University of Rhode Island Cybersecurity Program Receives $4.8 Million Support from NSF
The U.S. National Science Foundation has provided two new grants totaling $4.8 million for the University of Rhode Island's scholarship programs in cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The funds will offer full scholarships and mentorship opportunities to students.
The University of Rhode Island's Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity Center has received two grants totaling $4.8 million from the National Science Foundation to support students in cybersecurity graduate programs and the new AI Security specialization.
CyberAICorps Grant and Public Sector-Focused Education
The first portion of the provided funds, amounting to $2.89 million, consists of the three-year CyberAICorps Scholarship. This grant offers full scholarships, monthly stipends, and summer internship opportunities to graduate students who commit to working in public institutions to protect artificial intelligence and cybersecurity systems.
Under the program, students conduct research projects under the guidance of faculty members while participating in seminars covering federal careers, competitions, and AI policies. Since 2021, the CyberAICorps program has placed 93 percent of its graduates into public service roles.
S-STEM Grant for Low-Income Students
The second grant, the S-STEM award valued at $1.99 million, will provide scholarship and mentorship support over the next five years to 30 high-achieving but low-income students pursuing a Master's degree in Cybersecurity. This support aims to overcome the financial barriers faced by qualified students.
Both grants support students in the university's new AI Security specialization. This specialization teaches how to defend AI systems against potential attacks and use AI as a cyber defense tool.