Monthly Archives: February 2026

Research Graduate Assistant Positions for the CIS Department

The CIS department will be hiring up to 3 Research Graduate Assistants for the Spring 2026 semester, made possible through a grant.

The Research Assistant will be tasked with one of the following roles, as needed by the CIS department in the current semester in which the student is employed:

1. Assist with maintenance of Cybersecurity Labs under the supervision of the Lab Manager, including: installation/maintenance of hardware and software and related devices used in the lab environment, creation/maintenance of lab manuals, assisting students with using lab equipment, and other tasks as assigned by the Lab Manager

2. Assist with research and administrative needs within the department, including: reception duties in Wheatley Center, formatting and filing of electronic documents, creation of documents, spreadsheets, or reports, researching data online, writing and creation of blog posts and other media content, and other office tasks as needed.

Candidate must be currently pursuing a Master’s degree or doctorate degree at RMU.

Candidate must be available to work during daytime hours for at least two days per week, Monday through Friday, with schedule to be negotiated upon hire so that it does not interfere with class times.

You can apply here:

https://careers.pageuppeople.com/856/ci/en-us/job/498508/research-graduate-assistant

Applications will be reviewed starting on March 6, 2026. Applications will continue to be accepted until all positions are filled.

2025 TRISS Scholarship Recipients from RMU

Front row (L to R): Darrin Fentress, Isabella Totino, Kelson Bowman Back row (L to R): Jonathan Eggie, Sean Miller, Ryan Himrod, Jadon Siuzdak

This year, nine RMU Cybersecurity students were selected to receive scholarship awards from the Three Rivers Information Security Symposium (TRISS), the second largest technology conference in the Pittsburgh region.

To be considered, students were required to be enrolled full‑time in cybersecurity or a related IT program and to submit a transcript (3.0 GPA or higher), letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. A total of 18 scholarships were awarded between all TRISS applicants, and we are proud to report that 9 of those scholarships were awarded to RMU students. All 9 recipients are members of Top Secret Colonials.

Scholarship recipients:

Kelson Bowman
Jonathan Eggie
Darrin Fentress
Ryan Himrod
Bryce Matthews
Sean Miller
Rebecca Ralph
Jadon Siuzdak
Isabella Totino

NCFTA Cybersecurity Workshop

On February 4, 2026, twenty-one RMU students got to travel to the National Cyber Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA) headquarters in Pittsburgh for a cybersecurity workshop. Students got to hear a presentation from FBI Special Agent Aaron Hays, and a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) panel featuring John O’Rourke from PPG and Dr. Jim Mahony from RMU. Dr. Jamie Pinchot accompanied the students for the trip and served as the panel moderator.

Students also had a chance to tour the facility, including the Malware Analysis lab and participate in a cybersecurity capture-the-flag exercise led by Emily Kerry, Intelligence Analyst (RMU ’24). Special thanks to Phill Miller, RMU CIO, for setting up this experience for the students. RMU hopes to make this an annual event.

Work Study Position Available for the CIS Department

The CIS Department is seeking a Student Assistant work study position. The job includes assisting CIS staff with office-related tasks, serving as a receptionist to greet and assist guests to Wheatley Center, data entry, and creation of blog posts, flyers, and other documents for the department.

Candidates must be eligible for the Federal Work Study program (you can check with the Financial Aid office to find out if you are eligible) and must be available to work weekdays between the hours of 9am to 4pm. The work schedule will range from 12-20 hours per week and will be negotiated upon hire.

Great candidates will have the following:

  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Word. Experience in Microsoft Excel, Adobe Photoshop, Canva, or WordPress is a plus.
  • Adaptability and willingness to learn new skills.
  • Reliability and punctuality.

If you are interested in working for the department, please apply!

More information and the link to apply online can be found here:

https://careers.pageuppeople.com/856/ci/en-us/job/498434

Hacking4Humanity 2026: Challenging AI Injustice, Building Ethical Futures

Hacking4Humanity (H4H) is a tech and policy hackathon that offers students a new way to engage with real-world social problems that can be improved with novel technical and policy solutions. This year’s theme is Challenging AI Injustice, Building Ethical Futures.

H4H 2026 kicks off on Zoom on Friday, February 6 and culminates in an in-person competition consisting of student presentations of their tech and policy solutions onFriday, February 20. The hackathon is open to all undergraduate and graduate students from any college or university in the Pittsburgh area, and students can register to participate as individuals or teams.

Hacking4Humanity is a tech and policy hackathon, so students from all disciplinary backgrounds can participate! In addition to the theory-, skills-, and relationship-building opportunities that this event provides, winners of the in-person competition will be awarded cash prizes ($1,000 for first place in each track) and will have the opportunity to meet and work with students from across the region, as well as network with academic and industry professionals. Register now!