About the Trusted CI Fellows Program

The vision for the Trusted CI Fellows program is to empower members of the scientific community with basic knowledge of cybersecurity and the understanding of Trusted CI’s services and then have them serve as cybersecurity liaisons to their respective community. The Trusted CI Fellows program establishes and supports a network of Fellows with heterogeneity in geography and scientific discipline. 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.

Trusted CI selects six Fellows each year. Fellows 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 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 for later online viewing. Travel support is budgeted (during their first year only) to cover Fellows’ attendance at the NSF Cybersecurity Summit, PEARC, and one professional development opportunity agreed to with Trusted CI. The Fellows are added to an email list to discuss any challenges they encounter that will receive prioritized attention from Trusted CI staff. Trusted CI recognizes 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 after their fellowship year.

After the virtual institute, Fellows, with assistance from the Trusted CI team, are 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 are 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 Trusted CI’s impact. Fellows must reside within the U.S.

The next Call for Applications is expected in summer 2024.

To view the collection of 2019 Trusted CI Fellow Virtual Institute presentations, please click here.

To view Trusted CI Fellows reports, click here