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Overview

The FINS Talent Pipeline (FTP) is a year-long, cohort-based professional development and experiential learning program designed to prepare undergraduate and graduate students authorized to work in the U.S. without sponsorship for careers within federal and state entities that serve the intelligence and defense communities in support of national security.

Select students will help conduct practical research involving the application of AI and data science principles in various areas alongside UF Ph.D. students, post-doctoral fellows, and faculty members and attend mandatory information and engagement sessions. At the end of the program, FTP Fellows will be provided assistance with pursuing an internship within an entity working to support the national security community.

Program Objectives

  • Accelerate workforce readiness by equipping students with relevant technical, analytical, and leadership skills.
  • Support national service through exposure to career pathways in federal agencies and national laboratories.
  • Enhance access to high-demand careers and opportunities in national security, particularly those requiring strong working knowledge of AI applications.
  • Foster multidisciplinary collaboration among students from engineering, computer science, psychology, political science, business, and other fields.

Program Components

  • Participants in the FTP program benefit from:
  • High-impact experiential learning, including mission-driven internships and student projects.
  • Mentorship from government, industry, and academic leaders.
  • Career readiness training, including resume reviews, mock interviews, and networking support. Preparation for internships and positions involving access to sensitive information and that require U.S. Citizenship.
  • Workshops, seminars, and site visits focused on national security trends, challenges, and innovations.

Who Should Apply?

  • FTP recruits highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students from any discipline with:
  • A demonstrated interest in national security, AI and data science.
  • Academic backgrounds in fields such as computer science, engineering, data science, cybersecurity, or related disciplines *and now also business, law, political science, linguistics, English, psychology & others.
  • A desire to engage in mission-oriented work with federal agencies, defense labs, or national security organizations.
  • US citizenship or permanent residency status

Program Benefits

  • Hands-on training with real-world relevance.
  • Increased competitiveness for government and national lab roles.
  • Exposure to multidisciplinary career paths.
  • Personalized support for pursuing positions and/or careers that entail being vetted and/or approved for trusted access.

Requirements

Undergraduate and graduate students with previous coursework in or related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) and a 3.5 rounded GPA, who are U.S. Citizens (or Permanent Residents) are invited to apply to this program for the Fall 2026 semester where students will work with AI and national security affiliates to support research, gain industry experience and contacts, and potentially intern with Intelligence Community agencies and partners.

Schedule

Students will assist faculty members with research for 5 – 10 hours a week and present their research progress to the rest of their cohort in biweekly meetings occurring either Tuesday or Thursday afternoons around lunch. Around once a month, a member of the Defense Community will come to the University to speak about career opportunities, networks, and answer questions. At the conclusion of the program, there will be an exit survey and an opportunity to intern with a national security entity.

For more information about the FINS Talent Pipeline and any other FINS initiatives, or to explore partnership opportunities, please contact: Lesly Galiana at lesly@ufl.edu

Requirements

FTP Standards & Expectations for Participation

The purpose of this documents is to outline the expectations, roles, and responsibilities of applicants participating in the FINS Clearable Talent Pipeline (CTP) program to ensure a standard of excellence, adaptability, and participation throughout the duration of student involvement. 

  1. Standards of Excellence 
    • Excellence: Applicants must maintain a high standard of performance and professionalism throughout their participation in the FTP. This includes, but is not limited to:
      • Quality of Work: Delivering work that meets or exceeds the CTP’s established quality benchmarks when conducting research. 
      • Punctuality: Adhering to deadlines and schedules as set forth by the CTP. 
      • Adherence to Guidelines: Following all CTP guidelines, policies, and procedures diligently. 
      • Continuous Improvement: Actively seeking feedback and making necessary improvements to enhance performance. 
  2. Adaptability and Participation 
    • Adaptability: Applicants accepted into the CTP are expected to demonstrate flexibility and the ability to adapt to changes, including but not limited to:
      • Task Adjustments: Adjusting to changes in assigned tasks or responsibilities. 
      • Deadline Modifications: Accommodating revised deadlines or project timelines as needed. 
      • Requirement Changes: Adapting to evolving CTP requirements, guidelines, or objectives. 
      • Schedule Changes: Adjusting to changes in schedule or meeting times when the CTP must capitalize on Government and University opportunities. 
    • Participation:
      • Engagement: Applicants who are accepted into the CTP must actively participate in all required activities, including training sessions, meetings, and evaluations, unless otherwise excused. This includes adapting class schedules around meetings. 
      • Collaboration: Engaging in effective collaboration with other participants, mentors, and CTP staff, contributing to a positive and productive team environment. 
      • Responsiveness: Promptly responding to communications from the CTP, including emails, notifications, and feedback requests. 
      • Compliance: Following all legal, ethical, and security-related standards applicable to research and National Security, including maintaining confidentiality as required. 
      • Feedback Utilization: Actively participating in feedback processes and utilizing provided feedback to improve performance and outcomes.
  3. Deadlines
    • Applicants must meet all deadlines set forth by the CTP. Failure to meet deadlines are grounds for disqualification from the program. 
  4. Meetings and Excused Absences
    • Applicants who are accepted into the CTP are required to attend all scheduled meetings related to the CTP. Attendance at these meetings is crucial for successful participation. If students cannot meet attendance requirements, then their application should be withdrawn. 
    • In the event that an applicant cannot attend a scheduled meeting, they must request an excused absence in advance, in accordance with the University of Florida Attendance Policy. Requests for excused absences should be submitted to Program Manager, Lesly Galiana at lesly@ufl.edu and (if applicable) their mentor no less than 2 days (but preferably before) prior to the meeting. 
    • Examples of valid reasons for requesting an excused absence include, but are not limited to, personal illness, family emergencies, or academic commitments. 
  5. Communication
    • Applicants agree to maintain open and timely communication with FTP coordinators. This includes promptly responding to emails, notifications, and other forms of communication. 
  6. Conflict Resolution
    • In the event of a dispute or issue regarding our standards or the FTP, applicants should first seek resolution through direct communication with the Program Manager Lesly Galiana at lesly@ufl.edu and/or Director Prof. Damon Woodard at dwoodard@ufl.edu. If necessary, mediation or other dispute resolution methods may be employed. 
    • In the event that conflict, discrimination, or harassment occurs with mentors, staff, faculty, or other parties related to the FTP, applicants are encouraged to also first seek assistance from the Program Manager Lesly Galiana at lesly@ufl.edu and/or Director Prof. Damon Woodard at dwoodard@ufl.edu or your home college or department’s Academic Counselor or Human Resources personnel.
  7. Confidentiality
    • Applicants who are accepted into the CTP agree to keep confidential any sensitive information obtained during their participation in the CTP and not to disclose it to unauthorized third parties. This includes social media posts pertaining to anything program related. 
  8. Duration and Termination
    • If an applicant and/or participant withdraws within the first 28 days of the program, the applicant and/or participant understands that their slot will be taken by an applicant on the waiting list. 
    • Understanding that this is a two-semester long program, not including the Summer Semester.
  9. Earning Accreditation
    • Upon successful completion of program and following the conclusion ceremony, where Certificates of Completion will be awarded, qualifying fellows will receive an email with instructions on how to obtain and display their official FTP Certifier Badge on their LinkedIn profile. Please allow up to one week after the completion ceremony to receive this email. All questions or concerns regarding this may be directed to Program Manager, Lesly Galiana at lesly@ufl.edu.

FTP is one way of becoming involved with FINS, but it’s not the only one.


We are excited to announce a new cross-curricular student club for undergraduate and graduate students across UF who share a passion for national security, research, policy, and public service.


Whether you are an FTP applicant eager to hit the ground running, feel drawn to the FINS mission and vision, looking to connect with like-minded students, curious about what a career in national security could look like, or simply driven by the issues shaping our world, there is a place for you here and we would love to have you involved!

National security is complex, urgent, and radically multidisciplinary.

So is this club. Come be part of it!