Opportunity Information: Apply for FA955026S0003
The Air Force Fiscal Year 2027 Young Investigator Program (YIP) is a competitive research grant opportunity run by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) to support outstanding early career scientists and engineers doing basic research. The program is designed to back individuals who are still relatively close to their terminal degree and who show clear promise for making high-impact contributions in science and engineering. Beyond funding a specific research idea, the larger goal is also career development: helping young investigators build an independent research trajectory while increasing their exposure to Air Force and Space Force mission needs and the types of technical challenges those missions create.
Eligibility is centered on both career stage and employment setting. To qualify, the principal investigator must have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent degree on April 1, 2019 or later. The PI must also be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident. Awards are made to U.S.-based organizations where the PI is employed full time in a regular, non-contractor position; eligible host organizations include U.S. institutions of higher education, industrial laboratories, for-profit research organizations, and non-profit research organizations. The announcement explicitly excludes researchers working at Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) or Department of War (DoW) Laboratories from participating in this competition.
Funding is structured as a three-year grant with a maximum of $150,000 per year, capped at $450,000 total. The annual cap is strict, meaning no single budget year can exceed $150,000 even if the three-year total stays within $450,000. AFOSR notes that it does not reimburse proposal development costs and will not return submitted proposal materials. Proposals are reviewed through an internal AFOSR review panel, and AFOSR retains the discretion to fund all, some, or none of the submissions, depending on merit, fit, and funding availability.
In terms of how many awards may be made, AFOSR anticipates making about 37 traditionally funded YIP awards under this competition, plus 3 additional YIP awards funded in partnership with the Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) specifically in the Quantum Information Sciences discipline. The announcement also mentions the possibility of up to an additional 37 YIPs being funded from other AFOSR research funding sources, but emphasizes that everything depends on available funds. The opportunity is listed on Grants.gov as a discretionary grant under CFDA 12.800, with an expected total of about 50 awards and an award ceiling of $450,000.
A required first step in the application process is the submission of a white paper. The white paper is intended to provide a concise snapshot of the proposed research idea and to help AFOSR assess the basic suitability and capability of the effort before a full proposal is submitted. White papers must be no more than five pages in length, although references and CVs/biosketches do not count against that page limit. White papers must be submitted through AFOSR's designated white paper portal (the Qualtrics link provided in the announcement), and AFOSR topic points of contact coordinate feedback on the white papers. AFOSR also encourages applicants to speak with the relevant AFOSR Program Officer(s) before submitting a full proposal, which is often important in aligning a project with the right technical area and expectations.
Full proposals, if invited or otherwise submitted after the white paper stage, must be filed electronically through Grants.gov by the stated deadline. Each proposal must include a data management plan describing how samples and data will be stored, managed, archived, and shared. The announcement frames this as similar to the National Science Foundation data management plan model, and it expects applicants to address practical elements like data and metadata standards, formats, database management, and how sharing will work both during the award and after the award period ends.
Key dates are clearly laid out and run through late 2026 into spring 2027. Written pre-proposal inquiries and questions about white papers must be sent by September 17, 2026 (11:59 PM Eastern), with AFOSR responses expected by close of business September 24, 2026. White papers are due October 9, 2026 (11:59 PM Eastern), and AFOSR expects to provide white paper determinations by close of business on November 6, 2026. Full proposals are due through Grants.gov on December 4, 2026 (11:59 PM Eastern). AFOSR anticipates notifying applicants of selection or non-selection by April 26, 2027, with awards expected to be made around May 1, 2027, assuming there are no administrative delays. Applicants are also cautioned to watch for amendments to the NOFO, which would be posted on Grants.gov.Apply for FA955026S0003
- The Air Force Office of Scientific Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Air Force Fiscal Year 2027 Young Investigator Program (YIP)" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.800.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2026-09-08.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2026-12-04. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $450,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 50 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses.
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Air Force FY 2027 Young Investigator Program (YIP) - FAQs
What is the Air Force FY 2027 Young Investigator Program (YIP)?
The Air Force Fiscal Year 2027 Young Investigator Program (YIP) is a competitive basic research grant opportunity run by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). It supports outstanding early career scientists and engineers conducting basic research, with an emphasis on both research impact and career development.
What is the purpose of this program beyond funding a research project?
In addition to funding a specific research idea, the program is designed to help early career investigators build an independent research trajectory and increase their exposure to Air Force and Space Force mission needs and related technical challenges.
Who is eligible to serve as the Principal Investigator (PI)?
To be eligible, the PI must have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent degree on April 1, 2019 or later, and must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident.
Is there a degree date requirement for eligibility?
Yes. The PI must have earned a Ph.D. or equivalent degree on April 1, 2019 or later.
Are non-U.S. citizens eligible to apply as PI?
The PI must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident to be eligible.
What types of organizations can host an award?
Awards are made to U.S.-based organizations where the PI is employed full time in a regular, non-contractor position. Eligible host organizations include U.S. institutions of higher education, industrial laboratories, for-profit research organizations, and non-profit research organizations.
Does the PI need to be employed full time by the host organization?
Yes. The PI must be employed full time in a regular, non-contractor position at the U.S.-based host organization.
Are contractors eligible?
No. The eligibility description specifies a regular, non-contractor position for the PI.
Are researchers at FFRDCs eligible for this competition?
No. The announcement explicitly excludes researchers working at Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) from participating.
Are researchers at Department of War (DoW) Laboratories eligible?
No. The announcement explicitly excludes researchers working at Department of War (DoW) Laboratories from participating.
How much funding is available per award?
Funding is structured as a three-year grant with a maximum of $150,000 per year, capped at $450,000 total.
Is the $150,000 annual limit flexible if the total stays under $450,000?
No. The annual cap is strict. No single budget year can exceed $150,000 even if the three-year total remains within $450,000.
How long is the period of performance?
The program is structured as a three-year grant.
Will AFOSR reimburse proposal development or preparation costs?
No. AFOSR notes that it does not reimburse proposal development costs.
Will submitted proposal materials be returned?
No. AFOSR states it will not return submitted proposal materials.
How are proposals reviewed?
Proposals are reviewed through an internal AFOSR review panel.
Does AFOSR have discretion in making awards?
Yes. AFOSR retains the discretion to fund all, some, or none of the submissions depending on merit, fit, and funding availability.
How many awards does AFOSR expect to make under this opportunity?
AFOSR anticipates making about 37 traditionally funded YIP awards under this competition, plus 3 additional YIP awards funded in partnership with the Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) specifically in the Quantum Information Sciences discipline.
What is the LPS partnership mentioned in the announcement?
The announcement describes 3 additional YIP awards funded in partnership with the Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS) that are specific to the Quantum Information Sciences discipline.
Could there be additional YIP awards beyond the anticipated number?
Yes. The announcement mentions the possibility of up to an additional 37 YIPs being funded from other AFOSR research funding sources, but emphasizes that all awards depend on available funds.
What does the opportunity listing say about the expected number of awards?
The opportunity is listed on Grants.gov as a discretionary grant under CFDA 12.800, with an expected total of about 50 awards and an award ceiling of $450,000.
Is a white paper required before submitting a full proposal?
Yes. A required first step is the submission of a white paper intended to provide a concise snapshot of the proposed research idea and help AFOSR assess suitability and capability before a full proposal is submitted.
What is the purpose of the white paper stage?
The white paper stage is used to provide a concise overview of the proposed research and allows AFOSR to assess the basic suitability of the idea and the capability of the effort prior to a full proposal submission.
How long can the white paper be?
White papers must be no more than five pages in length. References and CVs/biosketches do not count against the five-page limit.
Do references and CVs/biosketches count toward the white paper page limit?
No. References and CVs/biosketches do not count against the five-page white paper limit.
How and where do applicants submit the white paper?
White papers must be submitted through AFOSR's designated white paper portal (the Qualtrics link provided in the announcement).
Who coordinates feedback on white papers?
AFOSR topic points of contact coordinate feedback on the white papers.
Does AFOSR encourage contacting Program Officers before submitting a full proposal?
Yes. AFOSR encourages applicants to speak with the relevant AFOSR Program Officer(s) before submitting a full proposal to help align the project with the right technical area and expectations.
How are full proposals submitted?
Full proposals must be filed electronically through Grants.gov by the stated deadline.
Is a data management plan required in the full proposal?
Yes. Each proposal must include a data management plan describing how samples and data will be stored, managed, archived, and shared.
What should the data management plan address?
The announcement expects the data management plan to address practical elements such as how data and metadata will be handled, standards and formats, database management, and how sharing will work during the award and after the award period ends. It is framed as similar to the National Science Foundation data management plan model.
What are the key dates for questions and written pre-proposal inquiries?
Written pre-proposal inquiries and questions about white papers must be sent by September 17, 2026 (11:59 PM Eastern). AFOSR responses are expected by close of business September 24, 2026.
When is the white paper due?
The white paper deadline is October 9, 2026 (11:59 PM Eastern).
When will AFOSR provide white paper determinations?
AFOSR expects to provide white paper determinations by close of business on November 6, 2026.
When is the full proposal due?
Full proposals are due through Grants.gov on December 4, 2026 (11:59 PM Eastern).
When does AFOSR expect to notify applicants of selection decisions?
AFOSR anticipates notifying applicants of selection or non-selection by April 26, 2027.
When are awards expected to be made?
Awards are expected to be made around May 1, 2027, assuming there are no administrative delays.
Should applicants monitor for updates to the opportunity?
Yes. Applicants are cautioned to watch for amendments to the NOFO, which would be posted on Grants.gov.
Where is this funding opportunity posted?
The opportunity is listed on Grants.gov.
What is the CFDA number associated with this opportunity?
The opportunity is listed under CFDA 12.800.
What kind of grant is this considered on Grants.gov?
It is listed as a discretionary grant.
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