Join Us
Students work directly with faculty from the start. Here is how to get involved at each stage.
Prospective MS students
UVM's M.S. in Computer Science lets you build a security and privacy focus from the courses on our Courses page: data privacy, secure distributed computation, usable privacy and security, cryptography, and network security, plus research seminars. The MS is the most direct route into the field for students who want hands-on depth in privacy-preserving computation and secure systems.
- Apply through the UVM Graduate College to the M.S. in Computer Science. In your statement, say that you are interested in security and privacy and name the faculty whose work interests you.
- Choose a thesis. A thesis with a Center faculty member is the best path to research assistantships, to publishing, and to a PhD later. Coursework-focused options also exist; see the graduate catalogue.
- UVM juniors: the Accelerated Master's Program lets you begin MS coursework as a senior and finish the M.S. in one additional year. See the graduate catalogue for eligibility.
Prospective PhD students
PhD students in the Center publish at venues such as USENIX Security, PoPETs, SOUPS, and PLDI, are funded through NSF and DARPA projects, and work closely with their advisors. The best application is one that shows you already know what we do.
- Read first. Pick a research theme and read two or three of the selected papers listed there.
- Email the faculty member you want to work with before applying. Say which papers you read, what you would want to work on, and attach a CV. Generic emails that could have gone to anyone rarely get a reply; specific ones do.
- Apply to the Ph.D. in Computer Science through the Graduate College and name the faculty you contacted in your statement.
UVM undergraduates
- Take the courses. Start with CS 2660 Cybersecurity Principles, then choose from CS 3110 Data Privacy, CS 3120 Secure Distributed Computation, CS 3559 Cryptography, and CS 3660 Network Security and Cryptography. See Courses.
- Do research. Undergraduates have coauthored many Center papers. Take a course with a Center faculty member, do well, and ask about the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program.
- Stay for the MS. The Accelerated Master's Program lets strong juniors finish an M.S. in one extra year.