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. The YFA program will provide high-impact funding to elite researchers early in their careers to develop innovative new research that enables transformative DoD capabilities. Ultimately, the YFA program is developing the next generations 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 DARPA’s six technical offices: Biological Technologies Office (BTO), Defense Sciences Office (DSO), Information Innovation Office (I2O), Microsystems Technology Office (MTO), Strategic Technology Office (STO), and Tactical Technology Office (TTO). Further detail regarding the specific technical areas of interest can be found under Section I.D “Topic Areas (TAs).” 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 TA under this RA should clearly describe the relevance and impact of the proposed concept(s) for addressing the national security challenges identified in the TA description (Section I.D); the current state-of-the-art technology; new insights to address the TA challenges; a credible research plan and schedule; and critical, quantitative milestones to be pursued over the research period.
Dates (All times listed herein are Eastern Time.)
o Posting Date: November 3, 2022
o Executive Summary Due Date: November 30, 2022, 4:00 p.m.
o FAQ Submission Deadline: January 31, 2023, 4:00 p.m. See Section VIII.B.
o Full Proposal Due Date: February 7, 2023, 4:00 p.m.