Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity

Student Opportunities

IARPA

Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity tackles some of the most difficult challenges across the intelligence agencies and disciplines, and results from its programs are expected to transition to its IC customers. IARPA does not have an operational mission and does not deploy technologies directly to the field.  

IARPA is capable of quickly responding to new priorities, emerging challenges, scientific breakthroughs, and emerging technological opportunities. IARPA does not institutionalize programs; the status quo is always questioned, fresh ideas and perspectives are always encouraged, and only the best ideas and research performers are funded.

IARPA is committed to technical excellence and technical truth and insists that technical risk be accompanied by technical rigor.  The scientific method and peer review are upheld as critical elements of program execution.

CONTENT TO COME

Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity SealIARPA will not start a program without a good idea and an exceptional program manager to lead its execution.  Our program managers are encouraged to take risks and accept failure in the pursuit of their innovative research ideas, provided that they do not sacrifice technical or programmatic integrity, and that they fully document their research results.

There are four cutting-edge offices within IARPA:

Office for Anticipating Surprise
The goal of the programs in this office is to characterize and reduce uncertainty through anticipatory intelligence, developing new capabilities to deliver timely and accurate forecasts for a range of events relevant to national security.

Office of Incisive Analysis
The goal of the programs in this office is to maximize insight from the information we collect, in a timely fashion.

Office of Safe & Secure Operations
The goal of the programs in this office is to be able to counter new capabilities implemented by our adversaries that could threaten our ability to operate freely and effectively in a networked world.

Office of Smart Collection
The goal of the programs in this office is to dramatically improve the value of collected data from all sources.


Resources & Links

Dr. Stacey Dixon, IARPA Director

Visit the IARPA Website

Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity SealIntelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity tackles some of the most difficult challenges across the intelligence agencies and disciplines, and results from its programs are expected to transition to its IC customers. IARPA does not have an operational mission and does not deploy technologies directly to the field. 

IARPA is capable of quickly responding to new priorities, emerging challenges, scientific breakthroughs, and emerging technological opportunities. IARPA does not institutionalize programs; the status quo is always questioned, fresh ideas and perspectives are always encouraged, and only the best ideas and research performers are funded.

IARPA is committed to technical excellence and technical truth and insists that technical risk be accompanied by technical rigor.  The scientific method and peer review are upheld as critical elements of program execution.

Dr. Catherine Marsh

MarshDr. Catherine Marsh serves as the Director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) within ODNI’s Strategy and Engagement Directorate.In her role, she will lead groundbreaking and multi-disciplinary research programs to achievebreakthrough technologies for national intelligence missions.

 

Prior to this assignment, Dr. Marsh served as the CIA’s Chief Scientist in the Directorate of Science & Technology where she wasresponsible for ensuring that leading-edge science and technology underlies all present and future DS&T and CIA mission capabilities. In addition, she served as the DS&T’sprimary science advisor, providing strategic scientific assessments of all DS&T mission programs.

 

From 2015-2016 she held the position of Dean of the DS&T’s George Methlie School where she led the DST’s tradecraft educationprogram. From 2013-2015 Dr. Marsh served as the Deputy Director of the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA) within the Office of the Director of National Intelligencewhere she was responsible for investing in high-risk/high-payoff research that has the potential of providing our nation with an overwhelming intelligence advantage.

 

Dr. Marsh is a renowned power sources expert with extensive experience leadingdevelopment teams both in industry and for the government. Dr. Marsh served as the Director of the Power Sources Center in the DST at CIA, where she led a group that provides multi-disciplinary, agile, flexible, and innovative power solutions for the Intelligence Community. In 2001, she joined the CIA as a senior scientist developing power solutions for many systems that support operations. While in industry, she led the team that put lithium-ion technology on numerous platforms, including the MARS Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.

 

Dr. Marsh is a Director of National Intelligence Fellow and a member of the DS&T’s Distinguished Expert Cadre. She holds B.S. and Ph.D. degrees in inorganic and analytical chemistry from Brown University.

 

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