Purdue University has been awarded over $1 million from the National Science Foundation to provide support for students seeking advanced degrees in information security. The award is for 2 years initially, with another $1 million committed for the subsequent 2 years. Professors and CERIAS directors Eugene H. Spafford, Melissa J. Dark, and Victor Raskin submitted their proposal for “Preparing Cyber Security Leaders” to the NSF as part of the Scholarship for Service (SFS) program. The SFS program covers tuition, expenses and stipends for U.S. citizens to receive degrees in information security in return for mandatory employment in the Federal government for up to 2 years.

Purdue University has a noteworthy record of accomplishment in graduating students who are highly valued for their expertise in information security, including students under a previous SFS award. This new award to Purdue University will fund several cohorts of students to pursue MS degrees in either Computer Science or the Interdisciplinary Information Security program, and conduct research associated with CERIAS at Purdue: the Center for Education and Research in Information Assurance and Security. Students studying under these scholarships may also take exams to pre-qualify them to return for Ph.D. study after their mandatory employment obligation concludes. Over the last dozen years there have been nearly 150 Ph.D. graduates affiliated with CERIAS, and this is more than 25% of the production in the United States in information security.

Students already admitted to one of the two MS programs indicated may be eligible for the fellowship and should contact one of the three listed faculty for details, or send email to <sfs-info@cerias.purdue.edu>.

More information on the award:
http://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward.do?AwardNumber=1027493

More information on the degree programs:
http://www.cerias.purdue.edu/site/education/graduate_program/sfs/