The U.S. National Science Foundation announced the first 14 awards under its CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service program on July 28, 2026. The funding supports universities training students to secure AI-enabled systems and use AI to defend against cyber threats, preparing them for government careers in an increasingly contested digital domain.
Preparing for the AI and cybersecurity intersection
The CyberAI SFS program expands the traditional scope of cybersecurity education to reflect the growing overlap between AI and security. Funded projects will prepare students to use AI for threat detection, incident response, and digital forensics, while also teaching them to build AI systems that can withstand attacks. This dual focus addresses a critical need in the federal workforce, where AI-enabled infrastructure is both a tool and a target.
"Through the CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service program, NSF is investing in the talent needed to secure today's digital infrastructure and AI-enabled technologies and advance the nation's capacity to meet evolving cybersecurity threats," said Brian Stone, performing the duties of the NSF director.
Integrated training and hands-on learning
Many of the awarded projects combine disciplines that have traditionally been taught separately. Students will take courses that blend AI-enabled cyber defense with cyber-physical systems security. The training aims to produce graduates capable of roles that demand the kind of combined expertise outlined in an AI Learning Path for Cybersecurity Analysts.
The awards emphasize experiential learning as a cornerstone of workforce preparation. Students will participate in faculty-mentored research, cyber virtual training, security laboratories, internships, capstone projects, and partnerships with government and critical infrastructure organizations. This practical experience ensures graduates leave with applied skills alongside technical knowledge.
Building a government service pipeline
By combining scholarships with mentoring and career development, the funded projects create direct paths into federal, state, local, tribal, and territorial government service. The program builds a sustainable pipeline of talent for AI for Government roles, supporting agencies that need professionals who can secure the nation's AI-enabled digital ecosystem.
Awarded institutions
The 14 awardee institutions and their projects are:
- Arizona State University, Arizona: CyberAI SFS: AI-Augmented Cybersecurity Scholars Program
- Augusta University, Georgia: CyberAI SFS: Government-ready Experts in Resilient CyberAI (AUGER CyberAI)
- California State University, San Bernardino, California: CyberAI SFS: Building a Federal Workforce Pipeline of AI-Enabled Cybersecurity Professionals
- Michigan Technological University, Michigan: CyberAI SFS: Building the Future Cybersecurity and AI Workforce
- New Jersey Institute of Technology, New Jersey: CyberAI SFS: Secure Computing with AI
- Old Dominion University, Virginia: CyberAI SFS: Preparing Future CyberAI LeADERS through AI-Integrated Training and Applied Learning Experiences
- Texas A&M University, Texas: CyberAI SFS: Building an AI-Powered Government Workforce
- University of Central Florida, Florida: CyberAI SFS: Educating Florida's Federal CyberAI Workforce for Secure AI in Space, Defense, and Modeling and Simulation
- University of New Haven, Connecticut: CyberAI SFS: Building an AI-Empowered Cybersecurity Workforce Through Integrated BS/MS Pathways
- University of Rhode Island, Rhode Island: CyberAI SFS: Multi-Pathway CyberAI Scholarship for Service
- University of West Florida, Florida: CyberAI SFS: Future Operations, Resilience, and Career Ecosystem (CyberAI SFS FORCE)
- The University of Texas at Dallas, Texas: CyberAI SFS: Training Next Generation AI-Proficient Cybersecurity Workforce for Offense and Defense
- The University of Texas at El Paso, Texas: CyberAI SFS: Building an AI-Integrated Cybersecurity Workforce
- Vanderbilt University, Tennessee: CyberAI SFS: Secure and Trustworthy AI Research and Training Program (STAR)
Why this matters for education professionals
The NSF's CyberAICorps program signals a federal investment in curriculum that bridges AI and cybersecurity. For educators developing or updating programs, the funded projects offer models of integrated, experiential learning that can be adapted to other institutions. The emphasis on government service also highlights the importance of building career pathways that connect classroom learning to public sector needs. As AI becomes embedded in critical infrastructure, programs that prepare students for both AI and security roles will become essential-and these awards provide a blueprint for how to do it.
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