DARPA-RA-21-03: Young Faculty Award (YFA)
Closed
This grant is closed. A newer notice from the same program is open now: Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2027 (DARPARA2701). Status: Closes January 13, 2027 (67 days left). It is in our archive of DARPA - Defense Sciences Office notices from 2021.
DARPA - Defense Sciences Office offered grants to the applicants described in the notice. Applications closed on February 2, 2022.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed January 31, 2022. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award amountsNot given on Grants.gov
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeGrant
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| DARPARA2701 | October 20, 2026 | Closes January 13, 2027 (67 days left) | Open |
| DARPARA2502 | September 30, 2025 | Closed January 20, 2026 | Closed |
| DARPARA2501 | October 23, 2024 | Closed February 5, 2025 | Closed |
| DARPARA2401 | November 7, 2023 | Closed February 22, 2024 | Closed |
| DARPA-RA-23-01 | November 3, 2022 | Closed February 16, 2023 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | September 30, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | February 2, 2022 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | February 24, 2022 |
Who can apply
This opportunity was open to the applicants described in the notice.
- Others (see text field entitled "Additional Information on Eligibility" for clarification)
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.
Is this a realistic fit?
- Most of the program's money (93% over five years) went to colleges and universities.
- No cost sharing or match is required.
What the grant funds
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 Defense (DoD) needs and DARPA’s mission to create and prevent technological surprise. YFA will provide high-impact funding to elite researchers early in their careers to develop innovative new research that enables transformative DoD capabilities. Ultimately, YFA is developing the next generations of researchers focused on national security issues.
Who has won Research and Technology Development grants before
From fiscal 2021 to 2025, Research and Technology Development (12.910) awarded $1.5 billion across 739 grant awards, an average of $2.1 million per award.
| Recipient | State | Awards | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Southern California | California | 26 | $84.5 million |
| Clemson University | South Carolina | 2 | $82.2 million |
| Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Massachusetts | 29 | $63.1 million |
| Regents of the University of Michigan | Michigan | 21 | $59.6 million |
| The Regents of the University of California, San Francisco | California | 5 | $44.4 million |
Applying now
This notice no longer takes applications. Apply under the newer notice, DARPARA2701, which is open now.
The notice on Grants.gov keeps its full text and attachments, which is useful for planning a resubmission.
Questions people ask
Is DARPA-RA-21-03 still open?
No. It closed on February 2, 2022. A newer notice is open: DARPARA2701, closes January 13, 2027 (67 days left).
Who can apply for Young Faculty Award (YFA)?
DARPA - Defense Sciences Office accepted applications from the applicants described in the notice. The notice adds further conditions, so read its eligibility section.
What is the deadline for Young Faculty Award (YFA)?
Closed February 2, 2022. Applications are no longer accepted; the program's newer notices are on this page when there are any.
Who has won Research and Technology Development grants before?
The largest recipients over five fiscal years were University of Southern California, Clemson University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The program made 739 awards worth $1.5 billion in that time.