UC student over the moon about NASA co-op
Say yes to every opportunity, says IT student
Not everyone who works at NASA is an astronaut.
“I realized that you could make a career out of cybersecurity here at NASA,” says fourth-year UC student Colin Malott who is currently interning with the NASA Office of Inspector General in Washington, D.C.
Colin Malott serving as a Scholarship for Service representative. Photo provided/Malott.
Malott works for the NASA Office of Data Analytics with the Law Enforcement Analytics team, investigating and researching cybercrime. It’s a role that he has held since January 2023 after being awarded a Scholarship for Service, funded by the National Science Foundation.
The program — with an annual full scholarship and cost of living stipend — fulfills an internship requirement while Malott pursues his master’s degree with a double major in cybersecurity and game development at UC’s School of Information Technology.
“I knew this scholarship would be life-changing, but I never thought I’d receive it,” he says.
Look at everything as an opportunity.
Colin Malott, UC School of Information Technology
Colin Malott visiting NASA for the first time in 2022. He will intern here for three years. Photo provided/Malott
“It’s been a lot of work and dedication,” but worth it, he says, referring to the internship and taking classes every semester and summer with a spring 2025 graduation on the horizon.
Malott “has been a wonderful fit for the team,” says his mentor at NASA, Daniel Mills.
According to Mills, in addition to Malott’s technical skills, he also had the soft skills beneficial to a scholarship awardee: flexibility, communication, organization, the willingness to try things.
“We look to his attributes as a model for what we are looking for in other scholarship candidates,” says Mills.
It’s really cool to be part of NASA’s mission.
Colin Malott
UC senior Colin Malott (left) with Tahir Hafeez, chief data officer at NASA's Office of Inspector General. Photo provided by Malott
Malott’s contribution to the agency extends beyond his regular duties, says his mentor. Recently, Malott developed a self-service software tool for NASA agents to report instances of suspected waste, fraud or abuse that will replace an existing process that required additional steps.
He cites a mantra to “look at everything as an opportunity” when it comes to his life goals.
Malott participated in his first UC cooperative education experience as a freshman, at the non-profit The Queen City Book Bank, a Cincinnati based literacy and outreach program.
Global founder of co-op
- Students from colleges across UC participate in co-op and internships
- 8,300 students participated in the 2023-24 academic year
- Collective self-reported earnings of $88.8 million in that same year
- Nearly $10,700 per student per semester on average
- 18% increase in wages from the last reported co-op data
In addition to academic experience, Malott says he has gained insight to success by being a mentor himself — as a coach for youth soccer. “I tell them to show people who you are, work your hardest, then good things will come.”
He says he brings this attitude with him to work and school every day and it’s paid off. He has hopes to stay on with NASA after graduation.
“It’s really cool to be part of NASA’s mission,” Malott says.
Featured image at top at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C./iStockPhoto.
Beyond the classroom
UC invented cooperative education more than 100 years ago, and we continue to innovate all aspects of experience-based learning, including internships, service learning, virtual co-ops, community projects and industry partnerships. Learn more.
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