Homeland Security Opportunities for Student Workforce

Homeland Security Opportunities for Student Workforce

Homeland Security Professional Opportunities 2024Want to learn more about the US Department of Homeland Security and the research the agency and component agencies do while enhancing your research skills and career goals?

The Homeland Security Professional Opportunities for Student Workforce to Experience Research program is now accepting applications for internships starting in the summer of 2024.

  • Want to learn more about the US Department of Homeland Security and the research the agency and component agencies do to enhance your research interests and career goals?
  • Interested in learning from top scientists and subject matter experts in homeland security related areas?
  • Seeking to network with your peers and members of the academic and scientific communities in government facilities conducting research in DHS relevant areas?

If you answered “Yes”, to the above questions, the HS-POWER program is for you!

  • The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate Office of University Programs sponsors the Professional Opportunities for Student Workforce to Experience Research (HS-POWER) Program for undergraduate and graduate students.
  • HS-POWER is open to students majoring in a broad spectrum of homeland security related science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines as well as DHS mission-relevant research areaswhich includes social sciences.
  • As a participant in the HS-POWER Program, you will participate in quality research experiences with federal research facilities and other DHS-STEM focused entities nationwide. You will establish connections with DHS professionals that facilitate long-term relationships between yourself, researchers, DHS personnel and research facilities, giving you a competitive edge as you move forward toward your career.

Click HERE for the Application

Benefits

  • Stipend: Undergraduate students receive $750 per week and graduate students will receive $950 per week.
  • Travel: A total of $1,000 travel reimbursement for inbound and outbound expenses for participants who live more than fifty miles, one-way, from the assigned hosting site, and who are paying for housing onsite is available.
  • Housing Allowance: A housing allowance of $400/week is provided to participants whose home of record is more than fifty miles, one-way, from their assigned hosting facility, move onsite for the duration of their appointment, and are paying for housing while onsite. Alternatively, for those whose appointment is 100% virtual, a $50 virtual allowance will be added.

Appointment Details

  • Appointments will be for 10 consecutive weeks during the months of May-July. Factors such as class schedules, housing availability and facility schedules may be taken into consideration when determining appointment start and end dates.
  • Interns will be assigned to research projects and/or other technical activities under the guidance of a DHS mentor.
  • An appointment involves daily participation at the host facility with the HS-POWER participant in residence at the specified location. Virtual appointments may be available for some appointments.
  • HS-POWER participants are required to have health insurance coverage during the appointment period and to provide proof of this coverage prior to the start of the appointment.

Nature of Appointment

Participants will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DHS, or the hosting facility. Instead, participants will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE Letter of Appointment and Terms of Appointment.

How to Apply

A completed application consists of:

  • A completed Zintellect Profile
  • A completed Application which contains:
  1. An Interest Essay:

The essay includes questions specific to the program addressing each of the following topics:

  • Personal Motivation for applying
  • Career Goals
  • Research Interests and Relevance to DHS Research Areas
  1. Transcripts/Academic Records:
  • Unofficial transcripts or copies of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institutional systems may be submitted with the application.

o   Transcripts/Academic records must include name of the academic institution, name of the student, completed/in progress coursework and grades. Documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth removed (blanked out, blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system.

  • Copies of official transcripts will be required if an appointment is offered.
  1. Letters of Recommendation:

You are required to request recommendations from a professional who can speak to your academic record and potential for success in an appointment as indicated by academic accomplishments, as well as communication and teamwork skills. Recommenders will be asked to complete a recommendation in Zintellect.

  • Recommendations submitted via email will not be accepted.
  • You are solely responsible for following up with your recommenders to ensure timely completion.

All documents must be submitted via Zintellect. All application components must be received in the system to be considered. For more information, contact us at dhsed@orau.org.

Connect with ORISE…on the GO!  Download the new ORISE GO mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to help you stay engaged, connected, and informed during your ORISE experience and beyond!

Qualifications

To be considered, applicants must meet each of the following criteria:

  • Be a United States (U.S.) citizen as of the application deadline. Evidence of U.S. citizenship must be submitted to ORISE at the time appointment is accepted.
  • Be 18 years of age or older by desired start date.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale.
  • Be majoring in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field which includes social sciences, with interest in homeland security research as described in the DHS Research Areas.
  • Be interested in pursuing long-term career goals aligned with the DHS mission and objectives.
  • Can obtain and maintain the required security clearance to access hosting facility.
  • Meet one of the following conditions:

o   Full-time enrollment as a freshman, sophomore or junior undergraduate student at a U.S. accredited 2-year or 4-year college or university during the 2023-2024 academic year.
o   Full-time enrollment as a senior undergraduate student at a U.S. accredited 4-year college or university during the 2023-2024 academic year and plans to be enrolled as a graduate student at a U.S. accredited college or university for Fall 2024.
o   Full-time enrollment as a graduate student at a U.S. accredited college or university during the 2023-2024 academic year, and plan to continue enrollment in Fall 2024.

Additional Information

  • For students enrolled at a 2-year institution during the 2023-2024 academic year: Internship assignment is contingent on the student providing proof of application to a 4-year institution at the time appointment is accepted. Proof of enrollment in the 4-year institution for fall 2024 will be required upon appointment.
  • For undergraduate seniors graduating in spring or summer 2024: Internship assignment is contingent on the student providing proof of application to an accredited graduate institution at the time appointment is accepted. Proof of enrollment/acceptance in graduate school for fall 2024 will be required upon appointment.
  • Graduate students with an expected graduation date prior to the Summer 2024 term are not eligible to participate.
  • Students must demonstrate interest in research and development of innovative, next-generation homeland security solutions with potential for broad impact that align with the DHS mission to safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values.
  • Ideal candidates will have a demonstrated history of work, undergraduate research experience, or service learning/volunteer roles.

Important Information

  • Preference will be given to applicants who are:

o   Veterans and Disabled Veterans
o   Underrepresented minorities in STEM
o   Persons with disabilities
o   Persons possessing a suitability or security clearance within the last five years.

Employees of DHS Component agencies or participating partner agencies are not eligible to participate in this program.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
  • Degree:Currently pursuing an Associate’s Degree, Bachelor’s Degree, Master’s Degree, or Doctoral Degree.

Click HERE to view the PDF handout


 

Improving Cybersecurity at UD

Improving Cybersecurity at UD

UD Information Technologies will begin installing endpoint protection to all UD-owned systems

To better protect the University of Delaware against cybersecurity threats, UD Information Technologies (UDIT) will be spearheading an initiative to provide enhanced endpoint protection on all UD-owned systems — primarily laptops and desktops. This initiative is part of a multi-faceted approach to better protect the University from cybersecurity threats and to meet the requirements of our cybersecurity insurance provider.

Over the course of 2022, UDIT, with the support of departmental IT professionals, will be deploying enhanced endpoint protection across UD. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions allow for enhanced detection and response to security incidents occurring on endpoints (i.e. laptops and desktops) which can help better protect the University from ransomware and other cybersecurity attacks. In conjunction with cybersecurity training and awareness, these tools can keep UD’s data safe from advanced forms of malware, phishing and more. In 2021, the University conducted an evaluation of leading EDR solutions and selected CrowdStrike Falcon.

Cybersecurity insurance providers have begun to require Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions on University endpoints to be able to have policies renewed. To meet these requirements, having enhanced endpoint protection on all University-owned machines is required. Even if a desktop or laptop is not UD-managed, it is still required to have CrowdStrike installed if UD funds (including grant funds) were used to purchase the device.

During the remainder of 2022, UDIT and associated IT professionals will be identifying UD-owned endpoints and installing Crowdstrike Falcon to these devices. Beyond 2022, UDIT and IT professionals will continuously install CrowdStrike to all UD-owned laptops and desktops.

You can learn more about EDR and CrowdStrike, including what data is analyzed, who has access to the data, and how the data is used, by reading UD’s CrowdStrike Falcon Endpoint Protection service page. More information about the deployment of CrowdStrike will be forthcoming.

For further information about EDR, CrowdStrike and deployment plans please visit: https://services.udel.edu/TDClient/32/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=911

Final Beam Raised in Fintech Building

Final Beam Raised in Fintech Building

Financial innovation hub emerges on UD’s STAR Campus

Contractors raised a 30-foot stretch of carbon steel 92 feet into the air on the University of Delaware’s Science, Technology and Advanced Research (STAR) Campus on Wednesday, Feb. 10, putting the final beam in place and reaching the halfway point in construction of the six-story FinTech Innovation Hub.

Such milestones often are celebrated with ceremonies and speeches. Not this year, not with the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic still spreading around the globe.

But the 1,500-pound beam, bearing the signatures of many involved in the project, carries much hope for the future — for UD students, researchers, experts in business, finance, policy and just about anyone who uses money in everyday life.

The building is owned by Delaware Technology Park (DTP), not the University. But it has a central place on STAR Campus and a pivotal role to play in UD’s work.

“The placement of the final beam on the FinTech Innovation Hub represents a significant and exciting milestone in this project and in our ongoing mission to advance the economic development of our state,” said UD President Dennis Assanis. “As our economy recovers from the effects of the pandemic, our investments and partnerships in fintech, biopharmaceuticals and the entire University will play critical roles in creating opportunities for education, collaborative research, entrepreneurship, job growth and community engagement.”

University of Delaware President Dennis Assanis and his wife, Eleni, were among those who signed the final beam of the FinTech Innovation Hub.

The FinTech building — “fintech” is short for financial technology — represents a public-private partnership, a convergence of academic rigor, business savvy and technical expertise with the intention of pooling those resources to make financial systems work better, more securely and more equitably for all.

It will add important new elements of inquiry to the STAR Campus, which already is home to impact-driven research related to health sciences, biopharmaceuticals, entrepreneurship and innovative manufacturing.

“This project is further evidence of UD’s strong commitment to providing students and faculty with world-class resources and opportunities,” said Provost Robin Morgan. “We’re excited to see how they will make use of this new hub and how their skills and knowledge, in turn, will help to improve our financial systems and the effectiveness and security of our technology.”

Construction of the $38 million FinTech building is on schedule, said DTP President Mike Bowman, with completion expected in November.

Among its tenants will be financial institutions, academic centers, small businesses, nonprofits, data and technology experts and the Small Business Development Center. Nearby are buildings full of other expertise. UD’s Data Science Institute, for example, with many projects in data analytics, is housed in the STAR Tower, just across the green from the FinTech building.

“Aspirationally, we hope it’s going to be a center of excellence for the digital sciences, fintech and data management of many things, private and public,” Bowman said. “The University’s skill sets, students, professors and researchers are in great demand for the tools of fintech, big data and machine learning. There’s a definite need and purpose to this building. It’s about serving the community, at the individual and small-business level.”

Workers guide the final beam into place on Wednesday, Feb. 10, marking the halfway point of construction on the FinTech Innovation Hub on UD’s STAR Campus.

Consumers, too, will be in focus.

“Access to financial credit is a severe problem in this country and banks want that problem solved,” Bowman said. “They’re supportive of this. Equity of access to money is a big need.

“It’s a natural for Delaware because of its expertise in financial services and the Court of Chancery.”

Plans include a full-service restaurant on the first floor, which will bring long-awaited culinary relief to UD’s South Campus population, but move-in specifics are not yet finalized.

Two UD colleges will have dedicated space in the FinTech building, including the Lerner College of Business and Economics and the College of Engineering.

“The FinTech landscape is evolving rapidly with technologies like blockchain and artificial intelligence leading to reimagined financial services for households and firms,” said Bruce Weber, Lerner College dean. “At Lerner, we take pride in our faculty scholarship being able to inform practitioners about risks and management blind spots, but also pointing to innovation opportunities and new strategies to lift performance.

“The FinTech ecosystem is still developing, so there is enormous value in bringing finance specialists and technologists together in computer labs, demonstration and teaching rooms and executive conference space — exactly what the FinTech building will provide.”

Among those who signed the final beam were (from left): John Weber, a sophomore in the Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics; Bruce Weber, dean of the Lerner College; Eleni Assanis; Dennis Assanis, president of the University; Matt Parks, vice president of investments, community reinvestment and retail banking with Discover Financial Services and a 2002 UD MBA graduate; Mike Bowman, president of Delaware Technology Park and associate director of UD’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships; Beth Brand, vice president and University secretary; and Charles G. Riordan, vice president of research, scholarship and innovation, and professor of chemistry and biochemistry.

Levi Thompson, dean of the College of Engineering, agreed.

“We all benefit when great, creative minds work together,” he said “The FinTech building presents physical space as well as a tremendous opportunity for engineering and computer science students, faculty and staff to collaborate with the Lerner College of Business and Economics, Discover Bank and its affiliates in the ever-evolving and increasingly complex areas of finance, technology and entrepreneurship. These relationships will propel UD to the forefront in education, research and economic development in the fintech space.”

Discover Bank will be in the building, Bowman said, along with other financial institutions. A big part of Discover’s focus will be on improving consumers’ financial health, said Amy Walls, a principal in community investment.

“What we’re particularly interested in is how can we grow products, services, technologies and research to help people improve their savings, access their credit scores more easily, learn how to improve them if necessary, as well as tools that might be available to help them do all of that efficiently, easily and securely,” she said.

“Our overarching goal is financial health,” she said, “and we’re particularly interested in services that help low- and moderate-income people. We want to serve the everyday person, the people in our communities. Through this center, we’re hopeful we can incubate fintechs with similar missions.”

Walls said a partnership with a national nonprofit with similar goals is under development. Discover Bank is excited to see what will happen when all the pieces are in place, she said, from small businesses and nonprofits to UD’s Office of Economic Innovation and Partnerships.

“Having the University there with engineering and business brings lots of opportunity for cross-collaboration,” she said. “Being there with students and grad students brings a wealth of talent and ideas. We’re excited to fit into the STAR Campus the way it was designed — for innovation and collaboration.”

 | Photos by Evan Krape |