FUTURES: Federal and University Training Union for Research and Education on Security

The FUTURES CyberCorps®: Scholarship for Service (SFS) project strengthens the national cybersecurity workforce by providing advanced education, research, and experiential learning opportunities for master’s and doctoral students. Supported by the National Science Foundation through the CyberCorps Scholarship for Service program, the project addresses critical cybersecurity workforce needs across federal, state, local, and tribal government organizations.

FUTURES offers a comprehensive cybersecurity curriculum aligned with the NICE Cybersecurity Workforce Framework, complemented by hands-on research, service-learning, internships, and strong partnerships with federal agencies. The project is led by the University of Missouri–Columbia, with Vanderbilt University participating as a collaborating institution; Dan Li serves as a Co-PI. In addition to workforce training, the project emphasizes outreach and knowledge dissemination through workshops, seminars, and camps for K–12 educators and students, neighboring colleges, and the broader cybersecurity community. Following graduation, SFS scholars commit to public-sector cybersecurity service, directly contributing to the nation’s cyber defense capabilities. The job placement rate of SFS graduates are nearly 100%.