Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences- Research Fellowship Program | Apply Online

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the ARI Research Fellowship Program funding opportunity?

The Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI) Research Fellowship Program is a Department of Defense (DoD) funding opportunity intended to establish and operate a structured fellowship pipeline that connects university talent directly with ARI. The selected applicant is expected to build and administer an organized fellowship program that supports ARI's behavioral and social science research agenda through hands-on, collaborative work.

What is the main purpose of this program?

The goal is to create recurring, high-quality collaborations between ARI researchers and university-based participants (students, post-docs, and faculty). Rather than funding isolated research projects, the program is designed to expand ARI's research capacity and day-to-day mission support by bringing in appropriately trained fellows and matching academic expertise to ARI priorities and study needs.

Is this grant intended to fund individual research projects?

No. The opportunity emphasizes that the awardee is responsible for the overall management and support structure of a fellowship program. The program should enable ongoing collaborations and provide a pipeline of talent that contributes directly to ARI research, analyses, and studies, instead of operating as stand-alone academic projects.

What type of award is being offered?

The funding instrument is a Cooperative Agreement. This typically indicates substantial involvement and collaboration between the awardee and the government partner during execution.

Which organization is issuing this opportunity?

This is a discretionary funding opportunity issued by DOD-AMC for the Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences (ARI).

What legal authority is cited for this opportunity?

The authority cited is 10 USC 2358 (Research Projects), indicating the effort is intended to support research aligned to Army needs.

Who is eligible to apply?

Eligible applicants include public and state-controlled institutions of higher education, private institutions of higher education, and nonprofit organizations (with or without 501(c)(3) status), as long as they can operate and manage the structured fellowship program described in the solicitation.

How many awards are expected to be made?

The opportunity anticipates making a single award.

What is the awardee expected to do under the cooperative agreement?

The selected applicant is expected to create and administer an organized fellowship program that enables ARI to collaborate with academic participants. Responsibilities include recruiting fellows across multiple career stages, aligning fellow activities with ARI priorities, facilitating mentoring and collaboration, and providing processes for project coordination, oversight, and deliverables.

What kinds of participants are intended to be included in the fellowship pipeline?

The program is designed to connect ARI researchers with undergraduate and graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, and university faculty who can contribute to ARI research through direct, collaborative work.

What fellowship designations are included in the program structure?

The fellowship structure includes six designations: Assistant Research Fellow, Associate Research Fellow, Doctoral Research Fellow, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Senior Research Fellow, and Sabbatical Fellow.

Does the program emphasize mentorship?

Yes. The solicitation explicitly emphasizes mentorship and collaboration. The program is expected to facilitate mentoring relationships between ARI researchers and participating students and post-docs, supporting professional development while improving the quality and relevance of the work performed.

How should collaboration between ARI and the university side be structured?

The solicitation calls for a structured approach that enables ARI researchers to collaborate with university faculty and graduate students on research projects. This implies the fellowship program should have clear processes for project selection, coordination, oversight, and defined deliverables.

What does it mean that the program should align with ARI priorities?

It means the awardee should recruit and support fellows whose skills and experience match ARI's behavioral and social science research agenda, and should ensure that fellowship activities contribute to ARI research, analyses, and studies rather than running in parallel as separate academic workstreams.

Is the awardee expected to help ARI access specialized academic expertise?

Yes. A stated expectation is that the program will help ARI access specialized academic expertise when needed, including matching faculty capabilities to ARI research and study needs.

Is providing research space part of the program requirements?

If proposed by faculty, the applicant should be able to provide research space, including laboratory space when applicable, to support research that contributes to the ARI program.

What is the posting date for this opportunity?

The opportunity was posted on February 19, 2016.

What is the closing date for applications?

The closing date is March 25, 2016.

What is the practical day-to-day outcome ARI is looking for?

The program is intended to meaningfully support ARI's mission and research capacity by enabling direct collaboration on ARI-relevant research, analyses, and studies, with mentoring and structured project execution built into the fellowship model.