| NSF Org: |
DGE Division Of Graduate Education |
| Recipient: |
|
| Initial Amendment Date: | December 14, 2022 |
| Latest Amendment Date: | January 25, 2023 |
| Award Number: | 2235102 |
| Award Instrument: | Continuing Grant |
| Program Manager: |
Li Yang
liyang@nsf.gov (703)292-0000 DGE Division Of Graduate Education EDU Directorate for STEM Education |
| Start Date: | January 1, 2023 |
| End Date: | December 31, 2027 (Estimated) |
| Total Intended Award Amount: | $4,460,826.00 |
| Total Awarded Amount to Date: | $1,868,135.00 |
| Funds Obligated to Date: |
|
| History of Investigator: |
|
| Recipient Sponsored Research Office: |
4202 E FOWLER AVE TAMPA FL US 33620-5800 (813)974-2897 |
| Sponsor Congressional District: |
|
| Primary Place of Performance: |
4202 E FOWLER AVE TAMPA FL US 33620-9951 |
| Primary Place of Performance Congressional District: |
|
| Unique Entity Identifier (UEI): |
|
| Parent UEI: |
|
| NSF Program(s): | CYBERCORPS: SCHLAR FOR SER |
| Primary Program Source: |
|
| Program Reference Code(s): |
|
| Program Element Code(s): |
|
| Award Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Fund Agency Code: | 4900 |
| Assistance Listing Number(s): | 47.076 |
ABSTRACT
The Cybersecurity Research and Education for Service in Government (CREST) program at the University of South Florida (USF) will recruit and mentor at least 28 graduate and undergraduate students to serve as cybersecurity professionals in federal, state, and local governments, and other public sector organizations. In conjunction with USF?s cybersecurity related academic programs, campus professional development activities, and federal, state, and local internship opportunities, the CREST program will establish a transformative community of practice to produce next-generation, national cybersecurity leaders. CREST scholars will receive extensive coaching and mentoring on public service ethos from former military and federal civilian leaders, as well as from agencies and members of a unique Advisory Council. The CREST program will target 50% of SFS scholarships to be awarded to groups historically underrepresented in computing (including women and veterans).
USF?s CREST program is centered on three overarching goals: recruitment and selection, professional development and retention, and cybersecurity placement in the public sector. Students will be selected from 12 cybersecurity-related degree programs across two USF colleges. CREST scholars will complete cybersecurity-related degree programs, conduct undergraduate and graduate research in cybersecurity supervised by faculty mentors, and participate in structured USF and Cyber Florida professional development activities. The project will also develop a mock Security Operations Center (SOC) with real-world incident data for training CREST scholars to elevate their expertise in cybersecurity operations. A special focus will be placed on developing a public service motivation in students. Through volunteer activities, CREST scholars will engage the next generation of aspiring cybersecurity professionals by sharing their STEM journey as well as knowledge and passion for cybersecurity and AI with K-12 students in the Greater Tampa region.
This project is supported by the CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, which funds proposals establishing or continuing scholarship programs in cybersecurity and aligns with the U.S. National Cyber Strategy to develop a superior cybersecurity workforce. Following graduation, scholarship recipients are required to work in cybersecurity for a federal, state, local, or tribal Government organization for the same duration as their scholarship support.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Please report errors in award information by writing to: awardsearch@nsf.gov.
