Gilliom Fellowship

Center for Cyber Security Research

Computer Science Department, Univ. of Missouri-Columbia

 

 

General Information:

The Gilliom Cyber Security Gift Fund was established in 2006 with $300K donation from Mr. Greg L. Gilliom to enhance cyber security research and education in the Computer Science (CS) Department at the University of Missouri-Columbia (UMC).  This gift fund supports the operation of a Cyber Security Research Center, a seminar series, up to three full (or six half) merit-based graduate fellowships, and up to four undergraduate scholarships.  

Selection Committee:

A fellowship selection committee consists of CS faculty who actively conduct research in the area of cyber security. The committee meets once a year (in March) to process the applications.  The number of awarded fellowships each year will depend on fund availability and the number of qualified applicants as judged by the selection committee. Fellowship awards will be in an annual stipend of $15,000, $7,500, or $3,000. A balance between different levels of awards will be made to reflect the merits of the applicants and to encourage competition. Past performance of awardees/advisors, provided by the center director, will be considered in evaluating the recurrent applicants or new applicants of the advisors.

Qualifications: 

The Gilliom graduate fellowship and undergraduate scholarship are open to all MU CS students. Broad participation is encouraged. The requirements are:

1. Graduate Fellowship:

(12-month term with an annual stipend of $15,000 or $7,500, and a tuition waiver, or $3,000 annual stipend without a tuition waiver. Each student is limited to a maximum of accumulated two-year fellowship.)

Requirements:

��        Pursuing a Ph.D. degree

��        GPA 3.5 and higher

    Application Package:

��        Curriculum Vitae

��        Representative publications in cyber security related areas (Please refer to the center��s homepage for a list of the areas)

��        Research statement that discusses the background of the applicant and the proposed research areas in cyber security. (4-page with 1�� margins and 12 point fonts with 1.5 spacing)

��        At least two letters of recommendation, one from the student��s major advisor/sponsor and another from cyber security researchers who can evaluate the applicant��s credentials and potential to become successful in the area of cyber security.

   Assessment (prioritized in the order of the list):

��            Quality of research statement and research goals

��            Publications (thesis, reputable conferences and major journals in the field)

��            Awards (best project award, thesis award, graduate student award, etc.)

��            Poster presentations to CSGSA contest

��            Software developed for the research community.

   Other Priority (in the order of the list):   

��        Students who will also be supported by a ¼ GRA.

��        Students who are jointly supervised by two faculty (to encourage faculty collaboration).

 

2. Undergraduate Scholarship:

   (12-month term with $1000 support from the College and $1000 support by the gift fund)

Requirements:

��        Enrollment in the College of Engineering Undergraduate Research Honors Program

��        GPA 3.3 and higher

    Application Package:

��        Curriculum Vitae

��        Research statement that discusses the background of the applicant and the proposed research areas in cyber security. (2-4 pages with 1�� margins and 12 point fonts with 1.5 spacing)

��        At least one letter of recommendation from the student��s major advisor/sponsor and preferably another one from a cyber security faculty.

   Assessment (prioritized in the order of the list):

��            Quality of research statement and research goals

��            Publications (reputable conferences and major journals in cyber security)

��            Poster/Oral presentations in MU Undergraduate Research Forum.

��            Software developed for the research community

   Other Priority (in the order of the list):

��        Students who will be also supported by external grant in addition to the scholarship

��        Students who have the intention to pursue graduate study in cyber security at MU.

��        Students who are in the BSIT program

 

Submission Dates: 

Application due date: March 15

Award notification:    April 1

 

Application package should be sent to Dr. Wenjun Zeng, 201 Engineering Building West, Computer Science Department, University of Missouri-Columbia, Columbia, MO 65211

Acknowledgment statement:

All publications or public presentations from the fellowship/scholarship awardees should include the following statement ��This research is (was) supported in part by the Gilliom Cyber Security Gift Fund.��

 

Annual Report Submission:

Fellowship awardees are expected to participate in the center��s seminar series and exchange their research findings through the seminars. The advisor of each awardee should send an annual performance report to Dr. Wenjun Zeng no later than two weeks after the fellowship/scholarship ends. Failure to do so and unsatisfactory performance may jeopardize future support for both the student and the faculty. The center plans to conduct post graduate studies to keep track of fellowship/scholarship awardees�� career development.