Student Opportunities - Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute

The Student Cybersecurity Association (SCA) is an excellent extracurricular activity for students interested in learning more about Cybersecurity. The SCA participates in a wide variety of events that range from developing skills in Ethical Hacking to actively participating in Capture the Flag Competitions. The SCA meets roughly once a week (currently on Zoom). Any interested students can send The Student Cybersecurity Association an email.

NMU Cyber Discord Server
 

The SCA Leadership team is recruiting a team to compete in the 2027 NCAE Cyber Games. Please email The Student Cybersecurity Association to express an interest in being on the team.

NMU Information Assurance / Cyber Defense students are eligible for discounted courseware and exam vouchers from the following academic training partners: 

• Amazon Web Services Academy
• Cisco
• CompTIA
• EC-Council.

Funding is provided at no-cost to NMU AI/CD students through the MI-LEO Marshall Plan for Talent grant.  Please contact UPCI Director Michael Sauer for additional details.

The Upper Peninsula Cybersecurity Institute (UPCI) hosts an annual conference that draws keynote and industry speakers to NMU's campus for three days of education, labs, professional development, and networking.  NMU students can attend for free or volunteer to help host the event or run a lab.  Please contact UPCI Director, Michael Sauer for details

YooperCON brings 250+ high school students to NMU's campus for a day of cybersecurity exploration.  If you want to share your passion for cybersecurity with the next generation, there are numerous volunteer opportunities for IA/CD students.  Please contact UPCI Director Michael Sauer for additional information. 

A Cybersecurity Summit and Hacker Conference in Milwaukee, WI, featuring events ranging from speaker sessions to CTF competitions.

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Connecting next generation talent with the heavy duty industry to keep vehicles secure.

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An online platform to practice and learn cybersecurity skills.

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Senator Slotkin has requested an NMU Information Assurance / Cyber Defense student to intern in her D.C. office for the summer of 2026.  NMU students are encouraged to apply using NMU's Handshake job board.  During the internship, you will:

• Pitch a piece of cybersecurity or emerging technology legislation to the Senator for co-sponsorship.
• Draft constituent correspondence on technology policy issues.
• Attend meetings, hearings, and briefings with or on behalf of the legislative team.  Support the Senator’s work on the Homeland Security Committee with lead oversight on government cybersecurity and position on the Senate Armed Services Cybersecurity Subcommittee.
• Assist with general office duties, including assisting the administrative, legislative, and communication teams with tasks as assigned.

The selected student will be provided stipends for travel, housing, and living expenses. 

Northern Michigan University is the only higher education institution to be invited to the Northern Strike Military exercise.  NMU students and faculty have been attending the exercise at the Camp Grayling  since 2024. Northern Strike is a JNTC accredited, Army sponsored, National Guard Bureau program conducted twice a year (winter and
summer) within the 4-season National All Domain Warfighting Center located at Camp Grayling in Michigan.  Students and faculty will work along side soldiers from the 172nd Cyber Protection Team along with soldiers from NATO allies on a simulated cyber mission that is tied to the broader training mission.  Students will need to complete a background check for base access and the DoD Persistent Cyber Training Environment (PCTE).  The PCTE is a cyber range that is capable of simulating advanced persistent threats from nation state threat actors.  

Each year, Northern Strike takes place in mid August.  If you are interested in attending, please contact UPCI Director Michael Sauer before the Winter semester ends.  An email will also be sent to the Student Cybersecurity Association members at the end of the winter semester. 

In 2024, Northern Michigan University entered into an academic partnership with the National Security Agency (NSA).  This partnership allows the NSA to provide the following to NMU faculty and students:

• Loan equipment and instructional materials.
• Transfer equipment.
• Make NSA Personnel available to teach and assist in the development of STEM
  courses, programs, and materials.
• Involve NMU Faculty and students in NSA research projects.
• Cooperate with NMU in developing a program under which NMU students may be given academic credit for work on NSA research projects.
• Provide academic and career advice and assistance to NMU students.

For additional information, please contact Dr. Jim Marquardson or UPCI Director Michael Sauer