The Air Force Young Investigator Research Program (YIP) is an excellent way for new principal investigators to accelerate their careers in basic research with three years of funding at up to $150,000 per year. Each year, every AFOSR program can nominate one YIP recipient. AFOSR’s Cognitive & Computational Neuroscience program is in its second year and funds basic research in neuroscience and at the intersection of neuroscience and artificial intelligence.

Unlike with most of AFOSR’s research grants that are open to researchers worldwide, YIP applicants must be US persons (citizens, nationals, or permanent residents) with full-time, permanent positions at US institutions (by Oct. 1, 2020) who received their doctorates no earlier than April 1, 2013. White papers are due May 14, 2020, and the proposal submission deadline is July 14, 2020. Please see the funding opportunity announcement at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=325614 for complete details and requirements.

Program Description: The Air Force YIP supports scientists and engineers who have received Ph.D. or equivalent degrees within the last seven years and show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research. The objectives of this program are:
1. to foster creative basic research in science and engineering;
2. enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators;
3. and increase opportunities for the young investigator to recognize the Air Force mission and related challenges in science and engineering.

Eligibility:  Individual awards are made to U.S. institutions of higher education, industrial laboratories, for-profit businesses, or non-profit research organizations where the principal investigator (PI) is employed on a full-time basis and holds a regular position. Researchers working at a Federally Funded Research and Development Center or DoD Laboratory are not eligible for this competition. Research proposals must address Research Interests of the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, FA9550-19-S-0003, found at https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=314753 (see Amendment 003).

Most YIP awards are funded up to $150,000 per year for three years, for a total of $450,000. Exceptional proposals will be considered individually for higher funding levels and/or longer durations.

Questions about YIP may be sent to afosryip@us.af.mil. Pre-solicitation questions are due April 14, 2020.

Sincerely,
Hal Greenwald

Hal S. Greenwald, Ph.D.
Program Officer, Cognitive & Computational Neuroscience
Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR/RTA)
875 N. Randolph St.
Arlington, VA 22203-1768
(703) 588-8441