DARPARA2502: Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2026
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 2025.
DARPA - Defense Sciences Office offered grants to the applicants described in the notice. Applications closed on January 20, 2026.
From the official notice on Grants.gov, last changed December 31, 2025. Checked November 7, 2026.
- Award amountsNot given on Grants.gov
- Cost sharingNot required
- Funding typeCooperative Agreement
Other notices with this title
| Notice | Posted | Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| DARPARA2701 | October 20, 2026 | Closes January 13, 2027 (67 days left) | Open |
| 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 |
| DARPA-RA-21-03 | September 30, 2021 | Closed February 2, 2022 | Closed |
Key dates
| Posted | September 30, 2025 |
|---|---|
| Deadline | January 20, 2026 |
| Archived by Grants.gov | February 19, 2026 |
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 for national security. The YFA program will provide high-impact funding to researchers early in their careers to develop innovative new research that enables transformative DoD capabilities. Ultimately, the YFA program is developing the next generation 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 DARPARA2502 still open?
No. It closed on January 20, 2026. A newer notice is open: DARPARA2701, closes January 13, 2027 (67 days left).
Who can apply for Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2026?
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) 2026?
Closed January 20, 2026. 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.