USRA can host affiliation pathways for senior, independent, and external researchers who want a formal connection to the RIACS Quantum Research Task Force without necessarily joining as employees. The intent is to make collaboration easier for researchers whose expertise complements USRA programs in quantum algorithms, hardware-aware co-design, benchmarking, quantum AI, simulation, and mission-oriented quantum information science.
Affiliates may be invited to participate in selected technical discussions, proposal teams, workshops, reviews, seminars, or other activities where their expertise is relevant. Appropriate affiliation titles may include roles such as adjunct scientist, scholar, advisor, or another title matched to the nature of the relationship.
The program is meant to be lightweight but clear. Affiliations should be documented with an agreement covering confidentiality, appropriate use of the USRA affiliation, website listing permissions, and the scope of collaboration. The affiliation should be something researchers can be proud to list in a CV while preserving the distinction between employees, contractors, collaborators, and external advisors.
Researchers interested in exploring an affiliation with the RIACS Quantum Research Task Force can contact dventurelli@usra.edu.