According to DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response (CESER) website, each university selected by CESER will collaborate with energy sector stakeholders, vendors, and DOE national laboratories to conduct cybersecurity research and develop tailored training programs for the regional energy workforce.
"This investment in university-based cybersecurity centers will enable us to simultaneously grow the U.S. cyber workforce and build the expertise we need to take on the evolving cyber threats to our nation's energy systems," said CESER Director Puesh M. Kumar in a statement. "The U.S. competitive advantage has always depended on cutting-edge research and a high-skilled workforce. Through these projects, we are advancing our economic and national security."
Aside from FIU, the following universities will conduct research projects at their new cybersecurity centers:
- The University of Connecticut
- The Iowa State University
- The University of Pittsburgh
- The Illinois Institute of Technology
- The Texas Tech University
In addition to research, the center will offer cybersecurity education programs aimed at providing energy professionals with the knowledge needed to protect critical infrastructure in the energy sector from cybersecurity risks.
