Faculty presenting research outcomes from the SMC Faculty Fellowship Program.

The program’s goal is to provide a Fellowship program that ensures a constant flow of new ideas and fresh perspectives, which helps to keep ARL at the forefront of science and technology. This ten-week program pairs talented senior military college faculty with scientists and engineers in a direct relationship, and the opportunity to perform research at the Army’s foundational research laboratory.

Participants will earn a $20,000 stipend and $5,000 for necessary lab supplies and materials for continued collaboration tailored and focused on the research as supported by their research proposal.

 

Eligibility Requirements

  • U.S. Citizen
  • Letter of Endorsement from Department Head
  • Hold a full-time faculty position at a Senior Military College
  • Have not engaged in a research partnership with ARL within the last 5 years

2025 Program Details

SMC Fellows will receive a stipend of $2,000 per week, disbursed bi-weekly.

Stipend payments from other federal sources (e.g., research grants or contracts) cannot be accepted during the program.
Participants will receive a one-time dislocation payment of $250 to cover relocation expenses, including baggage fees, taxi or ride-share services, meals, tolls, and transportation. This payment is issued before the program starts and is intended to cover both arrival and departure costs.
Travel Coordination: The program will handle travel arrangements to and from the research location at the beginning and end of the program. Selected fellows should NOT book their travel independently.

Personal Automobile Reimbursement: For participants opting to drive, mileage reimbursement is limited to the cost of the equivalent airfare. No other expenses will be reimbursed.

Travel Modifications: Any changes made to program-arranged travel will be at the participant's expense.
Housing is provided and arranged by the program while onsite. Fellows should NOT book housing independently.
Each fellow will be allocated $5,000 to procure necessary consumable lab supplies and materials to support continued collaboration and research efforts throughout the academic year. These funds are intended to enhance the fellowship’s research outcomes and facilitate ongoing scholarly engagement beyond the program.
All participants are required to attend the Army Research Technical Exchange (ARTE) in the Fall of 2026. Travel and accommodations for the symposium will be arranged by the program. Fellows should NOT book travel or hotel rooms independently.
To successfully complete SMC Faculty Fellowship Research Program, fellows are required to submit the following items at the conclusion of the program:

Technical Brief: A comprehensive technical brief summarizing the fellow’s research, including objectives, methodologies, key findings, and potential applications. This document will serve as a formal record of the research conducted during the fellowship. Which will be presented at the ARTE Exchange in the Fall of 2026.

Program Evaluation: Detailed feedback and evaluation of the fellowship experience, including suggestions for program improvement and insights gained during participation.

Application Details and Instructions

Use this application to apply for the SMC Faculty Fellows Research Program.

To complete your application, in addition to your personal and academic information, you will need:

  1. Your curriculum vitae – In PDF format, maximum file size 8 MB.
  2. Research proposal – Tailored to the opportunity that you are applying to. In PDF format, maximum file size 8 MB.
Proposal Requirements
  • Research Topic:
    • Should relate to a specific opportunity at ARL.
    • Five- to Seven-Page Proposal.
  • Applicant Information:
    • Full Name
    • Email Address
    • Phone Number
    • Academic Discipline
  • Research Capabilities:
    • Concisely explain your research capabilities describing the research you have conducted and the techniques you are familiar with.
  • Research Interests:
    • Concisely explain your research interests.
    • Describe the specific ARL area of research you would like to explore.
    • Explain how your expertise can impact the desired research area.
  • Outcome:
    • State the expected/desired outcome(s) of the 10-week experience.
  • Follow-on Engagement:
    • Include how the research can be continued at your home institution for continued collaboration with the ARL.

When you have collected these items, use the button below to proceed to the application.

All applications must be submitted by January 18, 2026, 11:59 PM (Eastern).

Any applications received after this date will not be eligible for consideration.

APPLY TODAY!

 

Available Opportunities

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Selection Process

The SMC-Faculty Fellows selection process has four Stages. Stage 1 verifies the applicant’s eligibility, Stage 2 is application review and selection of fellows by collaborators, Stage 3 is letter of intent, and Stage 4 is the completion of a background investigation. Applicants must pass all four Stages to be accepted to the program.

1Stage 1: Applicant Eligibility
During Stage 1, the application pool is reviewed and verified to comply with eligibility requirements. This review confirms citizenship, academic discipline, and the applicant’s enrollment status in an eligible institution. All eligibility requirements must be met to move to Stage 2.
2Stage 2: Collaborator Selections
During Stage 2, ARL collaborators will review the eligible applicants and conduct interviews with potential candidates. Please note that not every applicant will receive an interview. The collaborators recommend program selection and will have the candidate sign a Fellow Collaborator Agreement Form.
3Stage 3: Letter of Intent
During Stage 3, a letter of intent is sent to the candidate for signature. Selected candidates must sign and return the letter of intent within two business days.
4Stage 4: Successful Background Investigation
During Stage 4, the candidate is required to complete forms for a background investigation. If the applicant does not receive a favorable interim background investigation, they cannot move forward with the program. Please note on average, background investigations take 4 - 8 weeks. Upon completion of their successful background investigation the candidate will receive a program acceptance letter.
Army scientist mentoring faculty participants on research supporting Army modernization.

Join the SMC Faculty Fellows Research program, and uncover cutting-edge research in an Army lab.

APPLY NOW!