UPDATE - After the application for the Secretary's Honors Program Cyber Student Volunteer Initiative had been posted, the following 5 locations were added:

• CA-San Diego, CA (ICE)
• CO-Denver, CO (ICE)
• IL-Chicago, IL (ICE)
• NV-Las Vegas, NV (ICE)
• NY-New York, NY (ICE)

If you are interested in applying for any of these locations, please complete the application found here: https://www.zintellect.com/Posting/details/4136. 

A complete application package consists of:

• An application completed in Zintellect
• Academic Transcripts: Transcripts must include Fall 2017 grades. If summer courses were taken, transcripts must include these grades. An unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted.  Selected students must provide proof of enrollment before the appointment can start. 
• A current résumé/CV

If you have questions, send an email to SciEdPrograms@orau.org. Please include the reference code for this opportunity in your email.

Detailed information about the program can be found at:

https://www.dhs.gov/homeland-security-careers/cyber-student-volunteer-initiative

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is pleased to announce the launch of the sixth cohort of the Secretary’s Honors Program (SHP) Cyber Student Volunteer Initiative (CSVI) program. SHP CSVI is a nationwide program offering volunteer opportunities to current undergraduate and graduate students from 2 and 4 year academic institutions, the opportunity to gain invaluable hands-on cyber experience through participation in challenging projects, real-life scenarios, while receiving mentoring from DHS cybersecurity professionals. This initiative provides a way for the Department to expand the pipeline of future cyber talent needed to execute the unique cybersecurity mission at DHS Components.

In 2017, 64 student volunteers were placed in 23 states. Since 2013, the SHP CSVI program has placed 258 students in 40 states. In each instance, students supported and positively impacted DHS’s ability to meet the Department’s current cyber mission, while personally gaining valuable skills needed to fulfill educational goals, ultimately, filling the pipeline of cybersecurity professionals available to fulfill future DHS requirements.

Students selected for the Secretary’s Honor Program (SHP) Cyber Student Volunteer Initiative (CSVI) program will have a unique opportunity to learn about the cybersecurity work performed by DHS. Each assignment will be unique; possible opportunities include:

• Assist personnel while learning about cybersecurity activities such as: hardware and software updates to forensic systems; network monitoring and incident response; researching new solutions for emerging cyber security threats; the development of cyber policy; cyber case management, IT purchasing, IT inventory, and computer hardware/software maintenance; security operations, security technology and policy, and security tools sustainment. 
• Gain hands on experience analyzing and evaluating security log data under the direction of mentoring staff.
• Gain experience analyzing cybersecurity programs under the direction of mentoring staff.
• Assist personnel while learning to conduct vulnerability scans.
• Observe computer forensics analyses and their use in investigations.
• Assist personnel to learn about evidence intake, processing and analysis.
• Under the direction of mentoring staff, practice producing unclassified documents describing and analyzing cyber threats
• Assist in the production of cyber-specific intelligence products with staff in order to learn these skills.
• Research cybersecurity tools and techniques under staff direction.
• Learn techniques for investigations into personal use violations.
• Research the impacts of cyber incidents on critical infrastructure to learn about the threats present.

The links below will lead you to information specific to each identified DHS Component’s cyber mission and the skills and/or coursework needed to be considered for placement with each DHS component this year. 

Select the link for each component to read detailed information for each one.

• Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
• Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
• Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A)
• Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD)
• DHS Headquarters - Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
• DHS Headquarters - Office of the Chief Security Officer (OCSO)
• DHS Headquarters - Office of Policy/Cyber (OPC)
• Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
• United States Coast Guard (USCG)
• United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
• United States Secret Service (USSS)

The application cycle for 2018 will open February 15, 2018, and close March 15, 2018, at 3:00P.M., EST.

Please note this application observes a rolling deadline. The review and selection process will start on March 1, 2018.  Applications will be considered in the order in which they are received and continue until all selections are made or until the official deadline, March 15, 2018.  We encourage you to submit your application early to increase your chances of being selected.

Applicant must: 

• Be a United States citizen by the application deadline. Evidence of U.S. citizenship (such as a photocopy of a U.S. passport, birth certificate, Certificate of U.S. Naturalization, or Certificate of U.S. Citizenship) must be submitted to ORISE at the time appointment is accepted.
• Have coverage under a health insurance plan before arriving at the appointment site and maintain coverage during the appointment.
• Have a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• Be able to meet security requirements specified by each component.
• Be enrolled in an associates, bachelor's or master's degree program in an accredited university with a major and/or coursework in cybersecurity related studies or STEM in Computer Science such as: Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Computer Engineering, Network Engineering, Software Engineering, Supply Chain, Information Assurance, Information Technology, Systems Research, Systems Applications, Information Systems, Information Security, Software Assurance, or Business with a specific concentration in one of the above

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Currently pursuing an Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, or Master's Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (16 )
  • Engineering (27 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (10 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (10 )
  • Science & Engineering-related (1 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (9 )

I certify that I am a U.S. citizen who is at least 16 years of age at the date of this application, and am enrolled at least part-time in a degree seeking program in pursuit of an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree at an accredited college or university with:

1. A major in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM); or
2. A major in cybersecurity-related studies; and/or
3. An interest in working in the field cybersecurity upon graduation;
4. A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale;
5. A projected graduation date of September 2018, or later.