DARPA - Defense Sciences Office · Department of Defense
Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2027
In short: A grant from DARPA - Defense Sciences Office.
Key facts
- Deadline
- Due Jan 13, 2027 · 85 days left
The funder says: “See Full Announcement for details.” - Award size
- Not stated: see the official notice
- Match ?
- Not required · Work out your budget and match
- Who can apply
- Set by the official notice: see Who can apply below
- Where
- Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee
Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist
How this fits you
- Available in Tennessee (nationwide program)
- No match required
- Past Tennessee awards on file: 21
Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.
About this grant
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award (YFA) program aims to identify and engage rising stars in junior research positions in academia and equivalent positions at non-profit research institutions, particularly those without prior DARPA funding, to expose them to Department of War (DoW) needs and DARPA’s mission to create and prevent technological surprise for national security. The YFA program provides high-impact funding to researchers early in their careers to develop innovative new research that enables transformative DoW capabilities. Ultimately, the YFA program developes the next generation of researchers focused on national security issues.
Who can apply, from the official notice
All responsible sources capable of satisfying the Government's needs may submit a proposal that shall be considered by DARPA. See the Eligibility Information section of the BAA for more information.
Official notice: https://simpler.grants.gov/opportunity/e2105ef4-a8d8-4849-97ec-7d075ed72a0e · Printed from grantme.click/grants/381ee1c4-013b-40b1-8725-297f4efa0378
View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar
Your schedule, working back from the deadline
- Oct20
Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov - Dec23
Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters. - Jan6
Finish a complete draft for a final review
Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft. - Jan11
Submit
Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog - Jan13
Deadline
From the funder.
Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.
Who in Tennessee has won this program
10 awards to Tennessee groups in 2 counties since 2017. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $33.9M | 2018 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $9.6M | 2018 |
| State of Tennessee | Nashville | $4.7M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | $3.5M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $1.8M | 2021 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $1.7M | 2024 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $930K | 2020 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | $828K | 2020 |
| University of Tennessee | Knoxville, Knox County | $500K | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | — spent that year | 2025 |
Source: USAspending.gov; Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.
Tennessee groups that got this money through a state agency or another organization
This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. 11 pass-through grants on file. Largest shown:
| Past winner | Where | Through | Amount | Fiscal year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | The Johns Hopkins University | $2M | 2026 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency | $1.7M spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Johns Hopkins | $678K spent that year | 2025 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | University of California, Davis | $228K | 2024 |
| The Pom Group, LLC | Oak Ridge, Anderson County | University of Central Florida Board of Trustees, the | $195K | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | University of California Davis | $138K spent that year | 2025 |
| The Pom Group, LLC | Oak Ridge, Anderson County | University of Central Florida Board of Trustees, the | $74K | 2023 |
| Edulis Therapeutics Inc. | Nashville, Davidson County | Carnegie Mellon University | $69K | 2026 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Vanderbilt University | $38K spent that year | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University Medical Center | Nashville, Davidson County | Vanderbilt University, the | $29K | 2023 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville | Loughborough University | — spent that year | 2024 |
Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).
Similar grants open or opening soon
From other funders, about the same kind of work.
- ONR FY27 NOFO for Young Investigator Program · Office of Naval Research · Due Oct 30, 2026 · 10 days left
- AMS Young Scholars Program (Epsilon Fund) summer math program grants · American Mathematical Society · Opens Nov 1, 2026 Estimate, not confirmed by the funder
- Air Force Fiscal Year 2027 Young Investigator Program (YIP) · Air Force Office of Scientific Research · Due Dec 4, 2026 · 45 days left
- 2026-27 RFP: Pilot Awards and Young Investigator Awards · Melanoma Research Alliance · Due Nov 5, 2026 · 16 days left
More from DARPA - Defense Sciences Office
- Defense Sciences Office (DSO) Office-wide BAA · Due Aug 27, 2027 · 311 days left
About the federal program
Research and Technology Development
Program number 12.910 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · U.S. Department of Defense, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) · Cooperative agreement (a grant with close agency involvement)
How applications are judged
Evaluation criteria will be as specified in the solicitation announcement. Typical evaluation criteria, listed in descending order of relative importance, are as follows: (1) Overall scientific and technical merit; (2) potential contribution and relevance to DARPA mission; (3) offeror's capabilities and related experience; (4) plans and capability to accomplish technology transition; and (5) cost realism.
Match
None required (federal program listing).
Examples of funded projects
Fiscal year 2025: Some examples of 2025 funded projects:
? Harnessing Dataless Neural Networks for Large-Scale Combinatorial Optimization and Signal Processing.
? Structures Uniquely Resolved to Guarantee Endurance.
? Multi-octave and narrow-linewidth 5-mW THz chip-sources for precision Rydberg sensing.
? Complex-Structured Optimization Algorithms for Non-Learning Neural Networks.
? Periodically-poled Ultrawide-bandgap Material Platform for Efficient UV Production.
? Quantum Sensing of Phonons for Enhanced Neutrino Detection.
? Harnessing Artificial Intelligence and Language Modeling for Enhancing Innovation and Evaluating Research Claims.
? Protein Design with AI models of quantitative traits.
? Automated Prediction Aided by Quantized Simulators.
? Rapid Advancement for Munitions Production.
? Self-Assembling Biohybrid Robots Using Metamorphic Insect Cells and Electrically Conducting Biopolymers.
? Multiscale Stochastic Dynamics on Evolving Networks in Random Environments.
? Large-scale gene annotation through machine learning-driven data science.
? Manipulations that Instigate Strategic Complexity and Havoc to Influence Exploitable Fragility.