RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES
INSTAR Lab — a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit research institute headquartered in Marietta, Ohio — offers multiple pathways for engagement by researchers, citizen scientists, institutional partners, donors, and federal collaborators. Whether you are a principal investigator seeking an independent research environment, a curious researcher ready to develop your research identity through our open Fellowship program, an organization seeking a credible science partner, or a funder looking to support public-benefit research, there is a defined next step for you here.
Join as a Principal Investigator
Experienced researchers seeking an independent, intellectually rigorous environment are invited to explore affiliation with INSTAR Lab. As a nonprofit institute free from commercial constraints, INSTAR offers PIs the autonomy to pursue long-horizon questions alongside a collaborative consortium of methodological and strategic partners. Contact [email protected] to discuss research affiliation.
INSTAR Fellowship
INSTAR's open citizen-scientist Fellowship is available to anyone with curiosity and a fit for our research culture — no minimum degree required. Fellows at every level (bachelor's, master's, and PhD holders alike) develop their research identity within a structured, interdisciplinary environment with access to the full suite of Consortium methodologies and mentorship. Apply at the Fellowship page.
Institutional Partnership
Organizations seeking a credible nonprofit research partner for collaborative science, co-investigation, or technology development are encouraged to engage through INSTAR's formal partnership program. INSTAR's 501(c)(3) status and NTEE U05 classification make it a suitable co-investigator for philanthropic, corporate, and interagency research initiatives. Visit the Partner page or contact [email protected].
Support INSTAR as a Donor or Funder
Contributions to INSTAR Lab are tax-deductible under IRC §170. As a 501(c)(3) public charity, INSTAR directs philanthropic and institutional support directly into research operations, fellowship development, and scientific infrastructure. Funders seeking to support American nonprofit science with clear public benefit and Ohio-based STEM workforce impact are invited to contact [email protected] to discuss giving and co-funding structures.
GROUNDED IN OPEN DATA
INSTAR Lab grounds its research in transparent, publicly available datasets so results are reproducible and accountable. Researchers who join INSTAR gain access to workflows built on authoritative public sources, enabling grant-competitive research from day one. Key data portals we work with include:
Data.gov
Federal open datasets spanning agriculture, climate, health, and infrastructure — foundational for applied science and policy-relevant research.
NIST
Reference standards and benchmarks for AI evaluation, materials science, and quantum research — essential for grant-competitive rigor.
U.S. Census Bureau
Demographic and economic data informing social science, workforce, and regional research across Appalachian Ohio and national contexts.
NOAA
Climate, ocean, and atmospheric data for Earth sciences, environmental, and energy research programs.
NASA Open Data
Space, orbital, and remote sensing datasets for INSTAR's outer space and planetary science research.
NIH
Biomedical data and genomic resources for INSTAR's health, medicine, and life sciences research programs.
DOE OSTI
Energy research publications and technical reports informing INSTAR's energy and HPC research directions.
OUR PARTNERS
For Researchers
Join the INSTAR Fellowship
The INSTAR Fellowship is an open citizen-scientist program — no minimum degree required, selection based on fit with our research culture. Structured mentorship, interdisciplinary scope, and the freedom to pursue hard problems.