Addressing Bio-Cybersecurity Workforce Employee Shortages in Biotechnology and Health Science Sectors in the U.S.

The ever-increasing demand for employees with cybersecurity and artificial intelligence expertise in healthcare technology roles has resulted in an unprecedented skills shortage. Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Historically Women’s Colleges (HWCs) can significantly develop under-represented and diverse talent in this field. As bio-cybersecurity concerns widen, there is an urgent need for individuals with skillsets related to the security of biological payloads and systems. In addition, the inclusion of traditionally under-represented groups into the cybersecurity workforce is necessary to ensure the diversity of skills and security knowledge needed to combat cyberattacks. This paper will discuss how HBCUs and HWCs can contribute to diversifying the cybersecurity workforce, their role in developing artificial intelligence (AI) and bio-cybersecurity talent, and how they can provide an educational platform for new and under-represented talent in the field. It will also address the need for experienced artificial intelligence experts, bio-cybersecurity professionals, educators, and policymakers to facilitate the integration of cybersecurity experts into the traditional biological workforce. Ultimately, this paper will demonstrate how the inclusion of diverse and traditionally under-represented individuals in bio-cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI) will benefit the security infrastructure of biological systems.