Opportunity Information: Apply for DARPARA2501
The Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2025 is a DARPA Defense Sciences Office funding opportunity designed to bring promising early-career researchers into DARPA's national security research ecosystem. The program is aimed at identifying "rising stars" who hold junior faculty roles in academia or comparable early-career research positions at non-profit research institutions. A key emphasis is engaging investigators who may not have worked with DARPA before, with the goal of introducing them to Department of Defense (DoD) mission needs and to DARPA's core objective of creating and preventing technological surprise for U.S. national security.
Through this program, DARPA intends to provide high-impact support for ambitious, original research ideas that could lead to transformative capabilities for the DoD. In practical terms, YFA is meant to help junior investigators take on bold technical problems earlier in their careers, build connections to defense-relevant research challenges, and develop a trajectory focused on national security outcomes. The overall long-term intent is workforce development: strengthening the next generation of researchers whose work could shape future defense technologies.
This opportunity is being offered as a discretionary funding program under a cooperative agreement mechanism, which typically implies an active government role during project execution compared with a standard grant. The activity category is science and technology and other research and development, and it is listed under CFDA number 12.910. The opportunity is open to eligible applicants described broadly as "others," and DARPA notes that all responsible sources capable of meeting the government's needs may submit a proposal for consideration, with specific eligibility details provided in the official Broad Agency Announcement (BAA).
The funding opportunity is titled "Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2025" with the opportunity number DARPARA2501. It was created on 2024-10-23, and the stated original closing date for submissions is 2025-02-05. The listing does not provide an award ceiling or the expected number of awards in the provided source data, so applicants would need to consult the full BAA for the funding limits, project period, submission requirements, and evaluation criteria.Apply for DARPARA2501
- The DARPA - Defense Sciences Office in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2025" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.910.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2024-10-23.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-02-05. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2025 (DARPA) - FAQs
What is the Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2025?
The Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2025 is a DARPA Defense Sciences Office funding opportunity intended to bring promising early-career researchers into DARPA's national security research ecosystem. It focuses on supporting ambitious, original research ideas that could lead to transformative capabilities for the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD).
Which DARPA office is offering this opportunity?
This opportunity is offered by DARPA's Defense Sciences Office (DSO).
What is the main purpose of the YFA program?
The program is designed to identify and support "rising stars" in early-career research roles and connect them to defense-relevant problems. A central aim is to introduce investigators to DoD mission needs and to DARPA's objective of creating and preventing technological surprise for U.S. national security.
Who is the program meant to support?
It is aimed at promising early-career researchers, particularly those holding junior faculty roles in academia or comparable early-career research positions at non-profit research institutions.
Is the program intended for researchers who have worked with DARPA before?
A key emphasis is engaging investigators who may not have worked with DARPA before, with the goal of bringing new researchers into DARPA's ecosystem and exposing them to defense mission needs.
What kinds of research does YFA aim to fund?
Based on the provided description, YFA is intended to fund high-impact support for ambitious and original research ideas that could produce transformative DoD capabilities. The opportunity is categorized as science and technology and other research and development.
How does DARPA describe the longer-term goal of YFA?
The long-term intent is workforce development: strengthening the next generation of researchers whose work could shape future defense technologies and national security outcomes.
What is the funding mechanism for this opportunity?
This is offered as a discretionary funding program under a cooperative agreement mechanism. A cooperative agreement typically implies a more active government role during project execution than a standard grant.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA number 12.910.
What is the official title and opportunity number?
The funding opportunity is titled "Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2025" and the opportunity number is DARPARA2501.
When was this opportunity created?
The opportunity listing indicates it was created on 2024-10-23.
What is the submission deadline?
The stated original closing date for submissions is 2025-02-05.
Who can apply?
The listing indicates the opportunity is open to eligible applicants described broadly as "others," and notes that all responsible sources capable of meeting the government's needs may submit a proposal for consideration. Specific eligibility details are stated to be provided in the official Broad Agency Announcement (BAA).
Does the listing specify an award ceiling?
No. The provided source data does not include an award ceiling, so applicants would need to consult the full BAA for funding limits.
Does the listing state how many awards are expected?
No. The provided source data does not provide the expected number of awards.
Where can applicants find details like the project period, submission requirements, and evaluation criteria?
The listing indicates applicants should consult the full Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for key details such as funding limits, project period, submission requirements, and evaluation criteria.
What is meant by "creating and preventing technological surprise" in the context of this opportunity?
The opportunity description frames DARPA's objective as both creating technological surprise for U.S. national security advantages and preventing technological surprise that could disadvantage the United States. YFA is positioned as a pathway for early-career researchers to contribute to that mission.
What is the practical benefit to junior investigators described in the listing?
YFA is described as helping junior investigators take on bold technical problems earlier in their careers, build connections to defense-relevant research challenges, and develop a trajectory focused on national security outcomes.
Is this opportunity limited to universities only?
The description highlights junior faculty roles in academia as well as comparable early-career research positions at non-profit research institutions. The listing also states eligibility details are provided in the official BAA.
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