New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT) has received a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that provides support for outstanding students studying in all fields of information assurance, including computer security, network security, security policy, and cryptography. The NSF Federal CyberCorps Program offers Scholarship for Service (SFS) fellowships for graduate and undergraduate students studying a variety of disciplines including Management, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering or any other discipline that directly applies to computer security. All students receive fellowship stipends, tuition and fees, support for room and board, and a computer system.

Scholarship for Service is an initiative funded by the National Science Foundation committed to aid in the protection of America's critical information infrastructure by training exemplary students in information security and information assurance related fields, and then placing them with federal agencies. By working with certified Centers of Academic Excellence for Information Assurance Education (CAE/IAE), of which the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is one, the SFS program ensures that highly qualified, trained, and motivated individuals are available for employment with any federal agency that requires their services.

The Scholarship for Service program at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology attracts a diverse, interdisciplinary group of students drawn from fields including computer science, information technology, electrical engineering, mathematics, and management. Their interests range from theoretical, research oriented topics, to the practical matters of implementing various aspects of information assurance, to questions of policy and management.

Currently, the SFS program includes students specializing in the following areas:
    Operating system security
    Regulation and policy construction
    Reconfigurable and adaptive systems
    Systems and security administration
    Intrusion detection
    Corporate policy analysis and development
    Vulnerability analysis
    Malware detection and containment
    Wireless security
    Biometrics and bioinformatics
    Cryptography

Each student, in addition to training in general information security and information assurance topics and research in his or her field, is also expected to be able to communicate the results of his or her research to an audience of specialists and non-specialists. Communication and presentation skills are considered to be an integral component of the professional development of New Mexico Tech's SFS students.

Currently, New Mexico Tech has SFS students available for permanent placement immediately and at the end of the spring semester, as well as students seeking summer internships. For more information about New Mexico Tech, Scholarship for Service, or to find students to meet particular placement needs, contact Dr. Lorie Liebrock (or (575)835-6729).