Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2025
ID: 356821Type: Posted
Overview

Buyer

DARPA - Defense Sciences Office (DOD-DARPA-DSO)

Eligible Applicants

Others

Funding Category

Science and Technology and other Research and Development

Funding Instrument

Cooperative Agreement

Opportunity Category

Discretionary

Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement

Yes
Timeline
    Description

    The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is offering the Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2025, aimed at supporting early-career researchers in academia and non-profit research institutions to engage in innovative research aligned with national security needs. The program seeks to identify and fund rising stars in junior research positions, particularly those without prior DARPA funding, to develop transformative capabilities for the Department of Defense (DoD). Proposals must be submitted through an executive summary by specified deadlines, with funding of up to $500,000 available over a 24-month base period. Interested applicants can reach out to the BAA Coordinator at YFA2025@darpa.mil for further information, with the closing date for submissions set for February 5, 2025.

    Point(s) of Contact
    Files
    Title
    Posted
    The DARPARA2501 Young Faculty Award (YFA) document outlines the mandatory structure and submission requirements for executive summaries related to research proposals. All submissions must adhere to specific formatting guidelines, including a maximum one-page limit for the executive summary (excluding the cover sheet) and a requirement for anonymity to ensure a blind review process. The cover sheet should include essential identifying information about the Principal Investigator (PI), organization, and administrative contacts. The content of the executive summary should succinctly convey a summary of the research effort and its significance, provide background information about the problem being addressed, detail the expected impact of the project, and outline the methodologies to be employed. Key aspects include articulating the innovative nature and advantages of the proposed methodologies compared to existing ones. An emphasis is placed on clarity, conciseness, and minimizing jargon, thereby facilitating a better understanding of the proposed study's aim and its relevance to the field. This document serves the purpose of guiding applicants in creating compelling and compliant proposals for federal funding under the YFA, contributing to the advancement of scientific and engineering research initiatives.
    This document outlines a government Request for Proposal (RFP) related to a project aimed at enhancing defense capabilities, with a focus on providing quantitative impacts and applications relevant to the Department of Defense (DoD). The proposal emphasizes key technical approaches, including the identification of major risks associated with the project and corresponding risk mitigation strategies. It further articulates the significance of the project, detailing the problem it seeks to address and why this is vital for national security. The structure highlights a clear vision of project objectives, technical methodologies, and the potential strategic benefits if successfully implemented. Overall, the document serves as a crucial foundation for attracting federal and state funding while emphasizing the project's relevance to enhancing national defense and operational efficacy.
    The DARPARA2501 Young Faculty Award (YFA) proposal template outlines mandatory guidelines for submitting a technical and management proposal for a comprehensive 36-month program. To ensure conformity, all submissions must adhere to specific formatting requirements, including maximum page limits and allowable file types. The Technical and Management Volume is restricted to 8 pages, excluding certain sections like figures, tables, and the transmittal letter. The content is structured to include an official transmittal letter, summary slide, executive summary, goals and impact, technical and management plans, personnel qualifications, capabilities, a detailed Statement of Work (SOW), a schedule with milestones, and an optional bibliography. Each section demands precision, clarity, and demonstration of innovation in achieving project goals. Key areas detailed include the project’s objectives, limitations of current methods, expected impacts, cost, and timeline, as well as mitigation strategies for technical and operational risks. Overall, this template serves to facilitate a clear and comprehensive presentation of proposed research aimed at advancing project goals within the context of government funding opportunities. Compliance with these instructions is critical to avoid non-conformity in proposals, emphasizing the government’s structured approach to selection and evaluation.
    The DARPARA2501 Young Faculty Award (YFA) document outlines mandatory administrative and national policy requirements for proposal submissions related to federal funding opportunities. Specifically, it emphasizes the need for a correctly formatted Administrative and National Policy Requirements document, which must be included in full with no deletions. This document requires details on team member identification, potential organizational conflicts of interest, intellectual property disclosures, and considerations for human subjects and animal research. Key elements include a cover sheet listing pertinent proposal details and team contacts, sections on organizational conflict of interest affirmations, intellectual property rights assertions, and compliance with research oversight committees. Additionally, proposers must declare any unpaid federal tax liabilities or felony convictions within the past two years, ensuring transparency and ethical compliance. The lack of a specified page limit for the requirements document indicates an expectation for thoroughness in addressing these stipulations. Overall, this document serves as a critical guideline for applicants seeking funding under the YFA initiative, reinforcing adherence to administrative regulations and ethical research standards.
    The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) announces the Young Faculty Award (YFA) for 2025, aimed at supporting early-career researchers in fields relevant to national security. This program seeks to foster connections between academia and DoD needs by providing grants of up to $500,000 over 24 months, along with a 12-month option for additional funding based on performance. Eligible applicants must hold tenured or tenure-track faculty positions at U.S. institutions or equivalent roles at non-profit research organizations. Submissions must focus on innovative research that significantly advances science and technology applicable to defense capabilities, under specific technical interests defined by DARPA's offices. Key deadlines include an executive summary due by November 18, 2024, and full proposal submissions by February 5, 2025. Evaluation will emphasize scientific merit, relevance to DARPA's mission, and cost realism. The YFA program intends to cultivate the next generation of researchers by assigning Program Managers for mentorship and guidance. Proposers are strongly encouraged to familiarize themselves with DARPA’s current program goals to ensure relevance. Participation is restricted to U.S.-based entities, with stringent rules regarding past funding and other eligibility criteria to encourage new innovators in defense-related research.
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