ICAP at Columbia University

At ICF, we believe our purpose-driven culture is the foundation of everything we build. Our team of approximately 9,000 professionals combines deep expertise with cutting-edge technology to help clients solve their most complex challenges, but what really sets us apart is how we work together. We are not your typical consultants - we are passionate problem-solvers who care deeply about our work and the impact it creates. For over 50 years, we have partnered with governments and businesses to deliver transformative solutions in energy, environment, health, transportation, and digital modernization, all while maintaining a collaborative environment where every team member can thrive. Our culture is built on values that put people first. From our origins as the Inner City Fund in 1969, founded to finance minority-owned businesses, we have grown into a global technology and advisory services provider while staying true to our mission of building a more prosperous and resilient world. We invest in our employees through comprehensive benefits, continuous learning opportunities, and a commitment to work-life balance. Whether we are deploying AI solutions through ICF Fathom, modernizing federal IT systems, or supporting critical social programs, our team approaches every project with the same collaborative spirit and dedication to excellence. We are one ICF, operating in over 80 locations globally, united by our shared commitment to making big things possible for our clients and each other.

Penn State exists to expand access to education and drive discovery that transforms lives. Founded in 1855 as Pennsylvania's first and only land-grant institution, the university emerged from a fundamental belief that knowledge should be accessible to all, not just the privileged few. Today, that land-grant mission pulses through every aspect of the institution - teaching, research, and service that directly addresses the critical challenges facing Pennsylvania and the world. Across 24 campuses and a robust World Campus, nearly 90,000 students and 20,000 faculty and staff know that the real measure of success goes beyond the classroom - it is the positive impact made across communities worldwide through breakthrough research, community partnerships, and graduates who lead with purpose and integrity. The university consistently ranks among the top institutions globally, not by chasing rankings, but by staying true to core values that have guided it for nearly 170 years. Penn State's research enterprise spans from fundamental science that unlocks the mysteries of the universe to applied innovations that strengthen industries, improve health outcomes, and protect national security. The World Campus extends this educational experience beyond physical boundaries, offering the same rigorous, quality-accredited programs to learners anywhere, anytime - proving that geography should never limit opportunity. With a network of over 750,000 alumni worldwide, Penn State's impact multiplies through graduates who carry forward the land-grant spirit in every field imaginable, from business and healthcare to technology and public service.

CIFOR-ICRAF brings more than 75 years of combined scientific excellence in harnessing the power of trees, forests, and agroforestry landscapes to address the world's most pressing challenges. Formed through the union of CIFOR (founded 1993) and ICRAF (founded 1978), the organization publishes over 750 publications annually across multiple languages, making it the world's leading research institution on forestry and agroforestry. With headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya and Bogor, Indonesia, CIFOR-ICRAF operates across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Europe, conducting research in over 30 countries. The organization tackles climate change, biodiversity loss, food insecurity, and inequality through evidence-based solutions. As a CGIAR Research Center, CIFOR-ICRAF connects science with action, creating solutions from the ground up through inclusive partnerships, transdisciplinary research, and demand-driven innovation that reaches from farmers' fields to global policy arenas.

The University of Cincinnati stands as a premier public research university with a legacy spanning two centuries. Founded in 1819, UC pioneered cooperative education, creating the world's first co-op program that has since become a model for experiential learning globally. Today, the university enrolls over 53,000 students across 426 degree programs, maintaining a 19:1 student-to-faculty ratio that ensures personalized attention. UC's co-op program ranks fourth nationally, with students earning a collective $94 million annually through paid professional placements that integrate directly with their academic studies. As a Carnegie R1 research institution, UC drives significant economic impact - generating $10.6 billion regionally and $22.7 billion statewide while supporting over 125,000 jobs. The university's research expenditures reached $738 million in FY2025, reflecting its commitment to innovation and discovery. UC's campus has garnered international acclaim, with The New York Times recognizing it as featuring "the most ambitious campus design program in the country." Home to over 360,000 living alumni and competing in NCAA Division I athletics as a Big 12 Conference member, the University of Cincinnati continues to shape the future through education, research, and community engagement.

Emory University is a top-ranked private research institution known for rigorous academics, a strong liberal arts foundation, and world-class professional programs. Founded in 1836, Emory has grown to serve 16,142 students across two campuses in Atlanta and Oxford, Georgia, offering 140+ majors and minors through four undergraduate and seven graduate and professional schools. The university has been recognized as the #1 Best Quality of Life in the US by Princeton Review (2025) and ranked #3 for Best College Dorms nationally. Emory's impact extends globally through its research, healthcare, and scholarship. The university has been named a top producer of Fulbright recipients for 10 consecutive years, with 189 total awardees. As an academic health sciences powerhouse, Emory operates Georgia's largest Level 1 trauma center and translates fundamental biological discoveries into life-saving treatments through its Center for New Medicines. The university's commitment to access is demonstrated through its Emory Advantage Plus program, which will make Emory tuition-free for undergraduate students from families earning $200,000 or less starting in fall 2026.

Astera Institute is a private foundation with a $2.5 billion endowment on a mission to steer science and technology toward an abundant future. The institute operates through three core divisions: Neuro & AGI, focused on directed neuroscience and AI research to engineer safe and successful general intelligence systems; Radial, a life sciences research division that funds and runs high-impact fundamental scientific challenges; and Foundation, which provides centralized operational and financial support while leading residency programs and strategic investments. Unlike traditional non-profit research organizations, projects supported by Astera operate like high-velocity startups, allowing the organization to focus on ambitious goals, match structure to problem, and attract strong technical talent and leadership. Astera aims to rebuild the machinery of science for the AI era by supporting the creation of public goods to accelerate scientific and technological progress - including non-proprietary infrastructure, tools, datasets, playbooks, and standards. The institute leverages its substantial resources and risk tolerance to experiment with unexplored approaches, embracing scientific and technical risk to chase impact at scale.