Historic Georgia Tech brick buildings at dusk, including a tower labeled “TECH,” with lit entryway, columns, and wet brick walkway after rain.
Campus walkway at night under the Pathway of Progress installation, with overhead mirrored panels, trees, and patterned light reflections.

Research Leadership Academy

Equipping Georgia Tech faculty with the skills, networks, and insights to lead large-scale, high-impact research initiatives.

Apply for Cohort II
The application deadline is June 19, 2026.

Apply Now 

About

Building on the success of our inaugural cohort, RLA returns in 2026 with a new cohort of Georgia Tech faculty leaders.

The Research Leadership Academy (RLA) is an initiative of the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research (EVPR), designed to equip Georgia Tech academic and research faculty with the skills, networks, and insights needed to lead large-scale, high-impact research initiatives.

This program empowers participants to become thought leaders, creators, and stewards of collaborative research that drives innovation at Georgia Tech and across the national and international research community.

What Participants Say

“RLA gave me a framework and a network I didn't know I needed. The cross-disciplinary conversations alone were worth the commitment.”

— Inaugural Cohort Member, 2025 - 2026

“I have benefitted tremendously from this program, and also met a lot of new people! Happy to be involved in future years if you need me.”

— Inaugural Cohort Member, 2025 - 2026

Eligibility

Ideal candidates will meet the following criteria:

  • Research leadership experience: 
    At least five years leading a midsize-to-large research group, lab, or center, including graduate students, postdocs, research staff, and/or other faculty.
  • Georgia Tech faculty appointment:
    At least two full academic years as a Georgia Tech academic or research faculty member.
  • Senior-level expertise:
    Academic faculty: tenured. Research faculty holds the title of senior or principal research engineer, scientist, associate, technologist, or extension professional.
  • Full participation commitment:
    Attendance at all RLA sessions is expected. 
     

Sessions

The program launches in August 2026, followed by monthly on-campus sessions including an offsite retreat. Tentative dates can be found below and will be confirmed and posted upon cohort selection in July 2026.

Campus session dates (times to be confirmed):

  • Kickoff: Monday August 10, 2026
  • Monday, September 7, 2026
  • Retreat: Sunday, October 4 – Tuesday, October 6
  • Monday, November 2
  • Monday, December 7
  • Monday, January 11
  • Monday, February 8
  • Monday, March 8
  • Closing: Monday, April 12

Full engagement is essential to the success of the program and the cohort experience. We appreciate your commitment!

Inaugural Cohort

Meet the faculty who made up our inaugural cohort and helped shape the foundation of RLA. View the full Cohort I announcement.

Apply Now

Application deadline: June 19, 2026

Questions?

Contact RLA@gatech.edu

Links