AFRL/RI Information Institute ® General Research Topics 2026 Faculty Application Student Application 2026 Summer Visiting Faculty Research Program (VFRP) Application Period September 24, 2025 – January 2, 2026 VFRP is open to US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents NOTE: There is no AFOSR Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP) Program in 2026 The Air Force Research Laboratory's Information Directorate (AFRL/RI) and its Information Institute® (II) solicits faculty participation in the summer component of the Visiting Faculty Research Program (VFRP). The VFRP is complementary to the Summer Faculty Fellowship Program (SFFP) sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR); however, there is no SFFP in 2026. VFRP provides research opportunities for full-time faculty for 8-12 week tours during the May-September period. The goal with the summer VFRP is to provide on-site, rewarding experiences to the highest qualified candidates from the academic research community. All work will be performed on-site (at either AFRL or Innovare Advancement Center (IAC)). No remote assignments will be approved. Introduction: The Information Institute is an entity of AFRL/RI that is a virtual, collaborative research environment concentrating on Information Science and Technology. The Information Institute currently consists of universities allied with the US Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate in Rome, NY. The Information Directorate is focused on research and advanced development in Command, Control, Communications, Computers and Intelligence (C4I) and Cyber Technology areas. Its diverse workforce of more than 800 military and civilian scientists and engineers are charged with leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting information technology capabilities for our air, space and cyberspace force. Being located within the Griffiss Business and Technology Park affords the Information Institute strategic advantages in linking technologies to both potential commercial markets and US Air Force users. The Information Institute provides a unique opportunity to work with the US Air Force to turn science into applications. Information Institute Objectives: Create a shared research infrastructure to enable collaborative research Strengthen Information Directorate ties with universities Establish new and strengthen existing ties among universities Leverage research opportunities within and outside the Information Directorate Open doors to the Information Directorate's varied research activities and facilities Leverage university resources to benefit the Information Directorate's research base Principal Research Areas: As part of the Air Force Research Laboratory's Information Directorate, the Information Institute concentrates on Information Science and Technology research. In this context, we focus on the following Core Technology Competencies (CTCs): Autonomy, Command and Control, and Decision Support Processing and Exploitation Connectivity and Dissemination Cyber Science and Technology We're looking for new ideas for research and education partnership activities on a continuing basis and we'd like to know what you are doing in these and related areas! How the Information Institute Works: A primary mechanism for matching university researchers with the Information Directorate scientists and engineers, is through the published General Research Topics 2026 (see upper right corner). This document provides key information about which AFRL/RI scientists and engineers are working with universities along with their research areas of interest. Additionally, the document provides contact information for each topic. Additional opportunities to work with AFRL are through the Air Force Science & Technology Fellowship Program which offers post-doctoral and senior research opportunities: https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/air-force-science-and-technology-fellowship-program. Contact Us: AFRL/Information Directorate Information Institute 26 Electronic Parkway Rome, NY, 13441-4514 Email: rrs.iiweb@us.af.mil Phone: (315) 330-7244 DSN: 587-7244 The AFRL/RI Information Institute® is a registered trademark of the United States Air Force