Nyteisha Bookert

Nyteisha Bookert

Assistant Professor of Cybersecurity

Student Resource Guide

This guide is a curated collection of tools, resources, and advice for students who may feel overwhelmed or unsure of where to start. It’s not an exhaustive list, but it’s a great starting point to help you gain confidence and get on the right track. The resources here are things I share in my classes, during mentoring, and through outreach. I stand by them because they’ve made a real difference in my own journey and in the journeys of those I’ve worked with.

Key Takeaways:

  1. Quantity Breeds Quality: Remember the more you practice or create, the better you get at it. Improvement comes from repetition and persistence. If you need ideas on where to start visit Practice & Project and Tools & Technologies.

  2. Everyone should try to complete at least one experiential learning experience (read internship or related experience). Start your search early! Find out more at Real-World Experience

  3. Everyone needs a mentor! You don’t know what you don’t know. Be curious, ask questions, and admit you need help.

Jump To: Projects Tools Experience Career GradSchool

1. Practice & Projects

Improve your technical skills and problem-solving ability through competitions and challenges. These projects make great resume content and help you learn by doing.

  • Over the Wire: Linux command line practice via war games (start with Bandit)
  • PicoCTF: Year-round capture the flag platform with beginner to advanced cybersecurity challenges
  • NSA Codebreaker Challenge: Hands-on reverse engineering and code analysis challenge (Sept–Jan)
  • OWASP Juice Shop: Practice web security testing on a vulnerable app
  • Volunteer: Teaching others is a great way to reinforce your own understanding

2. Tools & Technologies

Essential platforms and tools that help you build, test, and share your work. Knowing how to use these can make you internship- or research-ready.

Programming: You should be comfortable with the basics of at least one programming language, such as Java, C/C++, or Python. At a minimum, this includes reading code, working with variables, understanding branching and loops, and defining and calling functions. A good way to choose a language is to look at job postings related to the roles you’re interested in.

  • GitHub: Code repository platform where you can store your projects and portfolio, while also practicing version control using Git. Students can take advantage of GitHub Education, which provides free access to GitHub Pro and a variety of other tools and resources.
  • Wireshark: Network traffic analysis
  • Burp Suite: Web app vulnerability testing
  • Tableau for Students: Free data visualization tools
  • Virtual Machines: great for practicing in isolated environments:

3. Experiential Learning

Experience is the best teacher. What you learn on the job can greatly enhance your classroom education. At a minimum, aim to pursue two experiential learning opportunities.

  • Internships:

    • Description: Offered by companies, organizations, government agencies (federal, state, local, tribal), and national laboratories.

    • Benefits: Paid, typically 40 hours per week. Great for building hands-on experience and making professional connections.

    • Where to Find:
      • University Career Services – A great starting point for curated, school-specific opportunities
      • Company Websites – Check the careers section of companies you’re interested in
      • Online Job Portals – Websites like LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Indeed
      • USAJobs.gov – For federal government internships
    • When to Apply: As early as one year before the internship begins (e.g., Summer 2026 internships may open by February 2025)

  • Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REUs):

    • Description: Participate in hands-on research alongside university faculty and researchers on funded projects.

    • Benefits: Paid opportunities, and generally include travel and housing expenses. Valuable experience working on real research problems.

    • Where to Find:
      • University Websites – Faculty may post research opportunities on their department or personal pages
      • NSF REU Database – A comprehensive resource for NSF-funded research experiences https://etap.nsf.gov
    • When to Apply: Most REUs open in late fall or early spring (e.g., Summer 2026 REUs open November 2025 – March 2026)

Even if its something you don’t like, this affirms or validates your concerns and may introduce you to something new. Apply your knowledge and explore career paths in academia and industry through experiential learning. These experiences give you professional skills, mentorship, and insight into real careers.

4. Career Planning & Strategy

Have you figured out what career you want to pursue, or the path you want to take to get there? If not, you’re not alone. Here’s a list of resources to help you plan, strategize, and take the next steps toward your future career.

  • Explore Career Paths:
    • CyberSeek: Explore job demand, salary data, and skills required in cybersecurity fields.
    • SANS Cybersecurity Career Poster: A visual guide to various cybersecurity roles and career paths.
    • Try Cyber: Discover cybersecurity careers by exploring interactive, real-world role simulations for beginners.
  • Mentorship: Everyone needs a mentor! You don’t know what you don’t know. Seek guidance from faculty, upper-level students, alumni, and professionals.
  • Conferences: Attend conferences to meet peers, mentors, and professionals while staying up-to-date with the latest research and trends in the field.
  • Resume: Keep your resume updated. You never know when an opportunity will present itself. Put yourself in a position where you are adding something each academic year.

5. Graduate School

Thinking about grad school? Want to know the difference between a masters and doctoral degree? Here’s where to start. This section covers the application process, funding opportunities, and what life is really like in graduate school.