Creating opportunities for researchers to pair with experts to solve research challenges
Since 2014, the RTI University Scholars Program has provided support for distinguished academic researchers to spend scholarly leave time at RTI International to actively collaborate with our experts. The program, administered by the University Collaboration Office, is designed to drive growth, foster collaboration, build scientific stature, and develop opportunities for externally funded joint projects. A list of current and former RTI University Scholars is available.
Submitting Expressions of Interest to the RTI University Scholars Program
The RTI University Scholars Program invites Expressions of Interest for the 2025-2026 academic year from tenured or research-track faculty members at the Associate Professor level or higher with a commitment to collaboration and a research project related to RTI practice areas.
In 2024 – 2025 the RTI University Scholars Program prioritized projects related to climate change, environmental justice, energy, data modernization and data science, global health security, pandemic preparedness, agriculture, food security and nutrition. The RTI University Scholars Program is committed to hosting faculty who are dedicated to innovative research that aligns with RTI’s mission to improve the human condition through science-based solutions.
For the 2025-26 scholar year, the RTI University Scholars Program prioritizes proposals for projects related to:
- Climate change, environmental justice, water resources, and energy
- Education research including computational thinking, chronic absenteeism, AI in education, school-based services/mental health and data modernization in survey research & data collection
- Health, including food security, global health, health equity, and nutrition
- Data, including data modernization, data science, real-world data (RWD), and real-world evidence (RWE)
While the RTI University Scholars Program welcomes Expressions of Interest based on collaborative interdisciplinary research projects, or “clusters,” applicants need to apply individually. Application evaluations are based on the merits of the individual as well as the project. To advance excellence and diversity, RTI encourages applications from underrepresented faculty.
Eligibility
The RTI University Scholars Program invites Expressions of Interest from faculty from the University of North Carolina System’s 16 universities and from Duke University. The program is designed for tenured or research-track faculty members at the Associate Professor level or higher, who are eligible for scholarly leave or sabbatical, and interested in collaborating with RTI researchers.
Applicants must partner with RTI staff who serve as a host or hosts and co-create a collaborative research project to pursue during the scholar’s appointment.
Financial Support for Scholars
The RTI University Collaboration Office covers:
- Half of each selected scholar’s salary and fringe (with the other half covered by the scholar’s home institution)
- Direct costs for supplies, publications, and other expenses, such as conference registrations, typically with a $5,000 ceiling
These funds are paid directly to the scholar’s university.
Scholars who advance to Phase II will be invited to submit a full proposal with a detailed budget. At this phase, applicants can propose additional expenses discussed with their RTI collaborators pending availability of budget for additional support.
Note that RTI does not cover Facilities and Administrative costs and the program does not cover graduate student stipends or tuition costs.
Submission Form
Our Scholars
Featured Work From Our Scholars
Key Dates for the 2025-2026 Application Cycle
| Dates | Important Events |
|---|---|
| Wednesday, October 23, 2024 | Request for Expressions of Interest and Request for Proposals released |
| Thursday, January 23, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time (ET): | Deadline to submit Expression of Interest (Phase I) |
| Thursday, February 20, 2025 | Notification to all applicants |
| Wednesday, March 26, 2025 by 11:59 p.m. ET: | Deadline for all invited applicants to submit full proposals |
| Friday, April 25, 2025 | Notification to applicants who submitted Full Proposals |
Process
- Interested applicants are encouraged to notify Tamara Terry, rti_univscholarsprog@rti.org, in the RTI University Collaboration Office (UCO) and their university’s research office.
- Applicants are encouraged to peruse RTI’s website to familiarize themselves with researchers working in the same or similar area. Applicants who need support networking with RTI staff should contact Tamara Terry with a brief abstract of their research interest and a bio sketch.
- Applicants should develop their Expression of Interest in consultation and coordination with RTI collaborator(s), who will need to provide a Letter of Support in Phase II.
Expressions of Interest
EOIs must be digitally submitted using the online form no later than 11:59 p.m. on Thursday, January 23, 2025. The EOI does not have a budget requirement. To be fully considered, the EOI must include:
Expression Of Interest
- Applicant Information: Name, university affiliation, email address, and faculty web page
- Institutional Information: Department name, department chair’s name and email address, and any other departmental contacts.
- Proposal Details: Proposed project title, alignment to RTI’s practice areas and/or service capabilities, proposed RTI collaborator name(s), and proposed start and end dates.
- PDF upload: A single PDF upload must include:
- Expression of Interest (2 pages maximum), addressing:
- Purpose, objectives, activities, deliverables, and expected outcomes of the proposed project
- Discussion of the proposed projects relevance to RTI practice areas and/or services and capabilities
- Evidence the applicant has current and/or prior relevant experience as a researcher and collaborator
- References to external funding opportunities for potential future proposals
- Letter of support from the applicant’s departmental chair
- Applicant’s curriculum vitae (no page limit). Please include experience securing funding as a principal investigator or co-principal investigator.
- Expression of Interest (2 pages maximum), addressing:
Expression of Interest Rubric
RTI business and research leaders will review and evaluate EOIs based on the following rubrics:
- Potential impact of the proposed project
- Academic qualifications as well as research and publication track record of the applicant
- Degree to which the proposed research project advances scientific stature
- Alignment to RTI’s practice areas and/or services and capabilities
- Evidence that the proposed research could attract large-scale research support by government agencies, corporations, industrial consortia, or foundations
- Likelihood the proposed research project will be successful and support long-term collaboration between the researcher and RTI
- Degree to which the proposed project reflects RTI’s commitment to equity in research
Invited Full Proposals
Applicants will be notified by Thursday, February 20, 2025, about whether they will be invited to submit a full proposal.
Questions about the program? Email us today.