FA955026S0003_Qs_and_As.pdf
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- Opportunity number
- FA955026S0003
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This is a Questions and Answers document for AFOSR solicitation FA955026S0003, issued on 24 September 2026, addressing eligibility requirements and program parameters for the Young Investigator Program (YIP). The document clarifies that applicants must have received a Doctorate no earlier than 01 April 2019, with no exceptions granted for professional leave. Primary Investigators must hold U.S. citizenship, national status, or permanent residency at the time of proposal submission and must maintain full-time, permanent, career-competitive, or tenure-track non-contractor positions at their institutions. Eligible applicants include tenured faculty, and short-term appointees may apply if their organization provides a letter confirming consideration for permanent positions. Applicants must have permanent residency at proposal submission to be eligible for award, though white paper submissions from those awaiting permanent residency status are accepted.
The program operates as a single investigator award with no domestic or foreign collaborators, funded or non-funded. However, postdoctoral associates, graduate students, and undergraduate research assistants are allowable as project personnel. Government-owned facilities may be used if indicated in proposals. White papers must address proposed research identification, potential impact on Department of the Air Force and Department of War capabilities, potential team members and development plans, and proposed technical approaches including hypotheses, theories, concepts, data measurements, and analysis. Applicants may submit multiple white papers. There is no preliminary data minimum requirement, and proposals should meet all Programmatic Requirements Review Criteria listed on pages 40 and 41 of the solicitation. AFOSR seeks research developing long-term fundamental understanding, research with clear applications for military use, or combinations thereof.
FA955026S0003 Qs and As
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| File | Type | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| FA955026S0003FY27YIPFINAL.pdf |
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Text version
24 September 2026
FA955026S0003
Questions & Answers
Q1. I received my PhD in May 2018 and went on two maternity leaves. Can I still be granted eligibility?
Answer: No. We do not grant exceptions for any professional leave.
Q2. I received my MD PhD in May 2015. I did not finish my required medical training until 2023. Am I still eligible?
Answer: No. The PhD requirement is 01 April 2019 or later.
Q3. I received my PhD diploma on 12 March 2019. Am I still eligible?
Answer: No. The PhD requirement is 01 April 2019 or later.
Q4. Beyond the current solicitation and publicly available program materials, does AFOSR provide any guidance or examples that may help applicants understand expectations for a competitive YIP white paper?
Answer: Please refer to page 2 and page 21 of the solicitation for white paper details.
Q5. Does my research direction align with AFOSR’s current interests? If so, which program area and Program Officer would be the most appropriate fit?
Answer: Please reach out to the appropriate Program Officer under our general BAA that you feel best aligns with your research area.
Q6. I was part of a dual degree program in which my main PhD was awarded on August 2019 while another PhD was awarded in 2018. Am I still eligible?
Answer: Yes.
Q7. I applied for citizenship over 18 months ago and am still waiting for my permanent residency application to be approved. Can I still apply?
Answer: YIP Primary Investigators must have permanent residency at the time of proposal submission. You are welcome to submit a white paper, but if you do not have permanent residency at the time of proposal submission, you will be ineligible for a YIP award.
Q8. Is AFOSR looking to fund research that develops long-term fundamental understanding, research with clear translations into applications for DAF/DoW, or some combination of both?
Answer: We seek proposals that meet all the Programmatic Requirements Review Criteria listed on pages 40 and 41 of this solicitation.
Q9. How much preliminary data is needed for a YIP proposal?
Answer: There is no preliminary data minimum requirement.
Q10. The NOFO states that an applicant with a short-term appointment may be eligible if the proposal includes a letter from the applicant’s organization stating that the applicant “will be considered for a permanent, career-competitive, or tenure-track non-contractor position.”
Answer: As the individual Principal Investigator, you must hold a full-time, non-contractor permanent, career-competitive, or tenure-track position (based on your institution’s definition) with your organization, or your proposal must include a letter from your organization stating that you will be considered for a permanent, career- competitive, or tenure-track non-contractor position if you currently hold a short-term appointment. You will not be eligible for award if you do not hold a full-time, non-contractor permanent, career-competitive, or tenure-track position (based on your institution’s definition) when award decisions are made. This is in addition to the requirement you are a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident. You are not eligible to submit a proposal if you do not meet these requirements. You must have permanent residency at the time of proposal submission.
Q11. I am a PhD candidate who is expected to graduate in June 2027. Am I eligible to apply?
Answer: No. Eligible applicants must have received a Doctorate no earlier than 01 April 2019.
Individual awards are made to U.S. institutions of higher education, industrial laboratories, for-profit businesses, or non-profit research organizations where the individual principal investigator is a U.S. citizen, national, or has permanent residency at time of proposal submission; employed on a full-time basis and holds a permanent position. All PIs must meet all eligibility requirements.
Q12. Is there any guidance on the white paper content?
Answer: Identification of proposed research and issues, potential impact on DAF and DoW capabilities, potential team members and development plans, proposed technical approaches (i.e.
hypothesis, theories, concepts, approaches, data measurements, analysis, etc.), and all publications and presentations.
Q13. Can I submit more than one white paper?
Answer: Yes.
Q14. Can program funds be used to support integrated circuit fabrication in countries outside the United States?
Answer: No domestic or foreign collaborators, funded or non-funded, are allowed for this single investigator award.
Q15. Could you also clarify whether the program supports or encourages hiring graduate or undergraduate research assistants or a postdoctoral researcher as project personnel?
Answer: The YIP is a single investigator award. Post Doctoral Associates, Graduate, and Undergraduate research students are allowable.
Q16. Can tenured faculty apply?
Answer: Yes.
Q17. Can I use another facility for my award?
Answer: Government-owned facilities may be used and must be indicated in your proposal.
There are no collaborators or subawards.
Q18. The funding opportunity announcement states, “the principal investigator of a proposal must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident as of the proposal deadline. Does this mean that tenure-track faculty members on an H-1B visa are not eligible for this grant?
Answer: Correct. YIP Primary Investigators must have permanent residency at the time of proposal submission.
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