Bipartisan Legislation Introduced to Support Graduate Students in Cybersecurity and Energy

On April 26, Representatives Deborah Ross (D-NC) and Mike Carey (R-OH) introduced legislation to protect energy infrastructure amid growing cybersecurity threats. If passed, the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Program Act (H.R. 7569) would create the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Program at the Department of Energy. If created, the program would:

• Provide financial assistance to support graduate students studying the convergence of cybersecurity and energy infrastructure;
• Provide students and postdoctoral researchers with traineeship research experiences at the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories and utilities; and
• expand outreach to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority Serving Institutions, and Tribal Colleges and Universities.

Representative Ross mentioned in a press release, “I’m proud to represent much of the Research Triangle, home to institutions and universities that are propelling our nation’s innovation in cybersecurity and clean energy. From NC State to Shaw, Saint Augustine’s and Wake Tech, this legislation will better equip our brilliant students and researchers in North Carolina and beyond to tackle this changing cybersecurity landscape. It is imperative that we work together to address threats against the United States’ security across sectors, and I’m pleased to introduce this bipartisan legislation with Congressman Carey.”

Representative Carey also stated “Establishing the Energy Cybersecurity University Leadership Program will strengthen our resilience by further developing a high-skilled workforce with energy-specific cybersecurity expertise. America must be unified in our response to foreign adversaries seeking to attack our energy networks, which is why I am proud to introduce this bi-partisan legislation with Representative Deborah Ross and look forward working together toward its passage.”

The legislation was referred to the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee where it awaits further congressional action.

FY2023 Appropriations: Title VI-Fulbright Hays Dear Colleague Letter

Representatives David Price (D-NC) and Young Kim (R-CA) cosponsored a dear colleague letter in support of Fiscal Year 2023 funding for International Education and Foreign Language Studies programs at the Department of Education. The dear colleague letter received 100 bipartisan signatures. The letter requests $161.1 million in funding for these programs, including $141.1 million for Title VI and $20 million for Fulbright-Hays. Many of these domestic and overseas programs positively impact graduate students, including the Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowships Program, National Resource Centers, and Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad Fellowships.

New Award Applications on Training Program for Federal TRIO

The Department of Education issued a notice inviting applications for new awards for fiscal year (FY) 2022 for the Training Program for Federal TRIO Programs. The Training Program provides grants to train the staff and leadership personnel employed in, participating in, or preparing for employment in, projects funded under the Federal TRIO Programs, to improve project operation. The Administration received $1.13 billion for new awards for the Federal TRIO Programs for FY 2022, of which the Department of Education intends to use an estimated $3.2 million for the TRIO Training Program.

The Ronald E. McNair Postbaccalaureate Achievement Program is one of eight TRIO programs at the Department of Education. Through a grant competition, funds are awarded to institutions of higher education to prepare eligible participants for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities. The goal is to increase the attainment of Ph.D. degrees by students from underrepresented segments of society.

Department of Energy Announces Graduate Funding for High Energy Physics

On April 28, the U.S. Department of Energy announced $10 million in funding for traineeships in computational high energy physics. This funding will support graduate student research that trains the next generation of computational scientists and engineers needed to deliver scientific discoveries. “Scientific collaborations increasingly rely on complex software and computing infrastructure to achieve their goals and advance discovery science,” said Harriet Kung, DOE Deputy Director for Science Programs for the Office of Science and Acting Associate Director of Science for High Energy Physics (HEP). “These DOE Traineeships in Computational HEP will ensure the next generation of scientists and engineers develop the computing expertise they need.”

National Science Foundation Requests Recommendations for Membership on Advisory Committees

The National Science Foundation (NSF) issued a federal register notice this week requesting recommendations for membership on its scientific and technical federal advisory committees that typically meets twice a year to review and provide advice on program management; discuss current issues; and review and provide advice on the impact of policies, programs, and activities in the disciplines and fields encompassed by the Directorate or Office. In addition to Directorate and Office advisory committees, NSF has several committees that provide advice and recommendations on specific topics including astronomy and astrophysics; environmental research and education; equal opportunities in science and engineering; cyberinfrastructure; international science and engineering; and business and operations.

CGS encourages the membership to consider serving on federal advisory committees. If you are interested in serving on NSF advisory committees, please read the notice and submit your request for self-recommendation.