Scholarship programme to support young talent in the fields of AI and cybersecurity

January 16, 2025

The Vectra AI Scholars Program will support scholars in developing solutions that harness the power of AI to identify attacker behaviour patterns in the growing hybrid attack landscape

Vectra AI, Inc., the leader in AI-powered advanced detection and response (XDR), is launching the Vectra AI Scholars Program, an international scholarship programme for secondary school students, college students and graduates who can present innovative ideas for using AI in cybersecurity. The programme aims to inspire the next generation of AI and cybersecurity professionals to explore innovative approaches to detecting and neutralising cyber threats. The recipients of the scholarship will receive funding and mentoring from Vectra’s AI experts.

In the face of an increase in sophisticated threats and the continued expansion of the hybrid attack surface, cybersecurity experts are urgently needed. However, demand is growing far faster than the number of available qualified professionals. This skills gap not only makes it difficult for companies to secure their systems, but also leaves critical systems and data vulnerable to attack. Cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning have become indispensable tools in the fight for security. However, expertise in the development and management of these technologies remains inadequate.

Scholarship programmes such as the Vectra AI Scholars Program aim to develop young talent and help close the skills gap by encouraging students to pursue a career in cybersecurity and equipping them with the necessary skills. In addition, such programmes help to create a more viable and diverse talent pool and to bridge the gap between academic training and the real-world demands of protecting an increasingly digitalised world.

‘We believe that the next generation of innovators will play a critical role in shaping the future of cybersecurity,’ said Hitesh Sheth, CEO and founder of Vectra AI. ‘Our scholarship programme is designed to inspire students worldwide to explore how artificial intelligence can uncover patterns in attacker behaviour and solve a range of the most complex challenges in digital security. By investing in the creativity and ingenuity of young people, we hope to empower them to push the boundaries of what is possible in the fight against threats.’

The Vectra AI Scholars Program invites secondary school, college and university students and recent graduates to develop creative solutions for using AI to detect attacker behaviour in complex digital environments. As part of the application process, candidates must submit an essay or research proposal that focuses on the intersection of AI/machine learning and cybersecurity.

Submissions will be evaluated based on a number of criteria, including the potential benefits of the idea to the cybersecurity industry, the uniqueness of the idea/concept, and practicality. The winning applicant will receive a $10,000 scholarship to further their education or research in the areas of AI and cybersecurity. Two additional applicants will receive $5,000 scholarships. In addition, each of the three scholarship recipients will be paired with Vectra AI experts whose areas of expertise align with the scholarship recipient’s area of interest. These mentors will advise the scholarship recipients on future internships, networking and career planning. They will also provide the scholars with research and insights into how their ideas might be implemented in real-world scenarios.

Eligibility

Scholarships will be awarded to applicants currently attending a secondary school or enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate degree programme at an institution of higher education and residing in one of the following countries: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States. Applicants should have a keen interest in AI and cybersecurity and demonstrate a strong commitment to these areas in their project submissions.

The application form and further information on the application conditions and evaluation criteria can be found at Vectra.ai/ai-scholars. The deadline for submissions is 31 March 2025.

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