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Annual solicitation posted Aug-Sep. YFA 2026 RA DARPARA2502 currently posted.
Young Faculty Award (YFA) is sponsored by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The DARPA Young Faculty Award program identifies and engages rising stars in junior faculty positions in academia and equivalent positions at non-profit research institutions to expose them to Department of Defense and National Security challenges. It provides high-impact funding to develop innovative new research directions.
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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 September and October.
Young Faculty Award | Ep 74
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Tenure-Track Assistant/Associate Professors; Tenured faculty within 3 years of their Tenure date; or an equivalent at a non-profit research institution within 12 years of the receipt of their Ph.D. Must be U.S. Citizens, U.S. Permanent Residents, or Foreign Nationals who meet eligibility criteria. Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
The current listing shows $500,000-$1,000,000. Verify award ceilings, matching requirements, and allowable costs in the official notice.
Applications for Young Faculty Award (YFA) are due October 31, 2026. This is an annual program. Build your timeline backwards from this date to cover registrations, approvals, and final submission checks.
Young Faculty Award (YFA) is funded by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
Past winners and funding trends for this program
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