The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award (YFA) program aims to identify and engage rising stars in junior research positions in academia and equivalent positions at non-profit research institutions, particularly those without prior DARPA funding, to expose them to Department of Defense (DoD) needs and DARPA’s mission to create and prevent technological surprise for national security. The YFA program will provide highimpact funding to researchers early in their careers to develop innovative new research that enables transformative DoD capabilities. Ultimately, the YFA program is developing the next generation of researchers focused on national security issues.
Before preparing an executive summary or proposal submission, proposers are encouraged to review the DARPA mission statement and current program descriptions at the DARPA website https://www.darpa.mil to familiarize themselves with examples of current DARPA investments. This is not meant as instruction to duplicate those efforts, but rather to illustrate that current programs are aimed at research that will substantially advance our capabilities in these areas. Once awards are made, each YFA program performer will be assigned a DARPA Program Manager with interests closely related to their research topic. The Program Manager will act as project manager and mentor to the YFA award recipients.
DARPA is soliciting innovative research proposals in the areas of interest to the following DARPA technical offices: Defense Sciences Office (DSO), Information Innovation Office (I2O), Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), and the Tactical Technology Office (TTO). Further detail regarding the specific technical areas of interest can be found below under “Open Office Topics”. Proposed research should investigate innovative approaches that enable revolutionary
advances in science, devices, or systems. Specifically excluded is research that primarily results in evolutionary improvements to the existing state of practice.
Deadlines:
o Executive Summary Due Date: November 18, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
o Proposal Due Date: February 5, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
Proposers must be employed at a U.S. institution in a current tenured track faculty position, tenured faculty within 3 years of their tenure date, or an equivalent at a nonprofit research institution within 12 years of the receipt of their doctorate. Proposers that have received funding greater than $500,000 from DARPA or $1,250,000 from all other DoD sources combined as either a prime or subawardee are not eligible to apply for the YFA program. Additional eligibility information can be found in Section IV.
Each award will include a 24-month base
period (a maximum of $500,000). Each 12-month interval of the base period shall not exceed $250,000 and a 12-month option period (a maximum of $500,000).