Fellowship Program Overview

What is #ShareTheMicInCyber?

#ShareTheMicInCyber is a movement that seeks to enhance diversity and address the challenges raised by systemic racism in the field of cybersecurity. The campaign highlights the experiences of Black practitioners in this field, catalyzes a critical conversation on race in the industry, and shines a light on Black practitioners’ accomplishments to showcase them as experts in their fields, all while creating professional opportunities and bringing the cyber community together.

You can learn more about #ShareTheMicInCyber at https://www.sharethemicincyber.com/.

What is the #STMIC Fellowship?

The #ShareTheMicInCyber Fellowship (#STMIC Fellowship), hosted in partnership between #ShareTheMicInCyber and New America, provides a platform to raise up under-represented mid-career cybersecurity professionals or those transitioning into cybersecurity. It aims to support new independent research and enhancing projects while also providing opportunities for professional development to further Fellows’ careers in cybersecurity. Within the Fellowship are two tracks, Research and Impact:

• Cyber Research Fellows will focus on conducting original research on a cybersecurity topic of their choice. At the conclusion of their Fellowship, Research Fellows will be expected to deliver a publishable quality paper on their findings, which the program will then aid in dissemination and marketing to ensure impact.
• Cyber Impact Fellows will conduct a substantive cybersecurity project designed to aid and enhance the field. This new project might range from a new policy initiative or organization to an assessment tool or technical solution, anything that aligns with their interests and expands cybersecurity for all. Over the course of the year, they will work to turn that concept into reality, with the support of the #STMIC Fellowship program.

Fellows will begin, conduct, and conclude their projects or research in a nine-month period with the remaining three months of their fellowship reserved for promotion and outreach.

What’s in it for you:

• A honorarium of $20,000
• Regular professional development opportunities, including training and webinars with cybersecurity experts, skill-building workshops, facilitated discussions, and opportunities for mentorship.
• Opportunity to leverage New America’s resources, including access to wider Fellows networks and gatherings, panel discussions, and media training.
• Support towards publication, communication and marketing of projects with the support of the #STMIC network and New America’s communications team
• Elevated visibility across the #STMIC network, including being highlighted during the annual Twitter campaign.

Who can be a #STMIC Fellow?

We are looking for individuals who work within cybersecurity or are looking to transition into cybersecurity. Anyone who faces under-representation, systemic bias or discrimination in the cybersecurity profession is encouraged to apply. This includes, but not limited to, professionals who identify as Black and/or of color, LGBTQIA+, on the gender spectrum, and neurodiverse. You do not need to be a U.S. citizen to apply.

In particular, we are looking for applicants who have demonstrated experience and are looking to strengthen the following skills:

• Communicating to an audience: being able to communicate ideas and connect to an audience through writing and public speaking are critical to highlighting your work and core to continual career advancement.
• Designing and executing on projects: whether it be a consulting project, internal software update, or a policy research project, we’re looking for candidates who can plan and execute a project independently, and are looking to refine that skill over the course of the Fellowship.
• Managing time and resources: Fellows will be working on their projects over a long period of time, and will need to balance fellowship commitments with their other professional and personal priorities.

Although Fellows will be expected to conduct their own projects, the #STMIC Fellowship Program will provide opportunities for Fellows to interact with each other and receive guidance and feedback from the Fellowship staff and advisors. Openness to connecting with cohort members is strongly encouraged.

What is expected of a #STMIC Fellow?

• Produce a work product representative of their project during the course of their fellowship (“deliverable’’). This can be in the form of a white paper which can be published through New America, an academic paper publishable by a journal, a guidebook, or some other product that can be shared and distributed. In addition to the deliverable, Fellows are expected to present their project and findings at the final cohort meeting, which could be done as an individual presentation or as a panelist.
• Attend the Fellowship Launch and Closing Ceremony (in-person or virtual). Skill building workshops and networking opportunities, a few which may be required, will also be offered regularly as part of this fellowship, and Fellows are strongly encouraged to attend based on their professional goals and topical interests
• Act as representatives of both New America and #STMIC, which can include serving as an Ambassador and participant in the annual #STMIC Twitter campaign, being available for media calls, and professionalism on Fellow’s non-personal social media accounts.
• Willingness to publicly promote their work, which may include media appearances, participating in a public panel, participating in congressional testimony, or writing for New America’s blog The Thread.

To keep up with the latest news, please follow @ShareInCyber on Twitter. If you have any questions or would be interested in supporting the program, please email sharethemic@newamerica.org.