Research for Intelligence & Security Challenges (RISC)
One of the biggest challenges facing the defense and intelligence communities is the competition for talent. The demand for employees who hold security clearances continues to outpace the supply of available workers, particularly in STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) and with rigorous academic training.
In 2020, ARLIS launched the Research for Intelligence & Security Challenges (RISC) initiative to help fill the deficit of government employees needed to address today’s intelligence and security challenges, particularly those with training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields and rigorous research-driven analysis. The ARLIS RISC program provides a pipeline of student talent at both graduate and undergraduate levels, providing students an opportunity to work on real-world problems within ARLIS’s focus areas.
Over an intensive 10-week virtual program, competitively selected student researchers work in teams under guidance from faculty mentors and government champions. Government operators pose problems supported by realistic data sets and other materials. The RISCers visit ARLIS in College Park at the end of the summer for a capstone event, allowing them to brief their projects and interact in person with their teams, sponsors and mentors.
Read more about RISC in our 2025 Program Report.
History & Mission
In 2020, ARLIS launched the Research for Intelligence & Security Challenges (RISC) initiative to help fill the deficit of government employees needed to address today’s intelligence and security challenges, particularly those with training in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fields and rigorous research-driven analysis. The ARLIS RISC program provides a pipeline of student talent at both graduate and undergraduate levels, providing students an opportunity to work on real-world problems within ARLIS focus areas.
Summer Student Researchers
Every year, the Applied Research Laboratory for Intelligence and Security (ARLIS) at the University of Maryland seeks talented undergraduate and graduate students to participate in the Research for Intelligence & Security Challenges (RISC) Initiative program. This 10-week paid and mostly virtual program pairs students with faculty mentors from INSURE consortium member institutions and the Department of Defense and Intelligence Community. Eligible student researchers may receive security clearances and be considered for future employment with the U.S. government.
Competitively-selected RISC student researchers (RISCers) work in teams with mentorship from university faculty and government practitioners. They work on real security and intelligence problems posed by the government.
Over the 10 weeks, students will conduct research and participate in lectures and regular team development meetings in a shared virtual work environment. 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.
The program is structured for team interactions and engagement with government sponsors. RISCers attend weekly seminars and regular team development meetings in a shared virtual work environment (though select projects may require on-site work). They then participate in final week briefings and in-person activities (with travel support).
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 2025 Program Report.
Apply for RISC 2026
Eligibility
We seek outstanding graduate and undergraduate students with expertise in the disciplines listed below. All U.S. citizens enrolled in an accredited university program during the preceding fall term — particularly rising juniors and seniors and early graduate students — are eligible and encouraged to apply. The RISC Initiative works to support a robust and diverse future workforce and welcomes applications from Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority Serving Institutions (HBCU/MSI) and other candidates from underrepresented populations.
The initiative is a 40-hour-a-week commitment and second employment and summer courses are strongly discouraged. Candidates with questions should engage the RISC program office.
The RISC Initiative is particularly seeking student researchers with expertise in one or more of the following disciplines:
- Computer Science, Information Science & Engineering: AI/ML algorithmic development, HCI, software engineering, systems engineering, media analysis and forensics, information systems design, geographic information systems, AI Assurance, Human Systems Integration;
- Mathematics and Statistics: Data analytics, quantitative modeling, experimental design, graph analytics;
- Social & Behavioral Sciences: cognitive/neuroscience & psychology, sociology, criminal justice, teamwork and group dynamics, communications, disinformation and misinformation, social network analysis, anthropology, human geography (e.g., pattern of life/mobility modeling), political science, international relations;
- Languages and Linguistics: languages of interest to global security, including but not limited to Mandarin, Russian, Farsi, Korean, and Arabic; computational linguistics and natural language processing; natural language understanding;
- Data Science: Data and knowledge engineering, data curation, tagging, metadata, repositories, data visualization, library sciences;
- Additional topics may include measurement and evaluation of learning outcomes, environmental modeling and remote sensing, human factors, and regulatory public policy.
How To Apply
Applications are accepted through the RISClink portal. The portal will reopen in mid-Oct. for the Summer 2026 program.
Selection criteria emphasize demonstrated strengths in relevant fields, experience working both independently and in teams, and demonstrated interest in contributing to national security.
After creating your RISClink account, you will need:
- A letter of interest describing:
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- Your disciplinary focus (referencing the topic areas above);
- Experiences that have prepared you for success in an internship focused on intelligence and security challenges;
- Experience with machine learning, programming, and/or statistics (not required for all roles); and
- Anything else in your background that could be helpful for the selection committee to know.
- Your résumé,
- Copy of your transcript(s)*, and (after submitting #1-3)
- One recommendation letter** from a professor or former supervisor.
Your application will not be considered complete until a LOR has been submitted!
*: Unofficial transcripts (i.e., downloaded from the university web portal) are acceptable. Graduate students should submit undergraduate transcripts as well, particularly if in their first year of study.
Remuneration
Student researchers will be paid on an hourly basis equivalent to between $9,000 and $12,000 over the ten weeks, commensurate with education and experience. Given the virtual platform, housing accommodations, transportation, and food allowances are not provided. However, for those local to the DC area, part-time physical campus workspace can be provided. For in-person final week activities, all travel expenses will be covered as required.
Information Session Details
We will host a series of RISC information sessions for interested students – we will give an overview of the program and share some of the previous projects. Additionally, you will have the opportunity to hear from past RISCers and ask any questions you may have about the program.
Dates & Times:
First Session: Wednesday, November 12th at 1 pm EST
Second Session: Tuesday, December 16th at 3pm EST
Third Session: Thursday, January 8th at 4pm EST
Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 992 237 515 30
Passcode: uU67su9T
FAQs