Call for Applications for Trusted CI's 2023 Open Science Cybersecurity Fellows Program

APPLY HERE

The application deadline has been extended until is Friday, December 2, 2022, at 11:59 pm (ET).


Applicants will be notified by Friday, February 24, 2023.

To view the Trusted CI webinar on the Fellow application process, please click here.

Overview

Trusted CI serves the scientific community as the NSF Cybersecurity Center of Excellence, providing cybersecurity leadership and assistance in support of NSF research. In 2019, Trusted CI established the Open Science Cybersecurity Fellows program. This program establishes and supports a geographically and scientifically diverse network of Fellows. These Fellows have access to training and other resources to foster their professional development in cybersecurity. In exchange, they champion cybersecurity for science in their scientific and geographic communities and communicate challenges and successful practices to Trusted CI.

About the program

The vision for the Fellows program is to identify members of the scientific community, empower them with basic knowledge of cybersecurity and an understanding of Trusted CI’s services, and then have them serve as cybersecurity liaisons to their respective communities. They then assist members of the community with basic cybersecurity challenges and connect them with Trusted CI for advanced challenges.

Trusted CI selects at least six Fellows each year. Fellows will receive recognition, cybersecurity professional development consisting of training and travel funding. The Fellows’ training consists of a Virtual Institute, providing 20 hours of basic cybersecurity training over approximately six months. The training is delivered by Trusted CI staff and invited speakers. The Virtual Institute is presented as a weekly series via Zoom and recorded to be available for later online viewing. Domestic travel support is budgeted (during their first year only) to cover Fellows’ attendance at the EDUCAUSE SPPC, NSF Cybersecurity Summit, and one professional development opportunity agreed to with Trusted CI. The Fellows will be added to an email list to discuss any challenges they encounter that will receive prioritized attention from Trusted CI staff. Trusted CI will recognize the Fellows on its website and social media. Fellowships are funded for one year but Fellows are encouraged to continue participating in Trusted CI activities in the years following their fellowship.

After the Virtual Institute, Fellows, with assistance from the Trusted CI team, will be expected to help their science community with cybersecurity and make them aware of Trusted CI for complex needs. By the end of the year, they will be expected to present or write a short white paper on the cybersecurity needs of their community and some initial steps they will take (or have taken) to address these needs. After the year of full support, Trusted CI will continue recognizing the cohort of Fellows and giving them prioritized attention. Over the years, this growing cohort of Fellows will broaden and diversify Trusted CI’s impact.

Application requirements

Applicants will be required to submit:

  • A description of their connection to the research community. Any connection to NSF projects should be clearly stated, ideally providing the NSF award number.

  • A statement of interest in cybersecurity.

  • A biosketch (two pages maximum).

  • A letter from their supervisor supporting their involvement and time commitment to the program.

  • A commitment to fully participate in the Fellows activities for one year (and optionally thereafter).

In addition, applicants may provide optional demographic information as part of their application.

The selection of Fellows will be made by the Trusted CI Leads, the Trusted CI Advisory Committee, prior Fellows, and Senior Personnel based on the following criteria:

  • Demonstrated connection to scientific research, with preference given to those who demonstrate a connection to NSF-funded science.

  • Articulated interest in cybersecurity.

  • Fellows that potential to broaden Trusted CI’s impact across all seven NSF research directorates (Trusted CI encourages applications for individuals with connections to NSF directorates other than CISE), with connections to any of the NSF 10 Big Ideas, or Fellows that increase the participation of underrepresented populations.

Who should apply?   

  • Professionals and post-docs interested in cybersecurity for science, with evidence of that in their past and current role

  • Research Computing, Data, and IT technical or policy professionals interested in applying cybersecurity innovations to scientific research

  • Domain scientists interested in data integrity aspects of scientific research

  • Scientists from all across the seven NSF research directorates interested in how data integrity fits with their scientific mission

  • Researchers who are current residents of the U.S.

  • Researchers in the NSF 10 Big Ideas interested in cybersecurity needs

  • Regional network security personnel working across universities and facilities in their region

  • People comfortable collaborating and communicating across multiple institutions with IT / CISO / Research Computing and Data professionals

  • Anyone in a role relevant to cybersecurity for open science

More about the Fellowship

Fellows come from a variety of career stages, they demonstrate a passion for their area, the ability to communicate ideas effectively, and a real interest in the importance of cybersecurity as an enabler of research. Fellows are empowered to talk about cybersecurity to a wider audience, network with others who share a passion for cybersecurity for open science, and learn key skills that benefit them and their collaborators.

If you have questions about the Fellows program, please let us know by emailing us at fellows@trustedci.org.