SFS AI + cybersecurity: preparing the next generation of public professionals in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity

Dakota State University received a $3.3 million Project Grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Graduate Education under the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076), awarded August 15, 2025, with completion targeted for July 31, 2028. The award supports the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service (SFS) AI + Cybersecurity initiative, which provides full scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students pursuing degrees in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The program delivers comprehensive student support services including mentoring, advising, internships, and cohort activities designed to prepare scholars for public service careers aligned with national defense and security priorities.

Beyond direct scholarship support, the project delivers capacity-building services for AI and cybersecurity education at institutions of higher education, applied research experiences, and career placement support facilitated through partnerships with government entities including the National Security Agency (NSA), Department of Energy (DOE), and Department of Defense (DOD). The award also includes K-12 outreach activities to build cybersecurity and AI knowledge among high school students and educators. These integrated products and services position the university to contribute to national STEM workforce competitiveness in critical emerging technology areas while advancing NSF's mission to promote scientific progress and national security.

Abstract

With a strong institutional track record in NSF?s scholarship for service (SFS) program for preparing students for public service careers in AI and cybersecurity, dakota state university (DSU) is uniquely positioned to continue contributing to national and global stem workforce competitiveness. Through full scholarships, mentoring, internships, and career-placement support, the project will produce qualified professionals capable of implementing AI to enhance NSF?s mission to promote the progress of science and secure the national defense. The k-12 activities will help high school students and teachers gain cybersecurity and AI knowledge and skills. This award also includes capacity building activities which will help to develop the workforce in AI areas that will benefit AI education at undergraduate and graduate levels at institutions of higher education (ihes). Students selected for the program will receive scholarships while completing the required AI curriculum. They will participate in a robust support structure that includes mentoring, advising, internships, and regular cohort activities. Program enhancements reflect the evolving national priorities related to AI and cyber. All recipients will participate in one of DSU?s undergraduate or graduate AI programs or minors. Scholars will benefit from applied research experiences, dedicated facilities, and ongoing faculty mentorship. DSU will continue to collaborate with government partners, including the national security agency (NSA), department of energy (DOE) laboratories, department of defense (DOD), and state agencies to help scholars secure educational internships and pursue career opportunities that align with national priorities. 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 project is also jointly funded by the established program to stimulate competitive research (epscor) and the innovative technology experiences for students and teachers (itest) program, which supports projects that build understandings of practices, program elements, contexts and processes contributing to increasing students' knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (stem) and information and communication technology (ICT) careers. 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.- subawards are not planned for this award.