NSF AI grant $2.5M: scholarships to build AI × cybersecurity talent (Old Dominion University / CyberAI SFS)

The NSF awarded about $2,499,867 to the "CyberAI SFS" project for building AI and cybersecurity (CyberAI) talent (NSF Award 2623215; program: CyberAICorps SFS; Virginia; starting July 2026).

Per the abstract, the project provides scholarships to undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in AI and Cybersecurity (CyberAI) programs at Old Dominion University (ODU) in exchange for service supporting the CyberAI mission of government organizations. It supports an interdisciplinary program built on high-quality cybersecurity and AI courses, hands-on experience both at ODU and during summer internships at government organizations, participation in faculty-supervised research, and extracurricular activities including competitions and outreach — preparing students for a variety of CyberAI professions. Beyond required coursework, it emphasizes experiential learning, research, and leadership development through teamwork.

ODU and its School of Cybersecurity have a strong track record running the Scholarship for Service (SFS) program for public-service CyberAI careers. ODU is the first university in the nation to have its CyberAI programs validated by the NSA, and it is designated by the NSA as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Research (CAE-R), in Cyber Operations (CAE-CO), and in Cyber Defense (CAE-CD). Selected students receive scholarships while completing their academic programs. Graduates contribute to national and global STEM workforce competitiveness and national security as government experts in using AI in cybersecurity operations and in the security and resilience of AI systems themselves. The project is supported by the CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service (CyberAI SFS) program, which funds proposals to increase national capacity to educate AI/cybersecurity professionals and support their placement and retention in government CyberAI missions.