Get Involved!

Apply to be a Cybersecurity Research Fellow

Cybersecurity Research Fellows register for JSIS B 454: Advanced Cybersecurity Research and work on independent research projects under the guidance of Dr. Jessica Beyer. JSIS B 454 is offered one or two times a year.

JSIS B 454 usually meets twice a week. The class is structured like a seminar or workshop. The students discuss major cybersecurity news/events, present their research to each other, and occasionally engage with guest speakers.

Students of any level – undergraduate to graduate – may be a research fellow. Students must be willing to collaborate with their colleagues and work toward creating an inclusive and productive research environment. Students must be willing to revise their research reports repeatedly under the guidance of Dr. Beyer. If students are willing to do additional work above that required for the class, researchers have the opportunity to publish their work on the Cybersecurity Initiative website.

Research fellows receive the title “Cybersecurity Research Fellow.”

To enroll in JSIS B 454, students must receive an add code from Dr. Beyer. To receive an add code, students should email Dr. Beyer with the following:

1. A statement articulating why they are interested in joining the group.
2. A clearly articulated research topic they would like to investigate during JSIS B 454. Cybersecurity research topics should make a political/policy, social, or economic question related to technology central to the project rather than solely a technical exploration. The Cybersecurity Initiative defines cybersecurity in its broadest (and most international) sense—so research topics can include issues such as surveillance, censorship, human rights, and freedom of expression. Topics should be more specific than large categories such as “cyberwar.” Looking at the research on this website should assist in thinking about more specific topics.
3. A list of technology related courses they have taken. In most cases, JSIS B 454 is meant for students to deepen their specialization in cybersecurity and technology related topics after having gained expertise through other courses. Students should have taken at least one of the Jackson School’s technology related classes in order to apply to become a fellow. Equivalent classes in other departments can work, depending on the focus. Having taken a class or classes in the topic area will allow you to identify and articulate an area you would like to spend a quarter specializing in.

During 2024-25, JSIS B 454 will be offered during spring quarter. Students should email applications to Dr. Beyer by Week 4 of winter quarter.

Please email Dr. Jessica Beyer (jlbeyer@uw.edu) if you’d like to learn more.

Volunteer Time & Expertise

The Cybersecurity Initiative has benefited from the time and expertise of professionals in our network. These friends of the Initiative have given public lectures, spoken in our classes, run workshops, and have offered career advice to our students. If you are a professional who would like to become involved in the initiative, we would love to speak with you. We are particularly interested in people who have worked in government, in technology policy broadly defined, or who have a social science background but have made the move into the tech industry. Please email Jessica Beyer (jlbeyer@uw.edu) to get in contact.

Give Resources

The Cybersecurity Initiative has been made possible with generous funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York. However, the Initiative is always looking for substantive support to expand our programmatic capacity. Make a gift to the Jackson School here.