Student Opportunities
ReliaQuest Labs 2026
Build real-world skills with ReliaQuest Labs
ReliaQuest Labs gives University of South Florida students hands-on experience working alongside industry professionals on real-world cybersecurity and software engineering challenges.
The competitive program, held at ReliaQuest headquarters in Tampa, includes hands-on lab sessions and a graduation. Students work with ReliaQuest professionals and gain experience with GreyMatter, the company's agentic artificial intelligence security operations platform.
Students can choose between two tracks: Security Operations and Software Engineering.
Security Operations
About the Role
The Security Operations track is designed for students interested in building their cybersecurity skills through hands-on experience with industry professionals.
Students apply technical concepts to analyze potential cyber threats while gaining exposure to enterprise security tools and GreyMatter. The program provides experience with the technologies, processes and analytical skills used in professional security operations.
What students gain
Students in the Security Operations track gain:
- Hands-on experience analyzing potential cyber threats
- Exposure to enterprise security tools and practices
- Experience using ReliaQuest's GreyMatter platform
- Mentorship from cybersecurity professionals
- Practical experience applying technical concepts in a professional environment
- Successful graduates receive a certificate of completion in Cyber Analytic
- Fundamentals and an opportunity to interview for a paid internship or full-time position with ReliaQuest.
Software Engineering
About the Role
The Software Engineering track is designed for students pursuing careers in software development, AI engineering and product development.
Students work in teams on real ReliaQuest projects and gain experience across the software development lifecycle. Their work includes planning, writing production-level code, participating in code reviews, responding to feedback and deploying working applications.
What students gain
Students in the Software Engineering track gain:
- Experience working on real-world software engineering projects
- Exposure to the full software development lifecycle
- Practice writing and reviewing production-level code
- Familiarity with AI-assisted and professional code review
- Mentorship from ReliaQuest engineers
- Practical preparation for careers in software development and AI engineering
Information Session
Students can learn more about both tracks during an information session at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, in the second-floor auditorium of C.W. Bill Young Hall.
Fall 2026 Program
The fall program includes four Friday lab sessions and a graduation, which will be held in person at ReliaQuest headquarters in Tampa:
- Lab 1: Oct. 23
- Lab 2: Oct. 30
- Lab 3: Nov. 6
- Lab 4: Nov. 13
- Graduation: Nov. 20
Applications for both tracks are due Oct. 1. Each track requires a separate application.