Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2026

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2026 program is a targeted competitive funding opportunity aimed at identifying and supporting early-career researchers, specifically junior faculty and equivalent positions at U.S. academic and nonprofit research institutions that have not previously received DARPA funding. The program seeks to cultivate rising stars in research aligned with transformative Department of Defense (DoD) capabilities, fostering innovation to address pressing national security challenges. The YFA 2026 awards provide cooperative agreements with a base period of 24 months and an optional 12-month extension, with funding up to $500,000 for the base and additional funds for the option period and an optional U.S. Person Graduate Student support component—capped at $350,000 for graduate student support. Proposals are expected to include a detailed research plan with clear milestones, management structure, deliverables, and a mentorship aspect whereby DARPA program managers actively engage with awardees. Eligibility criteria restrict participation to domestic early-career researchers without prior DARPA funding, emphasizing inclusion and mentoring to expand DARPA’s research pool. The solicitation comprises strict formatting and submission guidelines, including an 8-page limit for the technical volume and a one-page executive summary using mandated templates. The award instrument is a cooperative agreement, reflecting substantial involvement between DARPA and recipients. Key contractual provisions include requirements for organizational conflict of interest disclosures and mitigation plans per FAR 9.5 and the DARPA supplemental policy restricting simultaneous DARPA SETA or advisory roles for proposers within the past year. Administrative templates require certifications related to team composition, intellectual property, human subjects protections, and other federal compliance matters. The period of performance and funding details stipulate milestones and deliverables subject to government inspection and acceptance under established federal regulations on human subjects and research integrity. Payment and invoicing will utilize the Wide Area WorkFlow (WAWF) system. The evaluation process will consider merit and alignment with DARPA’s mission to invest in bold, innovative research that promises revolutionary DoD advances, with award decisions based on overall best value to the government.