NSF names first CyberAI scholarship-for-service awards to train AI-era cyber defenders
NSF's Directorate for STEM Education announced the first awards under CyberAI SFS, an expansion of its Scholarship for Service program that ties tuition support to public-sector cybersecurity careers.
The U.S. National Science Foundation’s Directorate for STEM Education announced on July 28 the first projects selected under CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service, or CyberAI SFS, a program the agency described as an expansion of its existing Scholarship for Service effort.
Awards were made from the fiscal 2026 competition, with universities across the country submitting proposals and NSF selecting recipients through its review process, according to the agency. The program trains students in AI-enabled threat detection, incident response and digital forensics, and in building secure, resilient AI systems that can withstand cyberattacks.
NSF said funded institutions will run coursework that integrates AI-driven cyber defense with the security of cyber-physical systems, and will emphasize experiential learning through faculty-mentored research, cyber ranges, security laboratories, internships and capstone projects.
The program combines scholarships with mentoring, career development and public-sector partnerships to strengthen pathways into federal, state, local, tribal and territorial government service, the agency said, with graduates expected to help protect federal systems, critical infrastructure, defense, health and energy. Remarks from NSF acting director Brian Stone were included in the announcement.