"A LIFE LIVED WITHOUT SERVICE TO A GREATER CAUSE IS MEANINGLESS.
LOSE YOURSELF IN SERVICE, AND YOU WILL FIND YOUR TRUE SELF."
JOIN US 
Answer the call to service and step into the field of cyber threat intelligence, our most crucial mission.
Read below to learn about our internship opportunity.
We seek highly passionate and committed, young professionals who believe in our mission.
CSFI Cyber Threat Intelligence Student Internship Program
This is a part-time, unpaid internship with the opportunity to collaborate with government entities and individuals from around the world, as well as at various CSFI locations in Virginia and satellite offices in Europe. The program is designed to provide substantive learning in the cyber threat intelligence realm, a niche field with growing global importance.
To apply for upcoming program cycles, please follow us on LinkedIn to receive updates about application cycles and ongoing program updates.
Please review the program eligibility requirements before applying. Once the application period closes, no changes can be made to submissions. For questions, contact us at [email protected].
Eligibility Requirements
The CSFI CTI Student Internship Program will consider all qualified applicants. To be eligible, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Retain U.S. citizenship or reside in a NATO and/or Major Non-NATO Allied (MNNA) country
- Be enrolled in an accredited academic institution on at least a part-time basis, pursuing a baccalaureate or graduate degree
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Be in good academic standing with a minimum 3.0 GPA
- Students must attach an unofficial transcript to their application confirming student status
- GPA must be entered for application completion and consideration
- Retain a minimum of 30 credits to apply (Sophomore, Junior, Senior)
- If you are selected for an internship, you must provide proof you have registered, or have been accepted for enrollment in the semester or quarter prior to internship commencement
Awards and Benefits
The CSFI CTI Student Internship Program offers valuable, hands-on cybersecurity experience for individuals at all levels of expertise. Interns gain direct exposure to the cyber threat intelligence field, building practical skills and professional credibility through meaningful projects.
Top-performing interns will be considered for the prestigious Daria-Romana Pop Award or Dr. Edmond Locard Award. These awards are highly competitive honors that carry significant recognition within the cyber threat intelligence community.
All interns who successfully complete the program will receive a Certificate of Achievement, a formal credential recognizing their contributions, dedication, and newly acquired skills. This certificate serves as a meaningful addition to any professional portfolio.
Letters of Recommendation are available upon request for interns who successfully complete the program.
In summary, interns receive:
- Professional exposure, learning, and recognition within the cybersecurity and cyber warfare sectors, working alongside experienced professionals from around the world
- The professional title of CSFI CTI Intern, which can be proudly displayed on LinkedIn, résumés, and other professional platforms to enhance career visibility
- A Certificate of Achievement, a formal credential acknowledging your contributions, skills, and dedication—an asset for future career or academic advancement
- Eligibility for CSFI’s prestigious honors: the Daria-Romana Pop Award and the Dr. Edmond Locard Award, granted only to the most outstanding interns in each internship cycle
- A Letter of Recommendation (available upon request) to strengthen applications for jobs, scholarships, or advanced programs
Internship completion opens the door to continued involvement with CSFI as a CTI Volunteer or Intern. Volunteers can rise to leadership roles, such as Team Lead or Assistant Team Lead, positioning themselves for recognition through our most distinguished honors, the Daria-Romana Pop Award or the Dr. Edmond Locard Award: awarded only to the most exceptional contributors in the CSFI CTI Student Internship Program.
Intern Testimonials
Juan Flores, CSFI CTI Intern - Alpha Cohort (Summer 2025)
This program has essentially improved my skill sets, and it has been a great experience to learn about CTI. Using real-world examples, collaborating with great peers, learning professional CTI terminology, and improving my technical writing, all have been opportunities for me to strengthen my technical and research skills. Read More
As requested in the document, I have made the decision that I will respectfully retire from the program with merit and will by all means in the future use the obtained knowledge wisely.
Angela Cummins, CSFI CTI Intern - Alpha Cohort (Summer 2025)
The Cyber Security Forum Initiative (CSFI) Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI) Student Internship Program is so rewarding. The critical skills I learned really prepared me to become a successful Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence analyst. I am so grateful that I was selected for this program. Read More
The information I obtained is invaluable. I was so captivated by how the program is structured. The leadership strategically developed a crawl-to-walk program to ensure you fully understand the Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence field. If you want to become a CTI analyst, this internship is a must. I enjoyed every second of my time on a daily basis.
Sofia Zanin, CSFI CTI Intern - Alpha Cohort (Summer 2025)
Just wrapped up an incredible internship cycle within Alpha Cohort at CSFI. It’s been truly such an enriching opportunity where I’ve acquired not only knowledge but also hands-on experience on drafting CTI reports on various topics. Read More
The wide range of requested information allowed my team and I to challenge ourselves in using OSINT techniques to research information, verify content and transform information into intelligence to highlight strategic shifts in cyber-attacks and wider hybrid warfare techniques. Especially grateful to the CSFI staff for striking a balance between guidance and independence. As interns, we had both constant support as well as the opportunity to autonomously decide which cases and information were most relevant.
I deeply valued this experience, and I’m especially excited to cooperate with CSFI in the next internship cycle to help future interns navigate the CTI world.
Mohammad Nasir Moradi, CSFI CTI Intern - Golf Cohort (Spring 2025)
During my internship with the Cyber Security Forum Initiative (CSFI), I immersed myself in the dynamic field of Cyber Threat Intelligence (CTI), developing a strong foundation of analytical and technical skills. My work involved conducting open-source intelligence (OSINT) gathering to identify and monitor emerging cyber threats, as well as profiling threat actors by analyzing their tactics, techniques, and procedures. Read More
This hands-on experience gave me practical expertise in analyzing indicators of compromise (IOCs) to detect and assess potential security incidents. I regularly applied industry-standard frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK and MITRE D3FEND to map adversary tactics and defensive measures, strengthening our ability to anticipate, detect, and respond to cyberattacks. I also leveraged the Cyber Kill Chain and Diamond Model Analysis to structure threat investigations, improve attribution, and refine response strategies.
Working alongside a talented cohort, I produced actionable intelligence reports that supported proactive defense strategies and informed decision-making for stakeholders. This experience deepened my understanding of the critical role intelligence plays in effective cybersecurity. It not only strengthened my technical and analytical abilities but also provided me with a strategic perspective on how frameworks and models guide cyber defense. My time with CSFI has equipped me with the skills, insight, and confidence to contribute meaningfully to the cybersecurity community.
Antonie Tran, CSFI CTI Intern - Golf Cohort (Spring 2025)
In the Spring of 2025, I had the privilege of joining CSFI’s Golf Cohort under the guidance of Ms. Lin, Mr. Bensen, Dr. Paul de Souza, Vivek, and our dedicated cohort leaders. Each week, I collaborated on detailed RFI reports: tracing the historical evolution of cyber-attack threats, profiling key personnel, and building clear glossaries of technical terms. Read More
Initially, I lacked the skills to complete these reports independently, and our group felt somewhat fragmented. However, when we were assigned our first official group RFI in week two, we implemented peer review deadlines and adopted Signal for streamlined communication. Thanks to Ms. Lin’s leadership, we quickly became a cohesive and effective team.
This experience sharpened my leadership and teamwork abilities, deepened my understanding of MITRE ATT&CK and MITRE D3FEND, and refined my skills in RFI crafting and CTI research. It also inspired me to further explore CTI workflows and pursue my CompTIA certification.
I am excited to continue supporting CSFI this summer as an Assistant Team Lead, where I look forward to applying what I’ve learned to guide the next cohort and advance Dr. Paul de Souza’s mission of supporting the United States through this impactful program.
Online Application Process
Those interested in applying for the CSFI CTI Student Internship Program must begin by visiting the internship application. Also, please do not use your school email in the application as many universities have incoming email blockers.
Application Structure
There are five (5) required attachments:
- Proof of Enrollment/Transcript
- One-Page Resume
- Cover Letter (500 words max: Experience and why you want to join CSFI)
- One (1) Professional/Academic Letter of Recommendation
- Military Designation (Yes-No Checkbox; If yes, include DoD ID)
Application Completion
Applicants must provide proof of student status in the form of an unofficial transcript. The transcripts must be attached to the submitted application. If the transcript is not successfully attached to the application, the application will be rendered ineligible. Applicants are required to upload their transcript to their application as indicated by this * symbol. Provide all required documents to be considered.
Selection Process
There are several steps in the selection process; applicants should understand the following:
- Step 1: The CSFI CTI Student Internship Program must receive the full application package before the application deadline
- Step 2: The CTI Director of Operations will review and select applicant finalists, including placing them into chosen or assigned cohorts
- Step 3: The CTI Director of Operations will notify all applicants upon final selection. If an applicant declines their conditional internship offer, alternatives will be notified to replace primary candidates.
- Note: Priority is given to U.S. veterans and military spouses enrolled in an accredited academic institution
- If selected, applicants must sign an NDA, Code of Conduct, and undergo other background checks prior to internship commencement
- If you do not receive an acceptance/declination email, please contact us at [email protected]
- Step 4: The CTI Team Leads/Associate Team Leads will incorporate finalists into their assigned cohorts
Application Processing Timeline
| Application Process | Summer Internship | Fall Internship | Spring Internship |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Open Period | 1 January - 30 April | 1 May - 30 July | 15 September - 30 November |
| Application Review | Rolling | Rolling | Rolling |
| Selection/Non-Selection & Notification | 15 May | 15 August | 15 January |
| Internship Start | 1 June | 1 September | 1 February |
| Internship End | 15 August | 30 November | 30 April |
Reminder: Once applicants have started an application, they must complete and submit all application materials in the same session. Applicants must complete all required sections of the application, attach all required documents, include their most recent transcript, and submit their application in order to be considered for the CSFI CTI Student Internship Program. This is a rolling application and positions are available on a first come, first served basis. As such, the application will close when all positions are filled or until the application period closes.
Disclaimer
The Cyber Security Forum Initiative (CSFI) is a privately owned and operated, independent, non-profit entity incorporated in Omaha, Nebraska. Although CSFI strongly supports the defense of the United States and U.S. allies through the provision of cyber security-oriented educational and training programs in the United States, in other NATO countries, and in countries that are identified as “non-NATO major allies,” CSFI is neither a part of, nor represents in any capacity, any U.S. Government agency, including any of the agencies of the U.S. Intelligence Community (IC), nor any other governmental entity in the U.S. or in any other country. For purposes of clarification, the term “U.S. allies” is defined as other NATO countries and “major non-NATO allies,” which are identified in 22 C.F.R. § 120.32. CSFI may, at its sole discretion, conduct cybersecurity educational or training programs in countries other than members of NATO or “major non-NATO allies” with which the U.S. trades freely, but which are not part of a defense treaty alliance with the U.S., such as Ireland and Switzerland. In no event, however, shall CSFI operate in countries, or in cooperation with persons or parties, for which a U.S.-based person or entity is required to obtain an export license or other approval, unless the required license or approval has been issued by the U.S. Department of State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Industry and Security, or the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Controls, whichever is applicable.
