The objective of the DARPA Young Faculty Award (YFA) program is to identify and engage rising stars in junior research positions, emphasizing those without prior DARPA funding, and expose them to DoD needs and DARPA’s program development process. The YFA program provides funding, mentoring and industry and DoD 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 DoD and National Security issues.

The annual research announcement seeking YFA applications is typically posted to the Grants.gov, and fbo.gov websites between July and August.

These grants are designed to fill the critical need for startup funds for less experienced researchers to pursue promising research ideas. These grants encourage and cultivate the best and brightest researchers of the future and lead to long term commitments to research projects. The Young Investigator Grants are designed to support scientists during their fellowship training or early in their research careers. Demonstration of outstanding mentorship and demonstration of a career plan that shows commitment to pediatric cancer investigation are critical components of a successful application.

Young Investigator Grants are now 3 year grants! The award amount is $150,000. (A maximum of $50,000 per year for three years may be requested).

Supports highly promising healthcare and academic professionals ,in the early years of one’s first professional appointment, to explore innovative questions or pilot studies that will provide preliminary data and training to assure the applicant’s future success as a research scientist in the field of cardiovascular and/or cerebrovascular disease research.

CTF’s longest running program, the YIA provides two-year funding, commensurate with the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to young scientists early in their careers, bringing them into the NF field and helping to establish them as independent investigators. The YIA program has been a 'seeding mechanism' for researchers and their mentors, who could showcase their Foundation-funded research to secure larger grants from the NIH and the Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program - Neurofibromatosis Research Program (CDMRP-NFRP). 

Provides $250,000 in unrestricted funds to one Laureate in each disciplinary category (Life Sciences, Physical Sciences & Engineering, and Chemistry). Interested participants must hold a doctorate degree and a faculty position at an invited institution (other conditions apply, see the Eligibility category). This is a limited solicitation, view the RDS Limited Solicitation Calendar for additional information on how to apply. Nominations due mid-November annually.

Doctoral New Investigator (DNI) grants provide start-up funding ($110,000 over two years) to support fundamental research in the petroleum field. Applicants must be within the first three years of their first academic appointment at the level of Assistant Professor or the equivalent.

Eligible applicants are tenure-track faculty who hold primary or courtesy appointments in chemistry, physics, or astronomy departments that offer bachelor's and/or graduate degrees in the applicant's discipline. For the 2023 proposal cycle, eligibility is limited to faculty members who started their first tenure-track appointment anytime in calendar year 2020. Accommodations are made for faculty who have taken maternity or paternity leave, or who have experienced medical conditions or research delays that prompted a tenure clock extension. Funding of $120,000 is available for a three-year project.