2439007
Project Grant
Overview
Grant Description
SFS AI + Cybersecurity: Securing America's future through AI-empowered cyber talent.
Cybersecurity has become the foundation for many functions of our society.
The growing need for a strong cybersecurity workforce is an increasingly urgent concern, especially for defending the national interests.
This project will recruit motivated scholars for government service in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.
The Scholarship-for-Service (SFS) program at University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) will expand security research and training into machine-learning/artificial intelligence (ML/AI) and space engineering programs to address emerging needs in these areas.
This project will benefit an EPSCoR jurisdiction by contributing to the development of a strong research and education team, enhance existing K-12 outreach programs for high school students and teachers, and prepare new future members of the AI and security workforce for the nation.
This project will partner with George Washington University and other academic organizations to enhance the AI skills of cybersecurity faculty as a capacity building initiative for higher education institutions.
The SFS scholars will actively conduct advanced research on challenging issues in various areas, including AI security, big data security, cryptography, space engineering security, smart grid security, and use of AI for security.
In addition, the proposer team has long-term collaborations with government agencies, which help SFS scholars gain solid experiences through internships, collaborative projects, and job placements.
A newly added AI concentration at the graduate level will offer AI-related coursework and research opportunities.
The team emphasizes individually tailored mentorship across the entire academic experience at UHM.
A growing alumni network greatly facilitates recruiting and student placements.
This project is supported by the CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, which funds proposals establishing or continuing scholarship programs in cybersecurity and aligns with the U.S. National Cyber Strategy to develop a superior cybersecurity workforce.
Following graduation, scholarship recipients are required to work in cybersecurity for a federal, state, local, or tribal government organization for the same duration as their scholarship support.
This project is co-funded by the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program, which supports projects that build understandings of practices, program elements, contexts, and processes contributing to increasing students' knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communication technology (ICT) careers.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are planned for this award.
Cybersecurity has become the foundation for many functions of our society.
The growing need for a strong cybersecurity workforce is an increasingly urgent concern, especially for defending the national interests.
This project will recruit motivated scholars for government service in artificial intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity.
The Scholarship-for-Service (SFS) program at University of Hawaii at Manoa (UHM) will expand security research and training into machine-learning/artificial intelligence (ML/AI) and space engineering programs to address emerging needs in these areas.
This project will benefit an EPSCoR jurisdiction by contributing to the development of a strong research and education team, enhance existing K-12 outreach programs for high school students and teachers, and prepare new future members of the AI and security workforce for the nation.
This project will partner with George Washington University and other academic organizations to enhance the AI skills of cybersecurity faculty as a capacity building initiative for higher education institutions.
The SFS scholars will actively conduct advanced research on challenging issues in various areas, including AI security, big data security, cryptography, space engineering security, smart grid security, and use of AI for security.
In addition, the proposer team has long-term collaborations with government agencies, which help SFS scholars gain solid experiences through internships, collaborative projects, and job placements.
A newly added AI concentration at the graduate level will offer AI-related coursework and research opportunities.
The team emphasizes individually tailored mentorship across the entire academic experience at UHM.
A growing alumni network greatly facilitates recruiting and student placements.
This project is supported by the CyberCorps® Scholarship for Service (SFS) program, which funds proposals establishing or continuing scholarship programs in cybersecurity and aligns with the U.S. National Cyber Strategy to develop a superior cybersecurity workforce.
Following graduation, scholarship recipients are required to work in cybersecurity for a federal, state, local, or tribal government organization for the same duration as their scholarship support.
This project is co-funded by the Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) program, which supports projects that build understandings of practices, program elements, contexts, and processes contributing to increasing students' knowledge and interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and information and communication technology (ICT) careers.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.
Subawards are planned for this award.
Awardee
Funding Goals
THE GOAL OF THIS FUNDING OPPORTUNITY, "CYBERCORPS(R) SCHOLARSHIP FOR SERVICE", IS IDENTIFIED IN THE LINK: HTTPS://WWW.NSF.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/PUB_SUMM.JSP?ODS_KEY=NSF23574
Grant Program (CFDA)
Awarding / Funding Agency
Place of Performance
Honolulu,
Hawaii
96822-2247
United States
Geographic Scope
Single Zip Code
Related Opportunity
University Of Hawaii was awarded
AI Cybersecurity Scholarship Program for National Security
Project Grant 2439007
worth $4,112,287
from the Division of Graduate Education in August 2025 with work to be completed primarily in Honolulu Hawaii United States.
The grant
has a duration of 3 years and
was awarded through assistance program 47.076 Education and Human Resources.
The Project Grant was awarded through grant opportunity CyberAICorps Scholarship for Service.
Status
(Ongoing)
Last Modified 8/21/25
Period of Performance
8/15/25
Start Date
7/31/28
End Date
Funding Split
$4.1M
Federal Obligation
$0.0
Non-Federal Obligation
$4.1M
Total Obligated
Activity Timeline
Additional Detail
Award ID FAIN
2439007
SAI Number
None
Award ID URI
SAI EXEMPT
Awardee Classifications
Public/State Controlled Institution Of Higher Education
Awarding Office
491101 DIVISION OF GRADUATE EDUCATION
Funding Office
491101 DIVISION OF GRADUATE EDUCATION
Awardee UEI
NSCKLFSSABF2
Awardee CAGE
0W411
Performance District
HI-01
Senators
Mazie Hirono
Brian Schatz
Brian Schatz
Modified: 8/21/25