Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2025
Funding Agency:
- Department of Defense
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 high-impact 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.
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.
Submissions responding to a topic under this RA should clearly describe the relevance and impact of the proposed concept for addressing the national security challenges; the current stateof- the-art technology; new insights to address key technical challenges; a credible research plan and schedule; and critical, quantitative milestones to be pursued over the research period.
This RA seeks cooperative agreement proposals only for a research activity consisting of a 24- month base period with a maximum total funding of $500,000 over the 24 months. Each 12- month interval of the base period shall not exceed $250,000. No award type other than cooperative agreements will be issued under this RA. Proposals should also include an additional 12-month option period with a maximum funding level of $500,000.
Multiple awards are anticipated (a maximum of $500,000).
Executive Summary Due Date: November 18, 2024, 4:00 p.m.
February 5, 2025, 4:00 p.m.
The RA Coordinator for this effort may be reached at:
DARPA/ DSO
ATTN: DARPARA2501
675 North Randolph Street
Arlington, VA 22203-2114