Executive Summary
DARPA's 2027 Young Faculty Award funds fundamental national-security research by early-career faculty at U.S. institutions, up to $1.225M per award through cooperative agreements. A conforming executive summary is mandatory by November 5, 2026, 4:00 PM ET; full proposals are due January 13, 2027.
The deciding factor is the PI. The Young Faculty Award is for tenure-track or recently tenured faculty, or their nonprofit equivalents, not for companies. A startup fits only when a founder or close collaborator holds an eligible faculty appointment.
Solicitation at a Glance
- Agency: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), Defense Sciences Office
- Opportunity: Research Announcement: Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2027
- Number: DARPA-RA-27-01 (Grants.gov DARPARA2701)
- Award Vehicle: Cooperative agreements only; fundamental research
- Funding: Up to $500,000 over a 24-month base (up to $250,000 per 12 months); Director's Fellowship option up to $500,000; U.S. citizen graduate student option up to $225,000; maximum $1,225,000 per award
- Posted: October 20, 2026
- Due Dates: Executive summary November 5, 2026, 4:00 PM ET (mandatory); full proposal January 13, 2027, 4:00 PM ET
Think your company qualifies? Talk with BW&CO before the November 5, 2026 deadline.
What Is the Young Faculty Award?
The Young Faculty Award is DARPA's program for funding and mentoring early-career researchers on national-security research. The 2027 cycle funds fundamental research through cooperative agreements, with a 24-month base period and options for a Director's Fellowship and a graduate student.
What Problem Is DARPA Trying to Solve?
DARPA wants to bring rising researchers into national-security work early in their careers, so new ideas and new people reach DARPA programs.
Award Structure
- Base period: 24 months, up to $500,000, with each 12-month interval capped at $250,000
- Director's Fellowship: an optional 12-month extension of up to $500,000, contingent on selection
- Graduate student option: up to $225,000 for a U.S. citizen graduate student
- Maximum: $1,225,000 per award
- Awards: multiple awards are anticipated; one proposal per PI
Eligibility
- PI appointment: current tenure-track assistant or associate professors, tenured faculty within 3 years of their tenure date, or equivalents at nonprofit research institutions within 12 years of receiving their PhD
- Prior DoW funding: PIs who have received more than $500,000 from DARPA or more than $1.25M from all DoW sources are not eligible
- Institution: everyone on the team must be employed at a U.S. institution
- Restrictions: citizens of China, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Russia and Venezuela cannot serve as key or senior personnel
- Companies: researchers at small companies can take part only if they meet the PI rules and are employed at a U.S. institution
How to Apply
- Register early: executive summaries go through DARPA's submission system, which needs a two-step account registration
- Submit the executive summary: a conforming executive summary is required by November 5, 2026, 4:00 PM ET
- Ask questions: the question period closes January 5, 2027, 4:00 PM ET
- Submit the full proposal: through Grants.gov by January 13, 2027, 4:00 PM ET
What Happens After You Submit?
- Executive summary: only proposers with a conforming executive summary can submit a full proposal
- Review: DARPA evaluates full proposals under the research announcement
- Award: selected PIs receive cooperative agreements, with the Director's Fellowship option decided later
Is This Opportunity a Good Fit for Your Company?
It fits university spinouts whose founder or lead scientist still holds an eligible faculty post and wants to keep a fundamental research line funded alongside the company. It is not a company award, and it is a poor fit for full-time company teams.
How BW&CO Can Help
BW&CO has helped deep-tech and dual-use founders secure more than $350M in non-dilutive funding. For early-career awards like the Young Faculty Award, we help you:
- Check eligibility: confirm the PI meets the appointment and funding rules
- Frame the idea: shape a fundamental research question DARPA cares about
- Write the executive summary: meet the November 5 conforming summary requirement
- Build the full proposal: plan the base period and options
- Align with the company: keep university and company work clearly separate
Plan Your Young Faculty Award Submission
Frequently Asked Questions
Who issued DARPA-RA-27-01?
The DARPA Defense Sciences Office.
How much is each award?
Up to $1,225,000: up to $500,000 for the 24-month base, up to $500,000 for the Director's Fellowship option and up to $225,000 for a U.S. citizen graduate student.
When is it due?
A mandatory executive summary is due November 5, 2026, 4:00 PM ET. Full proposals are due January 13, 2027, 4:00 PM ET.
Who can be the PI?
Tenure-track assistant or associate professors, tenured faculty within 3 years of tenure, or nonprofit equivalents within 12 years of the PhD, at U.S. institutions.
Can a startup apply?
Not as a company. A founder can apply only if they hold an eligible faculty appointment at a U.S. institution.
What award type is used?
Cooperative agreements for fundamental research.
Is there a limit on prior funding?
Yes. PIs with more than $500,000 from DARPA or more than $1.25M from all DoW sources are not eligible.
Where do I submit?
Executive summaries go through DARPA's submission system after account registration; full proposals go through Grants.gov.
Can BW&CO help with a Young Faculty Award submission?
Yes. BW&CO can help confirm eligibility, frame the research idea and build the executive summary and proposal. Book a call with our team.
Source: Grants.gov: DARPARA2701, Young Faculty Award (YFA) 2027