Staff Research Program
Last verified by NonDilute: 2026-06-08. Official notice and agency instructions control.
Partner directly with Army Research Office scientists to conduct basic research at your institution with substantial federal backing, but understand you're a collaborating host, not the primary research driver.
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What this is
The Army Research Office invites external institutions to partner with ARO scientific staff on basic research in engineering, physical, life, and information sciences. ARO staff scientists will lead and direct the research at your institution's labs or field sites in collaboration with your designated PI. This is not a traditional grant to your organization—it's a collaborative arrangement where ARO maintains control and direction. Results can be published and contribute to student education, but ARO staff cannot serve as official PIs and will be recused from funding decisions at your institution.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are external institutions (universities, research organizations, non-profits, and potentially companies) that can provide laboratory or field research facilities and designate a PI to collaborate with ARO scientists. ARO scientists identify and approach partners at their discretion; this is not an open-call grant—ARO initiates partnerships. U.S.-based institutions are strongly implied but not explicitly stated.
Eligible applicant types
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
Full description — from the agency
The ARO is soliciting proposals for Staff Research Program opportunities. The purpose of the program is to enable ARO scientific staff to maintain and expand professional competence in support of fulfilling the ARO mission through the conduct of hands-on, basic research. The staff research will be performed collaboratively with institutions external to ARO. Staff research efforts will involve scientific study directed toward advancing the state-of-the-art or increasing knowledge and scientific understanding in engineering, physical, life and information sciences, when there is an intersection with the interests and capabilities of the participating external institutions in these basic research areas. Protection of Mission Integrity: The primary role of the ARO scientific staff is to objectively assess and fund extramural research at numerous institutions across the U.S. and throughout the world. Since it is vitally important that the ARO be impartial in its actions, ARO scientists cannot engage in activities that could compromise the perceived objectivity of that scientist with respect to the institution, or with respect to the areas of science/engineering that they are responsible for as Program Managers. Consequently, ARO Program Managers will be disqualified from taking official actions regarding any institution at which that PM conducts Staff Research. Staff research will be conducted, directed and managed by an ARO scientist at the institution's laboratory facilities or field research sites, in collaboration with a PI designated by the institution. ARO scientists will not be named as a PI on any proposal or resulting award. Results of the Staff Research Program may include publication or co-authorship of research results and presentation at scientific forums, and contribute to the education and training of students, in accordance with the terms of the cooperative agreement. NOTE: ARO scientific staff will seek out a collaborating institution to engage in staff research as opportunities arise and at the discretion of ARO.
Topics: army research office · basic research collaboration · staff research program · defense technology · external partnerships
Public-source funding discovery only. This summary is generated from public agency data and may be incomplete or stale. NonDilute is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of any government agency. Official notices and agency instructions control. NonDilute does not determine eligibility, provide grant-writing advice, or guarantee funding.