Duties
This vacancy announcement will be open from 07/30/2026 to 08/05/2026 or when 25 applications have been received. The vacancy will close on whichever day the first of these conditions are met. If the application limit is reached on the same day the announcement opened, the open and close date will be the same. Candidates are encouraged to read the entire announcement before submitting their application packages.
This project supports the Office of Technology Innovation and Engineering by assisting with the development of a structured, repeatable threat modeling and threat indexing capability for integration into cybersecurity assessments. The student volunteer will help refine the Threat Disruption Index (TDI), map threats to safeguards, and support the modernization of the current Cybersecurity Assessment framework through structured data analysis, research, and the application of cybersecurity concepts.
• Assist in developing, validating, and refining the Threat Disruption Index (TDI) model, including likelihood, exposure, exploit pressure, and impact scoring into the Cybersecurity Assessment application.
• Conduct research on MITRE ATT&CK techniques, known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs), and cyber threat actors to support threat categorization.
• Support mapping of threats to safeguards using structured taxonomies (e.g., Cybersecurity Risk Foundation (CRF) Threat Taxonomy and CRF Safeguards).
• Analyze cybersecurity assessment data to identify gaps, trends, and prioritize findings for remediation.
• Assist in building documentation, job aids, or visualizations that integrate the threat index into assessment workflows.
• Support the building of a scalable network asset inventory project in Databricks by ingesting, reconciling, and analyzing data against a Configuration Management Database (CMDB) like ServiceNow, automate asset discovery, identify "shadow IT," and resolve discrepancies between actual enterprise network usage and the CMDB.
• Assist in OT Asset Discovery and Inventory, customize searches or scripts for the OT environment, and build or update an accurate asset map of all OT devices (PLCs, RTUs, and HMIs), crucial for managing network visibility and detecting blind spots.
• OT Cybersecurity Auditing: Assisting senior engineers with vulnerability scanning, evaluating system configurations, and participating in IT-OT network segmentation assessments to protect critical infrastructure.
Requirements
Conditions of employment
Conditions of employment
To participate in this Program, you must:
Must be a U.S. Citizen or U.S National studying in the U.S. or abroad. International students on valid visas may participate if they meet applicable immigration, visa, and agency authorities.
Be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution for the Spring 2027 semester.
Be in good academic standing as defined by your institution.
Commit to volunteering 8 – 20 hours per week for a minimum of 90 days.
Complete all required onboarding documentation assigned by the Federal agency and your academic institution.
Agree to volunteer. This position is unpaid. No compensation, stipends, or hiring preference will be granted from this work. You may use this volunteer experience to qualify for future jobs you choose to apply for.
Agree to understanding volunteers are not Federal employees.
Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 scale.
Qualifications
Applicants will be considered based on their knowledge, skills or abilities related to project needs.
Specifically, applicants should:
• Pursuing or completed degree in Computer Science, Data Science, or related field
• Understanding of AI/machine learning concepts
• Ability to design experiments and analyze results
• Programming language like Python preferred.
Education
To qualify, you must be enrolled not less than half-time in an accredited trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution for the Spring 2027 semester. You also must be in good academic standing as defined by your institution. Attach a copy of your transcripts to your application package for verification.
Students must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 out of 4.0 scale.
Additional information
Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.
This is an unpaid volunteer experience. Student volunteers are not considered Federal employees for any purpose other than injury compensation and laws related to the Federal Tort Claims Act, and service is not creditable for leave accrual or other employee benefits.
Professional experience: Meaningful project work with clear deliverables, regular supervision and federal mentorship.
Skill Development: Hands-on application of academic knowledge in real-world Federal operations.
Career Exploration: Exposure to Federal missions, workplace culture, and potential career pathways.
Required Documents
- Include any supporting documents that don't fit within another category or are listed in the job announcement.
- Proof of enrollment shows that you are enrolled in a school or training.
- Your resume should include relevant work experience, applicable education and your contact information. For current or previous federal employees, include the pay plan, series and grade.
- See the job announcement for what you should include in the supplemental application.
- Transcripts may support your qualifications for a federal job and can include high school, college or other schools.
To apply for this position, you must submit a complete Application Package which includes:
1. Your resume (two or fewer pages) showing:
• Your work experience to include start and end dates.
• Education information, such as the name of your school and dates of attendance.
• Any knowledge, skills or abilities you’ve gained through education that relate to the project.
2. Proof of current enrollment not less than half-time in a trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or other accredited educational institution.
If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from
schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.