Air Force Fiscal Year 2026 Young Investigator Program (YIP)

The Fiscal Year 2026 Air Force Young Investigator Research Program (YIP) is a competitive funding opportunity administered by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR). This program supports early-career scientists and engineers who demonstrate exceptional promise in conducting basic research relevant to the missions of the Air Force and Space Force. The YIP aims to foster creative research in science and engineering while accelerating the professional development of young investigators by integrating them into the defense research ecosystem. The YIP specifically targets individuals who received their Ph.D. or equivalent degree on or after April 1, 2018, and who are U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. Candidates must be employed full-time in a permanent, non-contractor position at a U.S. institution of higher education, industrial lab, or non-profit or for-profit research organization. This grant opportunity provides individual awards of up to $150,000 per year for a maximum of three years, totaling up to $450,000 per award. A total of approximately 37 awards are anticipated for general YIP funding, with an additional 2 awards designated for projects focused on gate-based quantum computing under a partnership with the Laboratory for Physical Sciences (LPS). The number of total awards may increase depending on the availability of funds. Applicants may only submit one proposal to a single research portfolio area, which must align with AFOSR's current Broad Agency Announcement (BAA). Additional funding may be made available to core AFOSR portfolios depending on proposal quality and program priorities. Eligibility is restricted to U.S. entities employing eligible individuals on a full-time basis. Researchers based at Federally Funded Research and Development Centers (FFRDCs) or Department of Defense (DoD) laboratories are not eligible. No co-principal investigators are allowed unless a transition occurs post-submission that requires the PI to transfer institutions. In such cases, transfer accommodations or subaward arrangements may be considered. All applicants must submit a required white paper summarizing their proposed research, which must be no more than five pages and adhere to specific formatting guidelines. This white paper is a mandatory step before submitting a full proposal and is used for initial screening and feedback. Key deadlines for the FY2026 cycle include a white paper submission deadline of July 25, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET. Feedback will be provided by August 22, 2025. Full proposals are due by September 19, 2025, at 11:59 PM ET through Grants.gov. The anticipated notification of selection status is February 14, 2026, and awards are expected to be made by March 1, 2026. Applications must include a project narrative, budget justification, data management plan, and personnel documentation. The data management plan must comply with DoD and NSF standards for data accessibility, formatting, and retention. Proposals will be reviewed based on technical merit and relevance to DoD missions. Additional considerations include potential for developing new research capabilities and the qualifications of the applicant and team. Proposals undergo both peer and programmatic review and will also be subject to a security risk assessment for all senior/key personnel. Only proposals submitted via Grants.gov will be accepted, and the SF-424 R&R form must be used as the application cover page. Questions regarding technical topics should be directed to the respective Program Officer, and general inquiries can be sent to afosryip@us.af.mil. Applicants are encouraged to initiate early contact with relevant Program Officers for coordination and clarification.

Applicants should contact Program Officers early and follow all formatting rules strictly.