About Us

About the AIR Pipeline Partnership Program

The AIR Pipeline Partnership Program (P3) is committed to fostering an inclusive culture that actively seeks and values diverse perspectives and experiences. This commitment extends beyond AIR and into the broader behavioral and social science research sector. Central to P3 is guiding and mentoring the next generation of research and technical assistance professionals, ensuring that they are equipped to address complex societal challenges with a deep understanding of cultural competency and inclusivity.

Launched in 2020, the P3 offers learning opportunities for graduate students and early-stage investigators in an effort to sustain the diversity of research and technical assistance work conducted by scholars in the behavioral and social sciences. As part of the program, AIR experts and AIR Scholars provide education and training in the latest behavioral and social science research approaches, grounded in cultural competency principles.

About AIR and the AIR Opportunity Fund

The American Institutes for Research® (AIR) is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that conducts behavioral and social science research and delivers technical assistance to solve some of the most urgent challenges in the U.S. and around the world. At AIR, we know that equity begins with systems that work for everyone, so we lead with expertise, follow the evidence, and never stop drawing new connections to build a better, more equitable world.

The AIR Opportunity Fund aims to address systemic inequalities by race and place in the U.S. and globally, focusing on four key areas—education equity, workforce development, justice in public safety and policing, and community health and well-being. Through our funding, we harness the power of research, evaluation, technical assistance, and partnerships to foster a more equitable society where all communities and people can thrive. At the core of this work, we fund and foster partnerships with those who are directly affected by the inequities we seek to address and those who influence and drive decision-making. Our work incorporates diverse perspectives, experiences, and areas of expertise to shape approaches and solutions that are responsive to the communities we serve. The Pipeline Partnership Program is one component of this initiative.

Our Partners

P3-US

Georgia State University
Howard University
The University of Texas at San Antonio

P3-Africa

African Economic Research Consortium (AERC)
Union for African Population Studies (UAPS)
University of Dar es Salaam
University of Nairobi

Learn More

AIR’s Pipeline Partnership ProgramThe AIR Equity Initiative supports the Pipeline Partnership Program which engages with graduate-level students and faculty to build a more diverse group of research and technical assistance experts inside and beyond AIR. By working with Georgia State University in Atlanta; Howard University in Washington, D.C.; and The University of Texas at San Antonio, AIR aims to be a force for expanding the range of voices within the field.

How Mentoring Strengthened a Quest for Environmental Justice | American Institutes for ResearchThrough the AIR Equity Initiative’s Pipeline Partnership Program (P3), Jules Gonzalez and AIR Scholar Marta Tienda have forged a deep relationship that has continued for years beyond the formal mentoring program. In this conversation, they discuss their passion for addressing inequities and the powerful role of mentoring in their educational and career development.

The AIR Opportunity Fund: Building Evidence for a More Equitable World | American Institutes for ResearchIn 2021, the American Institutes for Research® (AIR) launched the Equity Initiative to address the underlying causes of systemic inequities and to increase opportunities for people and communities. With a renewed focus on addressing disparities tied to race and place, this initiative has now evolved into the AIR Opportunity Fund. Backed by a 10-year, $225 million investment, the fund deepens our commitment to working alongside local leaders to create community-driven solutions that help people and communities thrive.

How Mentoring Supports Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at AIR | American Institutes for ResearchMentoring is an important part of AIR’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, both within and beyond our institution. In this Q&A, AIR’s Karen Francis, vice president and chief diversity, equity, inclusion officer, and Kimberly DuMont, vice president and managing director of the AIR Equity Initiative, discuss our mentoring programs and highlight how they each support diversity, equity, and inclusion at AIR.

Our Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and InclusionAIR’s commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and cultural and linguistic competence (CLC) are essential to our mission and pivotal to our strategic goals. Staff members at every level in AIR are engaged in intentional and comprehensive efforts to integrate the principles and practices of DEI and CLC into every facet of their work.

Press Releases

American Institutes for Research Expands Commitment to Address Systemic Inequities with $225 Million AIR Opportunity Fund | American Institutes for ResearchAIR is deepening its commitment to addressing systemic inequities with an enhanced focus on research developed in partnership with communities across the U.S. The AIR Opportunity Fund will invest in locally driven projects that address disparities in education, public safety and policing, workforce development, and community health and well-being.

New Partnership Seeks to Foster Diversity and Inclusion in Research and Implementation Fields | American Institutes for ResearchAIR is launching a new partnership with three large universities aimed at building a pipeline of diverse candidates who can contribute to the field of behavioral and social science research and application. The AIR Pipeline Partnership Program will provide opportunities for graduate-level students at Howard University in Washington, D.C., the University of Texas at San Antonio and Georgia State University, in Atlanta.

American Institutes for Research Invests in the Future of Social Science Research through New Ph.D. Fellowship Programs | American Institutes for ResearchAIR has expanded its efforts to strengthen and sustain the diversity of research and technical assistance work conducted by scholars in the behavioral and social sciences through two new fellowship programs supporting Ph.D. students in the U.S. and Africa. The efforts are part of AIR’s Pipeline Partnership Program (P3), which offers guidance, mentoring, and learning opportunities for the next generation of research and technical assistance professionals.

American Institutes for Research Strengthens Partnerships to Diversify the Behavioral and Social Science Research FieldsAIR is strengthening its efforts to diversify the fields of behavioral and social science research through a partnership with three large universities across the country. The AIR Pipeline Partnership Program seeks to address a persistent lack of racial and ethnic diversity in the BSSR fields and ensure that individuals from underrepresented backgrounds are not marginalized or excluded from opportunities, resources and supports to excel in their career pursuits.