provides funding to award scholarships to students in cybersecurity. (Separate due date, see link).
• The Capacity Track seeks innovative proposals leading to an increase in the ability of the United States higher education enterprise to produce cybersecurity professionals. Proposals focusing on capacity building should contribute to the expansion of existing educational opportunities and resources in cybersecurity, including such efforts as research on the teaching and learning of cybersecurity; curricula recommendations for new courses, degree programs, and educational pathways with plans for wide adoption nationally; teaching and learning effectiveness of cybersecurity curricular programs and courses; integration of cybersecurity topics into computer science, information technology, engineering and other existing degree programs with plans for pervasive adoption; partnerships between institutions of higher education, government, and relevant employment sectors leading to improved models for the integration of applied research experiences into cybersecurity degree programs.

Amount: $25,000,000 total funding available; 20-30 awards will be made ranging from $200,000-$5,000,000. This includes 10-15 Capacity Building Track awards. A typical project will request a total of $200,000 to $300,000 over a two to three year period. A small number of large scale projects may be awarded with total budget limited to $900,000 and duration of three to four years.

Eligibility: Individuals and organizations in the following categories are eligible to submit proposals: universities and colleges; not-for-profit and nonacademic organizations; for-profit organizations; local and state governments; unaffiliated individuals; foreign agencies; and other federal agencies.

Link: http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf14586

NOTE: Scholarship track grants are due October 21, 2014.

This post was filed under: