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DARPA Young Faculty Award (YFA) is a grant from DARPA that funds early-career faculty researchers at U.S. universities to develop innovative research ideas relevant to national security challenges. The program provides funding, mentoring, and connections to industry and national security communities to help junior faculty establish research programs at the intersection of their expertise and defense needs.
Eligible applicants are individuals with tenure-track positions at U.S. universities and colleges. Awards reach up to ,000 per year for two years, with the long-term goal of developing the next generation of academic scientists focused on national security research.
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Department of War organization. Young Faculty Award (YFA) Young Faculty Award (YFA) The objective of the DARPA Young Faculty Award (YFA) program is to identify and engage researchers in junior faculty positions at U.S. academic and non-profit research institutions and expose them to national security needs and DARPA’s program development process.
The YFA program provides funding, mentoring and industry and national security contacts to awardees early in their careers so they may develop their research ideas in the context of national security needs. The long-term goal of the YFA program is to develop the next generation of academic scientists, engineers, and mathematicians who will focus a significant portion of their career on national security issues.
The annual research announcement seeking YFA applications is typically posted to the grants. gov , and sam. gov websites between August and September.
YFA 2026 Research Announcement Administrative (as of Jan. 12, 2026) Technical (as of Dec. 15, 2025) RSS feed for Opportunities Young Faculty Award | Ep 74
Based on current listing details, eligibility includes: Individuals with tenure-track positions at U. S. universities and colleges. Applicants should confirm final requirements in the official notice before submission.
Current published award information indicates Up to $500,000 per year for 2 years Always verify allowable costs, matching requirements, and funding caps directly in the sponsor documentation.
The current target date is rolling deadlines or periodic funding windows. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, attachments, and final submission checks.
Federal grant success rates typically range from 10-30%, varying by agency and program. Build a strong proposal with clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and a well-justified budget to improve your chances.
Requirements vary by sponsor, but typically include a project narrative, budget justification, organizational capability statement, and key personnel CVs. Check the official notice for the complete list of required attachments.
Yes — AI tools like Granted can help research funders, draft proposal sections, and check compliance. However, always review and customize AI-generated content to reflect your organization's unique strengths and the specific requirements of the solicitation.
Review timelines vary by funder. Federal agencies typically take 3-6 months from submission to award notification. Foundation grants may be faster, often 1-3 months. Check the program's timeline in the official solicitation for specific dates.
Many federal programs offer multi-year funding or allow competitive renewals. Check the official solicitation for continuation and renewal policies. Non-competing continuation applications are common for multi-year awards.
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