(via Susan Lessick—University of California Irvine)
Are you eager to enhance library services and patient care? Do you want to increase your confidence, credibility, and impact? Would you value being part of a supportive network of peers and mentors that will provide guidance and inspiration? If so, your research journey starts here.
RTI Research Fellowship Program
The Medical Library Association’s Research Training Institute (RTI) Research Fellowship Program is a year-long online research methods training and support program for librarians and Library and Information Science (LIS) graduate students. RTI is the nation’s—and the world’s—only research fellowship dedicated solely to librarianship.
The program begins with a series of core research modules offered synchronously in June and July, followed by a year of continued learning and mentored research practice. Participants design and conduct a research project under the guidance of expert faculty (including Northwestern University’s Karen Gutzman) and peer coaches, culminating in a poster presentation at the MLA’27 Conference & Exhibits. Overall assessment findings consistently show that RTI graduates demonstrate significant and lasting gains in research knowledge, skills, and confidence (see RTI Assessment Findings and article). Many go on to publish, present, and lead evidence-based initiatives within their institutions.
Participants earn 48 MLA continuing education (CE) contact hours and receive an RTI Fellow Certificate, which recognizes their achievement. Graduates who publish peer-reviewed articles earn a distinguished RTIF designation following their name, a sign of advanced expertise and leadership in research. These credentials strengthen professional credibility, career mobility, collaborative opportunities, and institutional visibility.
Who Should Apply
All librarians, regardless of their professional setting, experience, or role, who provide health information services, collections, and support, and wish to contribute to improving library and/or healthcare outcomes, are encouraged to apply. RTI’26 also accepts a limited number of LIS graduate students, fostering a collaborative learning environment for advanced research instruction, mentoring, and hands-on project experience.
Exciting Updates for RTI’26
After extensive consultation with RTI faculty, thought leaders, and other stakeholders, the RTI’26 will launch with a significantly expanded curriculum and broader outreach. New modules will explore emerging, high-impact research areas, featuring national experts in:
· Research reproducibility
· Survey validation
· AI in research
· Research impact
These cutting-edge curriculum enhancements reinforce RTI’s role as the national leader in librarian research education, equipping participants with the tools, methodological rigor, and expertise needed to create meaningful change in their institutions and communities. See the full RTI’26 program details and schedule.
Applications Open until Monday, February 16, 2026
Join the 2026 RTI cohort! Applications (requires logging in to an MLA account; create one here) are open through Monday, February 16, 2026, with acceptance notifications in mid-April. Scholarships are available for professionals and students with financial need. The RTI welcomes U.S., Canadian, and international applicants, and strongly encourages individuals from underrepresented communities to apply. For eligibility requirements, selection criteria, and more information, visit the RTI website or contact Susan Lessick, AHIP, FMLA, at slessick@uci.edu.
Discover. Connect. Influence.
Join RTI’26 today and transform your ideas into impact!