Join URI’s Cybersecurity Competition Team

The URI Cybersecurity Competition (CC) Team is seeking applications for the 2023 Spring Season. The deadline to apply is November 23, but applying before November 17 allows you to do a fun trial competition if you want!

What The URI Cybersecurity Competition Team Does: we compete in national collegiate cybersecurity competitions. This Spring we will compete in:

URI competed successfully in these competitions last year, including a 7th place finish nationally in the CAE Cybergames.

Who Competes: The URI CC Team captains are Ben Dahrooge and Ashley Rigano, and the team includes undergraduates Isabella Martinez and Dan Maiello, as well as 6 other URI students. The team is coached by Professor Vic Fay-Wolfe and Professor Mike Conti. We are looking to add 5 new URI undergraduate students to the team for the Spring 2023 competitions.

What Is A Competition? A typical competition has components of Capture the Flag where the team solves problems such as password cracking, decryption, identifying cyber vulnerabilities, and piecing together digital evidence. Several competitions also involve acting as Blue Team to defend a virtual network against Red Team attacks (e.g. hardening computing systems to remove intentionally placed vulnerabilities). Most competitions have hundreds of teams from colleges all over the country. Teams are awarded points for successful challenge solutions and for effective network defense.

When and Where Are Competitions? Most of the competitions will be virtual, with the URI team meeting in Tyler Hall on the Kingston campus. If we qualify for Regional or National finals, we may travel (likely that travel expenses will be provided). Most competitions are on weekend days (e.g. a Saturday afternoon).

What Do I Need To Qualify For The Team? Anyone who will be a full-time URI undergraduate student in the Spring of 2023 can apply. We are looking for five undergraduates with good skills in one or more of: Linux operating system and services, Windows operating system and services, network protocols and tools. Coding ability is good, but there is usually minimal coding involved in cybersecurity competitions. We specifically are looking for the ability to work as a part of a team, and the willingness to learn. There is no cost to be part of the URI CC team.

Why Join The URI CC Team?

  • It is a great learning experience. We all learn from every competition. In fact, although we like doing well, our ultimate goal is to learn and have fun.
  • It is fun! The competitions are fun and rewarding as we work together as a team.
  • It is a good resume builder. National cyber competitions are recognized by many employers as showing good extra curricular activity, demonstration of teamwork, and good practical learning.

Want To Try It Out? We invite all applicants to compete in a practice competition (no pressure – a pure learning experience) on Saturday Nov 19 along with several current URI CC Team members. This is not required to apply for the team, although we recommend it if you can. It is also not a commitment to be on the team – just a chance to try it out. Indicate on the form linked in the next section your interest in doing this trial competition.

How Do I Apply? Fill out this form. The deadline For Application is Wednesday November 23 (but before Wednesday November 17 if you want to be part of the practice competition on November 19).

When Will I Know, and Then What? We will let applicants know whether they have been selected by December 1. We will have a team practice competition in December. Learning materials will be provided to you to do on your own over Winter Break. Actual competitions start in late January.

Questions. Contact Coach Fay-Wolfe (vfaywolfe@uri.edu) and/or Ben Dahrooge (Team Co-captain bdahrooge@uri.edu).