Amateur Radio Hobby Helps DSU Student Continue Research

June 9, 2026

Dakota State University's Tyler Schroder garnered a nice surprise last month while attending the 2026 National Association for Amateur Radio conference, Hamvention®, when he was called to the stage for a special scholarship announcement.

Schroder, a first-year Ph.D. student in DSU's Cyber Defense program, received a $15,000 scholarship from the Amateur Radio Digital Communications Foundation and an additional $2,000 award from the Maryland Military Auxiliary Radio System, Inc.

"It was completely unexpected," Schroder said. "I had no idea what I was getting called up for. Then I was surprised with a double award on stage. It was wonderful, and I'm grateful for the continued support of my education."

While the scholarships will help support his doctoral studies at DSU, they stem from a passion Schroder developed outside the classroom.

Schroder earned his amateur radio license in 2021 after participating in an International Space Station contact event in West Virginia. Since then, he has become an accredited amateur radio examiner, helping prospective operators earn their licenses, and serves as part of a national collegiate amateur radio network that connects students, researchers, and hobbyists from across the country.

His involvement has also included supporting an Earth-Moon-Earth radio station at Yale University, where radio signals could be bounced off the moon and received back on Earth. The station assisted student satellite projects and other research initiatives requiring long-distance communications capabilities.

"It's a fun blend of my personal interests and where I am in the academic world at the same time," Schroder said.

At DSU, Schroder works with Dr. Chad Fenner, assistant professor in The Beacom College of Computer & Cyber Sciences, and Dr. Jim Cahill, adjunct professor in the College of Arts & Sciences. His research explores two areas: the ethical implications of implantable brain-computer interfaces and the use of volunteer cyber professionals to support communities responding to cyber incidents.

The scholarship support will help him continue that work during the remainder of his doctoral studies.

About Hamvention®

Hamvention, hosted annually by the Dayton Amateur Radio Association, draws amateur radio operators, researchers, industry professionals, and technology enthusiasts from around the world. The event serves as one of the hobby's premier gatherings and includes technical presentations, exhibitions, networking opportunities, and scholarship recognition programs.

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