US Cybersecurity Intern
The U.S. Government’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has an incredible PAID internship program for High School students who are curious about learning how America protects against cybersecurity threats.
CISA works with industry and government partners to defend against today’s threats and collaborating to build a more secure and resilient infrastructure for the future. This internship does not involve just sitting behind a desk. As a CISA cyber intern you will work closely with cyber professionals on mission-focused projects, while learning in a fast-paced, technology-evolving environment. You will have a variety of robust and rich experiences, such as exposure to cybersecurity activities outside your immediate assignments, hearing program officials discuss major CISA and DHS initiatives to keep our Nation’s systems secure, and meeting intern alumni who are now employees. You also can tour our labs, participate in informal brown bags with senior management, and attend exciting local conferences and forums to hear from experts and newsmakers in other executive agencies, Congress, industry, academia, and think tanks about the importance of cybersecurity in safeguarding us against threats to our nation.
Download their cyber intern brochure to see more about the CISA cyber intern experience!
Click on the website to get started with your application.
How do I expand this narrative arc? There are some really interesting opportunities in CS and CS-adjacent areas:
Join other high school students in an effort to identify software vulnerabilities in the Cyber Defense Competition.
Spend a summer in the rigorous Wharton Data Science Academy.
Get involved with Gamers Gift, a non-profit organization created by high school students that aims to use video games and other electronic media to alleviate some of the psychological stress caused by prolonged hospital stays, loneliness, or poverty.
Think about some of the practical elements of data science and then craft solutions at your school. Better yet, organize a hackathon where other teens with coding skills come together to hack solutions to common challenges.
HOT TIP: Cybersecurity is niche and interesting focus for computer scientists that is having its day in the sun. Competitive colleges are adding cybersecurity minors and classes to their computer science curriculum and who better to admit than students who have already expressed an interest in this area?!