How It Works

Each year, ARLIS holds simultaneous solicitations for DoD- and IC-provided problem topics that could yield mission-relevant impact (to address as a RISC innovation sprint) and for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students across the country to design and carry out the quick-turn work in partnership with ARLIS researchers. This 10-week paid and mostly virtual program pairs student researchers (RISCers) with faculty mentors from INSURE consortium member institutions to conduct applied research in support of the DoD and IC mission. RISCers have the opportunity to be sponsored for a security clearance and to be considered for future employment with the U.S. government.

The program is structured to facilitate interactions within teams, between teams, and with government sponsor representatives. RISCers attend weekly seminars and regular team development meetings in a shared virtual work environment (though select projects may require on-site work). The summer program concludes with several days of in-person activities in College Park, MD, to discuss project outcomes with peers and visiting experts from DoD/IC and to gain greater context on how the work fits into the government sponsors' mission space.

Given mutual interest between the sponsor and interns and available funding, RISC projects often continue into the academic year, sustaining connectivity between interns and sponsors through ARLIS.

Read more about RISC in our 2024 Program Report.