Information Institute®
The II is AFRL/RI’s focal point for all Faculty Research Programs and several Summer Internships. The Information Institute® affords you and your institution a unique opportunity to gain first-hand unprecedented access and insight into the Air Force and Department of Defense.
The Griffiss Institute supports AFRL/RI in the execution of the programs under the Information Institute. The GI staff manages Education Partnership Agreements (EPAs), provides technical/administrative support for external programs and execution of AFRL/RI specific programs. Below please find a list of program offerings, their description, the open application window, and a link to their website for research program opportunities and application. For any questions, please contact the II Program Office.
Information Institute Programs:
For Faculty and Sponsored Graduate Students:
Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP) – Funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); Designated research topics provided; offers hands-on exposure to Air Force research challenges through 8- to 12-week research residencies at participating Air Force research facilities for full-time science, mathematics, and engineering faculty from US colleges and universities. Offers sponsored student option.
Who may apply: This program is open to all faculty that are US citizens. Sponsored students must also be US citizens and be enrolled in a Masters or PhD program.
Open application window: Aug 1 – Oct 31, 2024.
For more Information: afsffp.sysplus.com/.
Visiting Faculty Research Program (VFRP) – Funded by AFRL/RI; Designated research topics provided; a complimentary program to the SFFP that provides research opportunities for full time faculty for 8-12-week tours. AFRL/RI’s goal with the summer VFRP is to provide a rewarding experience to the highest qualified candidates from the academic research community. Offers sponsored student option.
Who may apply: This program is open to all faculty that are US citizens or US legal permanent residents. Students must also be a US citizen or a legal permanent resident. They must be enrolled in a university and be either persuing a Masters of PhD. Exceptions can be made for exceptional undergraduates.
Open application window: Nov 1, 2024 – Jan 14, 2025.
For more Information: afrl.af.mil/About-Us/Fact-Sheets/Fact-Sheet-Display/Article/2332471/afrlri-information-institute/.
NSF Grants – Professors with an existing NSF grant can request additional money to have a graduate student intern at AFRL/RI. Need to coordinate/work through your NSF program manager.
For more information: nsf.gov/pubs/2021/nsf21029/nsf21029.jsp
For Gap Students*, Post-Doctoral Candidates, and Senior Researchers:
*One that has graduated with a BA/BS from an accredited college or university and is awaiting acceptance into a graduate program.
Science and Technology Fellowship Program (STFP) – Funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); Designated research topics provided; contract through National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Research Associateship Program (RAP); offering postdoctoral and senior level research opportunities at AFRL, AFIT, and the USAFA. Applicant may apply for a minimum of 3 months to a maximum of 12 months onsite research and may reapply pending funding availability and advisor recommendation. Open to US Citizens.
Who may apply: This program is open to all US citizens who meet one of the following:
- Post Doctoral Candidate: one who has recently (within the last 5 years) completed their PhD and may or may not be affiliated with a specific institution.
- Senior Level Researcher: one that has more than 5 years of experience beyond their PhD and may or may not be affiliated with a specific institution.
Quarterly applications: 1 Feb, 1 May, 1 Aug, and 1 Nov.
For more Information: sites.nationalacademies.org/PGA/RAP/index.htm
AFRL/RI Fellowship Program – The AFRL/RI Research Fellowship Program complements the AFOSR STFP and provides advisor-funded opportunities for research for gap students, graduate, postdoctoral, and senior level researchers. Tenures for these positions are two months up to a year with a potential extension option pending available funding. These various fellowship research opportunities are conducted on-site at the AFRL Information Directorate, Rome, New York. Open to US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents. If interested contact the II Program Office for more information.
Who may apply: This program is open to all US citizens and US legal permanent residents and meet one of the following:
- Gap Student: One that has graduated with a BA/BS from an accredited college or university and is awaiting acceptance into a graduate program. Applicants under this program do not have to be affiliated with a university. This opportunity is 12 months maximum and cannot be renewed.
- Pre-Doctorial Candidate: One that is currently in an accredited doctorial program, has completed the required preparatory coursework, has passed any required qualifying exams, and only has the writing and defense of the dissertation (i.e., all but dissertation ABD).
- Post-Doctorial Candidate: One who has recently (within the last 5 years) completed their PhD and may or may not be affiliated with a specific institution.
- Senior Level Researcher: One that has more than 5 years of experience beyond their PhD and may or may not be affiliated with a specific institution.
Open application window: All year round.
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Program – Funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); Research proposals based on personal area of pursuit/interest; serves as a means of increasing the number of United States citizens trained in science and engineering disciplines of military importance. This program is designed to encourage Baccalaureate recipients to enter Graduate school and ultimately gain Doctorates which align to the DoD services Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) in research and development. Open to US Citizens.
Open application window: Aug 1 – Nov 1, 2024.
For more Information: http://ndseg.sysplus.com/
2024 Distinguished Papers/Awards:
- (Best Paper Award) J. Mohammadi, “Towards Reliable AI-Based Energy System Optimizer”, 2024 INFORMS Security Conference, Arlington, Virginia, July 28-30, 2024.
- (Best Paper Award) H. Kholidy, “A Novel Blockchain Approach for Continuously Authenticating UAVs to Achieve Zero Trust Principles in 5G-enabled UAVs”, The Nordic e-Infrastructure Collaboration Conference (NeIC 2024), Tallinn , Estonia, May 27 – 29, 2024
- (Recognition Award) Dr Lixin Shen received the 2024 Syracuse University Excellence in Graduate Education Faculty Recognition Award. Since 2012, has facilitated summer internships for one or two graduate students each year within his department at the AFRL under both the SFFP or VFRP programs
- Brescia faculty member awarded summer fellowship for Air Force
2024 Poster Winners:
Contact the Information Institute
Dr. John Salerno
Information Institute Program Deputy Director & AI/ML Subject Matter Expert
Dawn Rava-Crofoot
Information Institute Program Analyst/Assistant Facility Security Officer
Ashley Springer
Human Resources Manager