FAU Receives NIST Grant to Build Quantum Cybersecurity Workforce
The project will prepare students and professionals for emerging cybersecurity challenges through hands-on training and career pathways. (Photo by Alex Dolce)
Grant Snapshot: Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science has received a $200,000 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) through its Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development. The FAU program will build the quantum cybersecurity workforce across Palm Beach and Broward counties and the Treasure Coast counties of Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River. The project will prepare students and professionals for emerging cybersecurity challenges associated with quantum computing and power systems infrastructure through hands-on training, curriculum development and career pathways.
FAU is leading this project and brings together D-Wave Quantum Inc.; InfraGard South Florida Members Alliance; the School District of Palm Beach County; Broward County Public Schools; and FAU’s Alexander D. Henderson University School.
As quantum computing advances, it is creating new cybersecurity challenges that will require a workforce trained to protect critical systems and infrastructure. Yet few workforce development programs provide hands-on training that integrates quantum computing, cybersecurity and critical infrastructure.
Florida Atlantic University’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, in collaboration with D-Wave Quantum Inc. (NASDAQ: QBTS), is addressing this emerging workforce gap with a new $200,000 cooperative agreement from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to establish a regional quantum cybersecurity workforce ecosystem serving Palm Beach and Broward counties and the Treasure Coast counties of Martin, St. Lucie and Indian River.
FAU is one of nine organizations in eight states selected for NIST’s Regional Alliances and Multistakeholder Partnerships to Stimulate (RAMPS) Cybersecurity Education and Workforce Development program. The program builds on workforce partnerships to connect employers, educators and community organizations to strengthen local cybersecurity education and career pathways.
The project comes at a pivotal time for FAU and the state of Florida. FAU will be the first university in Florida to publicly host a dedicated 4,400+ annealing quantum computer through its partnership with D-Wave.
“This NIST award builds directly on Florida Atlantic’s investment in quantum computing and the College of Engineering and Computer Science’s strengths in cybersecurity, AI and advanced computing as well as power infrastructure systems,” said Stella Batalama, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science. “With a D-Wave Advantage2™ quantum computer coming to our Boca Raton campus, we are building the infrastructure, expertise and workforce needed for the next generation of computing. This initiative extends that investment into quantum cybersecurity by giving students and professionals hands-on experience with emerging technologies while preparing the talent needed to protect critical systems and infrastructure.”
The FAU project, “Building the Quantum Cybersecurity Workforce in the Palm Beach and Treasure Coast Region,” will be led by Yufei Tang, Ph.D., principal investigator and associate professor in FAU’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, director of the FPL Center for Intelligent Energy Technologies (InETech), and faculty fellow of FAU’s Institute for Smarter Cities, Spaces, and Health. Co-principal investigators are Hari Kalva, Ph.D., chair and professor, and Zebo Yang, Ph.D., assistant professor, both within FAU’s Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.
“D-Wave is proud to partner with Florida Atlantic University on this important project to prepare the next generation of quantum and cybersecurity professionals,” said Allison Schwartz, senior vice president of global government relations and public affairs at D-Wave. “As quantum computing moves from research laboratories into real-world applications, developing a workforce that understands both the opportunities and cybersecurity implications of these technologies is essential. By combining D-Wave’s powerful quantum technologies with FAU’s academic strengths and regional partnerships, this program will help create a pipeline of talent equipped to address the challenges and opportunities of the quantum era.”
The project will leverage FAU’s established cybersecurity workforce programs, including its NSF-supported CyberCorps SFS and CyberTraining initiatives, as well as the university’s growing quantum computing capabilities, quantum platforms and simulation resources.
“Quantum computing is changing not only what computers can do, but also what cybersecurity professionals need to know,” said Tang. “This project will bring together quantum computing, cybersecurity and critical-infrastructure expertise, to give participants practical experience with the technologies and security challenges that are emerging now. FAU’s FPL InETech Center will play an important role by providing a real-world research and training environment for power and energy systems, including advanced simulation and hardware-in-the-loop capabilities. By combining hands-on training, real-world case studies, access to quantum computing resources and direct engagement with industry and government partners, we want to create a workforce that is prepared to secure systems in a quantum-enabled future.”
The initiative brings together a broad group of academic, industry, government and K-12 partners. Key partners include D-Wave, a leading quantum computing company; InfraGard South Florida Members Alliance, which connects the FBI with private-sector critical infrastructure stakeholders; the School District of Palm Beach County; Broward County Public Schools; and Alexander D. Henderson University School, FAU’s public laboratory school serving elementary and middle school students.
The project will provide hands-on Quantum Cybersecurity Workshop Series, along with reusable curriculum, case studies and online training materials aligned with the NICE Workforce Framework for Cybersecurity and CyberSeek. Participants will also have access to mentoring, internships and employer engagement, while a regional consortium will connect universities, K-12 schools, industry, government, utilities and community organizations across Palm Beach and Broward counties and the Treasure Coast.
The NIST-funded project will establish a lasting regional framework for quantum cybersecurity workforce development, with shared curriculum, online training, employer engagement and a regional consortium extending the work beyond the initial grant period.
FAU continues to advance its position as Florida’s first quantum university, making strategic investments in research, education and infrastructure to drive innovation in next-generation computing. Through the FAU Center for Quantum Technologies, the university brings together faculty, students and industry partners to advance quantum research and prepare the workforce for the emerging quantum economy. FAU’s investment includes the installation of a D-Wave Advantage2 annealing quantum computer on its Boca Raton campus, giving researchers and students access to leading-edge quantum technology and helping position Florida at the forefront of this rapidly evolving field.
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