Frequently Asked Questions

What is the history of the AFRL Minority Leaders - Research Collaboration Program (ML-RCP)?
The ML-RCP was created by AFRL in 2005 and has since served 1000 students, 350 faculty participants, and 43 partner universities. Beyond conducting research aligned with AFRL interests, the ML-RCP aims to increase the research capacity of the member enabling institutions and faculty to seek out independently obtained funds from AFRL and Department of Defense (DoD). This successful program continues to support institutions and faculty and student participants. Any Minority Serving Institution (MSI) can join the ML-RCP and receive access to an array of benefits, including project funding. AFRL entered into a cooperative research agreement with The Ohio State University (OSU) in 2020 to facilitate the AFRL ML-RCP.  

How is this program financially supported by AFRL?
Congressional funding coupled with supplemental funding from the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and AFRL’s core budget makes this program possible. AFRL reviews, selects, and issues projects through a cooperative agreement with The Ohio State University and ARCTOS. Average project cost ranges between $50,000-$125,000 per year.  

How is The Ohio State University (Ohio State) involved?
Ohio State was selected through a competitive proposal process to administer the ML-RCP. Ohio State brings together participating institutions, faculty, and students through a consortium to create sustained engagement. The program's goal is to include more member MSIs than ever before, with dedication towards the administration of the program, student experience, and research to achieve AFRL's objectives. 

Can all Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) participate?
All MSIs are invited to join the ML-RCP and receive full access to benefits. It is our goal to have every MSI as a member. See a list of our current members here. 

What institutions are eligible to receive funding from the ML-RCP?
The primary focus of the ML-RCP is to enable, enhance, and expand the capacity of all Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs); including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and more. However, any institution of higher education (IHE) seeking to increase the participation of underrepresented faculty and/or students may apply.   

How is ML-RCP different than applying directly to AFRL or Department of Defense (DoD) to obtain funding?
The ML-RCP is different from applying directly to AFRL for funding because this program provides a community of support and best practices for institutions, faculty, and students, with regular engagement opportunities and a robust partnership base. Through their involvement with ML-RCP, faculty receive support from proposal development all the way to annual reports. The ML-RCP intentionally develops a network of faculty and AFRL researchers to support the development of proposals outside of the ML-RCP, working to increase faculty funding. Student researchers (undergraduate and graduate) may gain the opportunity to conduct paid summer research with AFRL and benefit from the professional network created by the program. The ML-RCP creates a virtual community of practice for students to engage in professional and leadership development and networking among peers. Members receive administrative guidance relating to export control, compliance, and secure research. Please refer to our administrative kickoff video for more information. 

Who can participate?
Generally, faculty participants must be U.S. persons, and student participants must be U.S. citizens. This may vary depending on the nature of the research or the Project Opportunity Announcement (POA).   

How can faculty apply for projects & funding?
Institutions may respond to Project Opportunity Announcements (POAs) issued by AFRL with a white paper submission requirement.  If the white paper is selected for further consideration, the institution will be invited to submit a full proposal through the Request for Project Proposal (RFPP) that is issued via The Ohio State University.

Will all institutions have equal consideration when applying for research?
This program engages a diverse pool of talent in addressing foundational research challenges in support of the nation’s air, space, and cyberspace technology needs. Provided that a member possesses the ability to meet the requirements of the AFRL Project Opportunity Announcement all members receive equal consideration regardless of size, location, etc. In alignment with the objective of engaging a diverse pool of talent, ML-RCP conducts a wide range of research. AFRL considers proposals based on their strategic interest in an institution, research area, faculty, or need for capacity building.  

What is the relationship between AFRL researchers & participating faculty?
Every ML-RCP project has a designated AFRL research mentor who actively engages in the research program with the faculty and students.  In some cases, students are invited to work on-site with their respective mentors during the summer months and receive direct hands-on experience. 

How will the ML-RCP help faculty obtain additional Department of Defense (DoD) funding, external to ML-RCP?
The resources and experience shared with faculty through participation in the ML-RCP, as listed above, better position faculty when applying for additional AFRL or DoD funds. The ML-RCP does not provide specific support for non-ML-RCP proposals.  

Will there be technical assistance training for faculty members to prepare proposals or white papers for ML-RCP projects?
Faculty may receive technical assistance as needed to assist with preparation of proposals.  This may include sharing best practices, templates, and examples. While the POA process is competitive, the nature of the ML-RCP is also to help institutions better position their schools to work with the Government. It is the goal of the program to ensure that happens.  Throughout the process, institutions are given opportunities to reach out to AFRL researchers during the appropriate timeframes, or to the Ohio State contractor support team for assistance. 

What should faculty expect to receive from this program?
The intent of the program is to better position institutions to apply and receive DoD funding.  The ML-RCP creates a community that introduces faculty to new collaborators and members that can work together to create stronger collaborative proposals.  Once contracts are issued, faculty members and their students have opportunities to work alongside AFRL members learning more about the Air Force mission, being exposed to equipment/laboratory facilities, and most importantly exchanging ideas with one another.  The Air Force values these partnerships in the spirit of growing collaborative partnerships and embracing new ideas as well as inspiring students to pursue Government careers.

Will classified research be part of the program?
All research projects conducted under the ML-RCP are designated unclassified.  Projects have a restriction on participant citizenship requiring faculty to be US persons and students to be US citizens.  The citizenship restrictions are there for both workforce development purposes and export control purposes.   If a project has been marked to have CUI or ITAR data, it is recommended that the university speak with their institution’s export control office to ensure proper technology control plans are in place-this is the responsibility of each academic institution. Ohio State University and ML-RCP can discuss the nuances of the requirements with your institution should they have any questions.  Each ML-RCP project is considered unclassified but is marked with a distribution statement D meaning that AFRL public affairs must clear all products coming from a project before they can be released. This includes presentations, publications, conference proceedings posters, theses and dissertations. Universities will utilize the public affairs clearance approval template provided by ML-RCP when the need arises.   Ohio State will be able to assist any institutions with any concerns in this area.

How can an HBCU or a MSI initiate collaboration with AFRL?

Faculty at HBCUs and MSIs may reach out to the ML-RCP at mlrcp@afresearchlab.com to share your technical areas of your work. The ML-RCP team will review your request and put you in communication with the Technical Directorate Leads and bench level scientists at AFRL that might want to collaborate with you. If your institution is not currently a member of the ML-RCP, you may also request membership information. 

Additional questions?
Please send additional inquiries to mlrcp@afresearchlab.com.