RTI International launches University Scholars Program

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC— RTI International launched a new faculty scholars program to build external collaboration and catalyze opportunities for funded, joint work with top academic scholars at Duke University, North Carolina A&T University, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Duke University's Jason Amsden, Ph.D., and UNC-Chapel Hill's Kelly Evenson, Ph.D., have been selected as the first RTI University Scholars.

The RTI University Scholars Program will provide support for highly talented academic researchers to spend scholarly leave time at RTI for one academic year in partnership with RTI researchers in three strategic areas: human health, energy, and education and workforce development. Applications are currently being accepted until Dec. 15, 2014, for the 2015-2016 academic year.

"With our headquarters in Research Triangle Park, our close proximity to world class academic research institutions provides a unique opportunity for RTI researchers to build close synergistic relationships with academic scholars," said Jim Gibson, chief operating officer at RTI.

Amsden, a research scientist with the Duke University Nanomaterials and Thin Films Lab, will investigate cost-effective energy generation and storage options for the developing world by working to integrate the efforts of the Reinvent the Toilet Challenge at RTI and an organic photovoltaic/supercapacitor integration project at Duke University.

Amsden will also investigate emerging materials and approaches for energy applications, and explore opportunities for new programs in energy conversion and bio-integrated electronics.

"We have been working with Jason on multiple research projects for the past few years and are excited that he will be spending more time working alongside our engineers and scientists," said Brian Stoner, Ph.D., Senior Fellow in Materials and Electronic Technologies at RTI. "This program provides both institutions with a unique opportunity to jointly develop new programs that expand beyond the existing research, while also providing Jason with a broader exposure to RTI."

Evenson, a research professor in the Gillings School of Global Public Health Department of Epidemiology at UNC-CH, will analyze physical activity and sedentary behavior among adults and children, and describe the co-occurrence of those behavior patterns across subgroups and within households with a focus on child-parent pairs. Also while at RTI, Evenson will be seeking potential collaborations with other RTI investigators on studies and evaluations involving physical activity and sedentary behavior.