IT Lab: Summer Cybersecurity Fellowship
If you're interested in IT, data analytics, or cybersecurity, our IT Lab cybersecurity program delivers an excellent summer experience. Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy is home to the best master’s programs in IT Management and Information Security in the world. Our cybersecurity curriculum is relevant not only for technologists, but also for students from all backgrounds with a sincere interest in IT security and policy.
The IT Lab is a program for rising college seniors. This program is designed for U.S. citizens and permanent residents interested in pursuing graduate degrees and careers in the information security sector.
Students who complete IT Lab and are later admitted to a master’s program at Heinz College will be eligible to receive a scholarship of at least 50% of tuition.
what is the it lab cybersecurity program?
The IT Lab: Summer Security Intensive is an all-expenses-paid, seven-week cybersecurity fellowship, offering all the experience of a cybersecurity internship, plus a $2,000 stipend and transferrable course credits. During the program, students will:
- Study with the world’s best security, analytics, and policy researchers, including the CERT division of the Software Engineering Institute
- Take three specialized courses in security analytics and policy, with the ability to transfer those credits to your undergraduate institution
- Apply knowledge, skills, and abilities gained via experiential learning to improve the cybersecurity posture of local organizations
- Visits from leading security and analytics practitioners
IT Lab Projects
During the seven-week summer cybersecurity program, students will participate in a group project, fulfilling an actual business or operational need for our partners.
IT lab alumni spotlight: Rachel Kang
Approaching her senior year of college, Rachel Kang took a chance.
"I loved computer science, I loved coding, but I still loved politics," Kang said. "What is a good blend between those two?"
One of her classmates at Middlebury College recommended the IT Lab program to her, and off she went to Pittsburgh for the summer cybersecurity fellowship. That experience launched her cybersecurity career; she now works for OpenAI on their Intelligence and Investigations team.
Kang spent her summer in the IT Lab working on intrusion protection and detection systems and hearing experiences from a variety of information security professionals who visited students during IT Lab’s Lunch-and-Learn sessions.
"There was one particular individual, they were the CISO at Yahoo, who came and told us a riveting story about when Yahoo got breached," Kang said. "And I just thought, 'I couldn’t believe that she got paid to do that.'"
Kang went into cybersecurity consulting after college and found the insider threat projects the most fun. “And so when this offer came in with OpenAI, I knew that I had to join,” she said. “AI was a big buzzword and there’s been a lot of push to get more security around AI, so I couldn’t pass up this perfect opportunity for me.”
IT Lab summer cybersecurity program Details
- Priority Application Deadline: February 1, 2025 (receive admission decision by mid-February)
- Final Application Deadline: April 1, 2025 (receive admission decision by May 1)
- Dates: June 12, 2025 to August 2, 2025
- Financial Support: Heinz College will cover costs of participation in the IT Lab program. This includes the costs of housing, tuition, books, supplies, social functions, travel expenses to and from Pittsburgh (within the United States), $1,000 toward meals, AND a $2,000 stipend.
Applicants should carefully review the IT Lab: SSI Application Process prior to submitting the application for admission.
Apply Now - No Application Fee
Questions regarding ITLab? Contact the Heinz College Office of Admissions at hnzadmit@andrew.cmu.edu or by phone (412) 268-2164.