AIR FORCE OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT #

NOFOAFRLAFOSR20260004

FY26 DEFENSE ESTABLISHED PROGRAM TO STIMULATE

COMPETITIVE RESEARCH (DEPSCoR) –

RESEARCH COLLABORATION (RC)

OVERVIEW INFORMATION

The Department of Defense (DoD) announces the fiscal year 2026 (FY26) Defense

Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) – Research

Collaboration (RC) opportunity. The program is sponsored and managed by Office of the

Under Secretary for War, Research and Engineering (OUSW-R&E)/Science &

Technology (S&T), Foundations, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering (OUSD [R&E]), awarded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research

(AFOSR), and administered through the Office of Naval Research (ONR). The DoD plans to award FY26 DEPSCoR appropriations through this announcement.

IAW 10 U.S.C. 4010, DEPSCoR's objectives are to: (1) increase the number of university researchers in eligible States/Territories capable of performing science and engineering

(S&E) research responsive to the needs of the DoD; and (2) enhance the capabilities of institutions of higher education (IHE) in eligible States/Territories (listed below) to develop, plan, and execute S&E research that is relevant to the mission of the DoD, and competitive under the peer-review systems used for awarding Federal research assistance;

(3) increase the probability of long-term growth in the competitively awarded financial assistance that IHE in eligible States receive from the Federal Government for S&E research.

Consistent with these long-term objectives of building research infrastructure, the DoD intends to competitively make, and fund from fiscal year 2026 appropriations, multiyear awards for S&E research in areas relevant to the DoD’s mission and important to national security.

This funding opportunity aims to create basic research collaborations between a pair of researchers, namely 1) Applicant/Principal Investigator (PI), henceforth referred to as

Applicant, a full-time faculty member who has never served as a PI on a prior DoD directly funded research Prime award; and 2) Collaborator/co-Principal Investigator (co-

PI), henceforth referred to as Collaborator, an investigator who will provide mentorship to the Applicant and has served as a PI on a DoD directly funded research Prime award actively between 1 October 2018 and 30 September 2026. This structure is aimed at introducing potential applicants to the DoD’s unique research challenges and its supportive research ecosystem.

IAW 32 CFR Part 21, the prime award as defined in the context of this announcement, must be awarded directly to an Institution of Higher Education (IHE) by a DoD component

(e.g., Air Force Office of Scientific Research, Army Research Office, Office of Naval

Research). It establishes a direct legal assistance relationship between the federal awarding agency and the recipient institution. It cannot be a sub-award, sub-grant, subcontract, or flow-down funding received indirectly from a non-DoD pass-through entity (such as another university or prime contractor).

Tenured or tenure-track faculty members with appointments at IHE, in the following

States/Territories are eligible to apply for DEPSCoR opportunities under this announcement: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, District of

Columbia, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New

Jersey, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, U.S. Virgin Islands, Vermont, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming see eligibility table in III A.

Hyperlinks have been embedded within this document and appear as underlined, and blue-colored words in the midst of paragraphs. The reader may “jump” to the linked section within this document by “clicking” (CTRL + CLICK or CLICK).

SUMMARY OF FUNDING OPPORTUNITY INFORMATION

1. FEDERAL AWARDING AGENCY NAME

Air Force Office of Scientific Research

875 North Randolph Street, STE 325, Room 3112

Arlington, VA 22203

2. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY TITLE

Defense Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (DEPSCoR) –

Research Collaboration (RC)

3. ANNOUNCEMENT TYPE

Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO)

4. FUNDING OPPORTUNITY NUMBER

NOFOAFRLAFOSR20260004

5. CATALOG OF FEDERAL DOMESTIC ASSISTANCE (CFDA)

NUMBER(S)

12.431 – Basic Scientific Research

6. KEY DATES

Schedule of Events

Event Date Eastern Time

RunGrants website open for White Paper submission

(https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor) Monday, 10 August 2026 9:00 AM

DEPSCoR Webinar

For details and registration, please visit

(https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor)

Tuesday, 25 August 2026 2:00 - 4:00 PM

RunGrants Registration (strongly suggested by)

Cut-off date for Q&As with Program Officers

Wednesday, 7 October 2026 NLT 11:59 PM

White Paper and Supporting Documentation submission on RunGrants website

(https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor)

(required by)

Monday, 12 October 2026 NLT 11:59 PM

Notification of White Paper Selection Friday, 08 January 2027 NLT 11:59 PM

Full Proposal Submission (by invitation only) electronically on

Grants.gov website

(submitted by)

Monday, 05 April 2027 NLT 11:59 PM

Notification of Selection for Award Friday, 23 July 2027 NLT 11:59 PM https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor https://www.grants.gov/

Table of Contents

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION .............................................................. Error! Bookmark not defined.

A. OBJECTIVES ............................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined.

B. COLLABORATION COMPOSITION

C. TOPICS

Topic 1: Space Bioscience Topic 2: Dynamic Data and Information Processing Topic 3: Condensed Matter Physics Topic 4: Unsteady Aerodynamics and Turbulent Flows Topic 5: Earth Materials and Processes Topic 6: Dynamical Influences on Performance Topic 7: Wireless Communications Networks Topic 8: Electrochemistry Topic 9: Nonlinear Transforms for Dynamical Systems Topic 10: Social Cognition in Local Communities Topic 11: Fundamental Mechanisms and Materials for Shock Mitigation for Warfighter

Protection Topic 12: Fundamental Research on Efficient Packaging and Deployment of Unmanned

Aircraft Systems (UAS)

II. FEDERAL AWARD INFORMATION

A. ADDITIONAL DEPSCoR FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

III. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION

A. ELIGIBLE APPLICANTS

B. INELIGIBLE ENTITIES

C. COST SHARING OR MATCHING

D. OTHER

E. PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY SUMMARY

IV. APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION PROCESS

A. ONLINE REGISTRATION VIA RunGrants

B. WHITE PAPER AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTION SUBMISSION

C. CONTENT AND FORMAT OF THE WHITE PAPER

D. FULL PROPOSAL SUBMISSION PACKAGE

E. INFORMATION YOU MUST SUBMIT IF SELECTED FOR POSSIBLE AWARD

F. SYSTEM FOR AWARD MANAGEMENT (SAM) REGISTRATION,

GRANTS CERTIFICATIONS, UNIQUE ENTITY IDENTIFIER, AND CAGE CODE

G. SUBMISSION DATES AND TIMES

H. INTERGOVERNMENTAL REVIEW

I. FUNDING RESTRICTIONS

V. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION

A. CRITERIA

B. REVIEW PROCESS

C. DISCLOSURE OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROCESSING BY CONTRACTOR PERSONNEL622

D. NO GUARANTEED AWARD

VI. FEDERAL AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION

A. WHITE PAPER SELECTION AND NONSELECTION NOTICES

B. AWARD NOTICES

C. ADMINISTRATIVE AND NATIONAL POLICY REQUIREMENTS

D. REPORTING

VII. AGENCY CONTACTS

A. TECHNICAL INQUIRIES AND QUESTIONS

B. GENERAL INQUIRIES AND QUESTIONS

C. PROGRAMMATIC QUESTIONS

VIII. OTHER INFORMATION

A. OMBUDSMAN

B. GRANTS OFFICERS AUTHORITY

I. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

A. OBJECTIVES

The aim of DEPSCoR is to improve the research capabilities at institutions of higher education (IHE) in eligible States/Territories to perform competitive basic research in science and engineering that is relevant to the DoD mission and reflect national security priorities. As defined in the

DoD Financial Management Regulation:

Basic research is systematic study directed toward greater knowledge or understanding of the fundamental aspects of phenomena and of observable facts without specific applications towards processes or products in mind. It includes all scientific study and experimentation directed toward increasing fundamental knowledge and understanding in those fields of the physical, engineering, environmental, and life sciences related to long-term national security needs. It is farsighted high payoff research that provides the basis for technological progress (DoD 7000.14-R, vol. 2B, chap. 5, para. 1.5.1)

The DoD’s basic research program invests broadly in many scientific fields to ensure that it has early cognizance of new scientific knowledge.

To address the program’s aim, DEPSCoR will focus on research collaboration through human and technical resources by soliciting applications in a DEPSCoR – Research Collaboration (RC) competition.

DEPSCoR – RC seeks proposals that advance knowledge in basic science involving bold and ambitious research that may lead to extraordinary outcomes such as disrupting accepted theories and perspectives.

Authority for a grant award under this announcement is established in 10

U.S.C. 4001 for basic research. Authority for DEPSCoR specifically was established in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year

1995 and has subsequently been amended and reauthorized over the years since. (See specifically 10 U.S.C. 4010).

B. COLLABORATION COMPOSITION

This funding opportunity aims to create basic research collaborations between a pair of researchers, namely 1) Applicant/Principal Investigator

(PI), henceforth referred to as Applicant, a full-time faculty member who https://comptroller.defense.gov/portals/45/documents/fmr/current/02b/02b_05.pdf https://comptroller.defense.gov/portals/45/documents/fmr/current/02b/02b_05.pdf https://uscode.house.gov/browse/prelim@title10/subtitleA/part5/subpartE/chapter301/subchapter1&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/browse/prelim@title10/subtitleA/part5/subpartE/chapter301/subchapter1&edition=prelim https://uscode.house.gov/browse/prelim@title10/subtitleA/part5/subpartE/chapter301/subchapter1&edition=prelim has never served as a PI on a prior DoD directly funded research Prime award; and 2) Collaborator/co-Principal Investigator (co-PI), henceforth referred to as Collaborator, an investigator who will provide mentorship to the Applicant and has served as a PI on a DoD directly funded research

Prime award actively between 1 October 2018 and 30 September 2026.

This structure is aimed at introducing potential applicants to the DoD’s unique research challenges and its supportive research ecosystem. Only one Applicant/Principal Investigator and one Collaborator/co-PI are allowed per application.

Applicants must be aware of the following eligibility criteria:

➢ You are eligible to apply as the Applicant under the DEPSCoR-RC

FOA as long as you were NOT listed as the Principal Investigator on a previous DoD funded research award and are a full-time faculty member in a tenured or tenure track position in a DEPSCoR eligible

State/Territory. Being a “Co-PI” or “sub-PI” on a prior DoD funded award does not count as being a “PI” for the purposes of eligibility of the Applicant for the DEPSCoR-RC FOA.

➢ The DEPSCoR-RC White Paper package must include prior research award documentation which indicates that the Collaborator was a PI on a previous DoD directly funded research Prime award between

1 October 2018 and 30 September 2026. If the Collaborator is not identified as the PI within the award document, a letter from the awarding agency point of contact should be furnished supporting the assertion within the timeframe identified.

➢ The Collaborator must have served as a Principal Investigator on a directly funded DoD research Prime award between 1 October 2018 and 30 September 2026 and not have been subcontracted by other PIs, non-DoD entities, or companies as a Co-Principal Investigator.

Subawards, indirectly funded by the DoD where the Collaborator has served as a Co-Principal Investigator does not count as eligible criteria for the Collaborator for the purposes of this funding opportunity announcement.

➢ The flow charts below serve as a guide for determining Applicant and

Collaborator eligibility. Each diamond shape is an eligibility criterion question which elicits either a “yes” or “no” response. You are not eligible to submit a White Paper or Full Proposal if any “yes” or “no” response leads to the “Not eligible” outcome. Submissions found to be “Not eligible” will not be subject to technical review. You are not eligible to submit a White Paper or Full Proposal if you do not meet this requirement.

FY26 DEPSCoR Applicant Eligibility

No

No

No

Yes

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

ELIGIBLE

Is the Applicant faculty at an IHE* in a DEPSCoR state?

Does the Applicant’s choice for Collaborator meet all DEPSCoR eligibility requirements?

Has the Applicant served as a Principal Investigator on a prior DoD directly funded research Prime award?

Is the Applicant in a tenured or tenure-track position?

Is there a qualifying letter from IHE* stating the Applicant will be considered for a tenured or tenure-track position?

NOT ELIGIBLE

No

Yes

Start

* Institution of Higher Education (IHE) must be in a DEPSCOR eligible State/Territory and with an advanced degree which must be directly in the Science, Technology, Engineering, or Math (STEM) fields.

Yes

FY26 DEPSCoR Collaborator Eligibility

No

ELIGIBLE

Is the Collaborator faculty at an IHE* in a DEPSCoR state?

Is award period of performance between 1Oct2018 and 30Sept2026?

Yes

Is the Collaborator listed as PI directly on the award documentation?

Yes

Is the Collaborator listed on award documentation as a Co-PI, Sub-PI, Site Lead or designation other than PI?

Is award or Subaward granted directly to another PI or DoD contractor?

No

No

Can the Collaborator provide a Government POC that can confirm eligibility?

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

Has the Collaborator been funded on DoD Prime research award?

Yes

Is the Collaborator in a tenured or tenure-track position?

Is there a qualifying Letter from IHE* stating the Collaborator will be considered for a tenured or tenure-track position?

No

Yes

NOT ELIGIBLE

No

Yes

Is award granted directly to the Collaborator from the DoD?

Yes

Yes

No

Start

For example, an eligible IHE that offers a master’s in education but only offers bachelor’s degrees in physics and engineering would not qualify under this rule because its advanced degree program is not in science, mathematics, or engineering granting program in science, mathematics, and/or engineering.

The Applicant is permitted to submit only one DEPSCoR-RC White Paper per this DEPSCoR-RC NOFO FOA. Each White Paper is permitted a single

Applicant and a single Collaborator.

Collaborators are allowed to work with more than one Applicant and thus aren't restricted from participating in more than one White Paper. However, please note it is expected that Collaborators serve as a vital component of the proposed team and commit to providing time for research collaboration and mentorship throughout the entire process.

The website https://discover.dtic.mil/products-services/ is a non-comprehensive repository of government-funded scientific, technical, and engineering information for the DoD. Researchers and Applicants new to DoD are encouraged to visit the site as a starting point for identifying past and present DoD-funded researchers.

OUSW-R&E/S&T, Foundations has also established a “Connect and Collaborate” site which prospective Applicants and Collaborators, seeking collaboration in this

DEPSCoR opportunity can post their interest. Please see (https://dod-basicresearch.nvision.noblis.org/program/depscor) for more information.

Posting your interest is NOT a requirement.

While each member of the collaboration should be in a tenure-track appointment or tenured at an IHE in DEPSCoR-eligible States/Territories, you do not need to be in the same State/Territory. Likewise, the Applicant and Collaborator can have appointments at the same IHE.

Proposals should name the Applicant as the PI and their IHE as the primary institution. Awards will be issued to the IHE where the Applicant maintains a position as faculty. It is anticipated but not a requirement that the Collaborator will be funded through a sub-award. The Applicant IHE must receive greater than

50% of the funding. The relationship among participating institutions and their respective roles, as well as the apportionment of funds including sub-awards, if any, shall be described in both the proposal text and the budget. All key personnel proposed must hold appointments at an IHE in a DEPSCoR eligible state. This specifically refers to the two-person team required to apply for and execute the research.

The relationship is structured as a mentor-mentee pairing, and both individuals must satisfy strict, distinct eligibility and role requirements. Apart providing https://discover.dtic.mil/products-services/ technical expertise to the project, the Collaborator is strongly encouraged to provide guidance and mentorship to the Applicant in the DoD application process.

In this announcement, the term “you/your” refers to the Applicant.

C. TOPICS

The FY26 DEPSCoR – Research Collaboration competition seeks proposals addressing the topics listed below. You are strongly encouraged to contact the

Topic Area Program Officer prior to submitting a White Paper, preferably by email to discuss the current state of the art in his/her area of interest and how your research would advance it. This information will be requested in the IV.C.4 White

Paper Package.

SECTION

Topic

Number

SERVICE TOPIC AREA PROGRAM OFFICER

I.C.1 1

Air Force Office of

Scientific Research

(AFOSR)

Space Biosciences Dr. Jennifer Talley

I.C.2 2 AFOSR

Dynamic Data and

Information Processing Dr. Erik Blasch

I.C.3 3 AFOSR Condensed Matter Physics Dr. Jiwei Lu

I.C.4 4 AFOSR Aerodynamic Sciences Dr. Gregg Abate

I.C.5 5 Army Research Office

(ARO)

Earth Materials and Processes Dr. Josh Boschelli

I.C.6 6 ARO

Dynamical Influences on

Performance Dr. Greg Ruark

I.C.7 7 ARO

Wireless Communications

Networks Dr. Robert Ulman

I.C.8 8 ARO Electrochemistry Dr. Matthew Glasscott

I.C.9 9 Office of Naval

Research (ONR)

Nonlinear Transforms for

Dynamical Systems Dr. Meredith Hutchinson

I.C.10 10 ONR

Social Cognition in Local

Communities Dr. Rebecca L. Goolsby

I.C.11 11 ONR

Fundamental Mechanisms and Materials for Shock

Mitigation for Warfighter

Protection

Dr. Timothy Bentley

I.C.12 12 ONR

Fundamental research on efficient packaging and deployment of Unmanned

Aircraft Systems (UAS)

Dr. Pranav Shah

Topic 1: Space Bioscience

Program Description: As activities in space, particularly outer space, increase, the

Department of the Air Force (DAF) must look for new innovations that go beyond today’s technology. The vision of this program is to harness the power of biology through discovery research in life sciences that will lead to innovative and disruptive solutions and prevent technical surprises for DAF interests in the space domain. Life science, the study of living things and life processes to include micro- to macro-organisms, will provide a greater understanding of the space environment as well as lead to advancing technology in both space and terrestrial environments.

Basic Research Objectives: The study of living organisms and associated processes and materials is complex particularly in the vast space environment which changes drastically with geodetic height. The influence of the earth’s magnetic fields, cosmic rays, the sun’s radiation, microgravity, extreme temperature fluctuations, low pressure, and space weather is not well understood in its effects on living systems or biomaterials including bacteria, viruses, plants, and animal systems. Understanding how these living systems are affected in transitioning from a terrestrial environment to a space environment can provide great insight for more resilient and robust future space technology. Can living systems that are able to survive and adapt in this harsh environment lead to space technology being unimaginable today?

This portfolio seeks knowledge and understanding of these life processes in a space environment. Understanding these processes may lead to new technologies of importance to DAF. For example, these investigations may lead to a new approach to space craft design that is better suited to the harsh space environment. Such systems may be modular, miniature, sustainable, produced quickly on-demand, scalable, autonomous, and/or optimized systems well suited for the space environment. These discoveries may also provide new advances in space manufacturing in space service and repair. These innovations could lead to materials that have improved space survivability that offer reduced cost, space hardening, increased flexibility of operations, support rapid and precise repositioning, improve their resilience, provide new capabilities, sustainably destroy or recycle their materials, reduce required materials, stabilize those materials for the space domain, produce materials on demand in the environment, and/or shield these materials from the space environment. They must contend with the harsh environment of space and therefore must also be tested, evaluated, and modeled in the space environment.

Discoveries may lead to adaptive intelligent systems designed to protect spacecraft from damage to debris or other harmful scenarios.

Life Science technologies may provide solutions to many current space challenges including maneuvering without regret, efficient harvesting of energy in situ, producing materials from space resources, and thermal management. Understanding how newly developed technology derived from biological designs and biotechnology can augment and be teamed with existing engineered machines and designs is also of interest. These research interests outlined here, as well as other life science studies that lead to greater knowledge of living organisms in the space environment, are of interest.

Researchers are highly encouraged to contact the Program Officer prior to developing a full proposal to briefly discuss the current state-of-the-art and what is truly new or innovative about the proposed new work.

TOPIC 1 POC: DR. JENNIFER TALLEY, AFOSR/RTB2 - RESC

Email: afrl.afosr.spacebiology@us.sf.mil

Topic 2: Dynamic Data and Information Processing

Program Description: The portfolio seeks mathematical concepts that dynamically incorporate additional information, such as measured data or enhanced models, into an executing domain to coordinate dynamic measurement collections, model refinements, and system awareness. Examples include dynamic data driven applications systems

(DDDAS), physics-enhanced machine learning (PEML), and physics-based and human-derived information fusion (PHIF). Key developments should harness the use of first-principle models towards real, simulated, or augmented signals, data, and information processing to obtain substantial comparative improvements over existing methods. The portfolio encourages multidisciplinary research, especially synergistic and systematic collaborations between domain researchers in engineering, mathematics, and computer sciences for multiresolution systems modeling, diagnostics, and analytics.

Basic Research Objectives: Foster individual and multidisciplinary research, technology development, and system analysis over emerging science and technology frontiers.

Domain Modeling: Advance large-scale simulations for real-time control, in concert with heterogeneous data collection, model updates, and system processing. Research advances should describe different levels of detail and modalities, invoke appropriate models, and interface with other data systems. For example, ideas to engender an integration of large-scale simulations, models, and data to advance traditional data processing paradigms and digital twin technology.

Mathematical and Statistical Algorithms: Design methods for stable and robust convergence properties under perturbations induced by time-dependent (periodic and non-periodic, scheduled and event-driven) data inputs, multiple scales and model variations. Address enhanced asynchronous algorithms with stable communication between networked resources, multimodal modeling, and uncertainty quantification. For example, concepts to dynamically invoke models requiring elegant methods of uncertainty quantification, management, and propagation.

Measurement Systems and Methods: Innovate instrumentation platforms for collecting data, registering measurements, controlling sampling rates, and multiplexing multi-source information. For example, designs to determine heterogeneous and embedded distributed sensor networks architectures, information fusion paradigms, and operationally robust performance.

Areas of interest to the Air Force and Space Force include:

mailto:afrl.afosr.spacebiology@us.sf.mil

Autonomy (e.g., leveraging large-scale modeling of mission planning, collaborative/cooperative control, and data learning for data analytics);

Agility (e.g., designing computational methods of sensor-based processing, ad-hoc network configurations, and multi-scale multi-physics simulations for decision support);

Authority (e.g., coupling high-performance aircraft health monitoring, space situational awareness, and ground operations for command and control);

Activeness (e.g., understanding materials stresses and degradation; embedded diagnostics, complex adaptive systems verification and validation, and cognitive performance augmentation for situational understanding).

New approaches are encouraged for combining computational, empirical, cognitive, theoretical, and analytical methods for interactive testing of multiple scientific and engineering hypotheses. Programmatic activities launched under this initiative will support research in individual areas of interest to the Air Force Research Laboratory, but mostly in the context of multidisciplinary research across the Basic Area Objectives mentioned above.

TOPIC 2 POC: DR. ERIK BLASCH, AFOSR/RTA2-RESA

Email: D2IP@us.af.mil

Topic 3: Condensed Matter Physics

Program Description: The Condensed Matter Physics program seeks to investigate modern directions in the fundamental physics of condensed matter. The ultimate goal is to lead discoveries of new states of matter and understanding of fundamental phenomena towards exploitation and engineering of electronic, magnetic and photonic properties for future disruptive capabilities that are of critical interest to the U.S. Air and Space Forces.

Basic Research Objectives: This program pursues balanced experimental and theoretical studies, aimed at discovery and understanding of new matter states and phase transitions in both equilibrium and non-equilibrium conditions, as well as understanding of their properties. The topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

Topological phases and states: The topological states in electronic materials provide protection to physical properties, for example, conductivity and spin. The interest of this topic includes prediction and discovery of interacting topological materials, new approaches for identifying topological states and effects, and characterization and understanding of defects, e.g. dislocation, in topological phases. The prediction and realization of high temperature topological states is of particular interest.

Strongly correlated systems: Strongly correlated systems exhibit complex types of ordering and multifunctional properties arising from the subtle interplay between competing degrees of freedom in a near degenerate energy landscape. The interest of this topic includes prediction and realization of correlated electronic topological phases, control and modulation of electronic correlation in heterostructures, new theoretical mailto:D2IP@us.af.mil approaches for strongly correlated systems, and unique methods of probing emergent phenomena associated with strong correlation.

Quantum phase transitions: Understanding quantum critical points is a steppingstone to understanding important phenomena in many condensed matter systems, such as high-temperature superconductivity, heavy fermions, and quantum magnetism. This thrust seeks experimental efforts in identifying quantum critical points, exploring phase diagrams, and probing the dynamics of physical properties near quantum critical points in model systems. Studies of physical properties (spin, charge, thermal transport), and effects of chemical doping and strain on quantum criticality are of particular interest.

This program does not focus on the synthesis or applications of high TC superconductors, metamaterials, or device physics.

TOPIC 3 POC: DR. JIWEI LU, AFOSR/RTB1-RESB

E-mail: CMPhysics@us.af.mil

TOPIC 4: Aerodynamic Sciences

Program Description: The Aerodynamic Sciences portfolio supports basic research of fundamental flowfield physics across a range of conditions. Greater understanding of the fundamentals of flowfield physics is crucial for exploitation into air vehicle performance gains relevant to the USAF. The portfolio is interested in aerodynamic flowfields arising in both internal and external configurations and extending over a wide range of Reynolds numbers. The portfolio seeks to emphasize the characterization, modeling, prediction, and control of flow instabilities, turbulent flows, and aerodynamic fluid-structure/material interactions. A focus on the understanding of the fundamental flow physics, the dynamics and control of aerodynamic shear flows, and interactions of these flows with rigid and flexible surfaces in motion is motivated by an interest in developing physics based predictive models and innovative control concepts for these flows.

Basic Research Objectives: Research in this portfolio is focused on variety of topics including fluid-structure/material interactions, vortex dominated flows, free and wall-bounded shear layer flows, time-dependent flows, and transitional & turbulent flows.

Greater understanding of these and related topics will lead to improved air vehicle performance relevant to USAF air vehicle configurations. The portfolio maintains an interest in the dynamic interaction between steady & unsteady fluid motion, linear & nonlinear structural deformations, and aerodynamic control effectors for a wide range of flight regimes.

The portfolio seeks to advance fundamental understanding of complex aerodynamic flow field phenomena through integration of theoretical, numerical, and experimental approaches. Research incorporating these elements that improve understanding of these complex flows are strongly encouraged. Flow field studies are expected to involve an approach based on fundamental insight into the dynamics of such flows. In cases where that insight may not exist, studies examining fundamental flow physics with a path to enabling control of the flow may be of interest. Flow control efforts integrating modeling, mailto:CMPhysics@us.af.mil control theory, and advanced sensor and/or actuator technology for application to a flow of interest are also encouraged.

Note that basic research of the variety typically funded by the portfolio may not yet have a clear transition path to an application but nevertheless should be relevant to U.S. Air Force interests. Proposers are highly encouraged to contact the Program Officer via email prior to developing a full proposal to discuss the current state of the art in their area of interest, how the proposed research would advance it, the approximate cost for a three (3) year effort, and if there are any specific submission target dates.

TOPIC 4 POC: DR. GREGG ABATE, AFOSR/RTA1-RESA

E-mail: aerodynamics@us.af.mil

Topic 5: Earth Materials and Processes

Program Description: The Earth Materials and Processes program seeks to enable maneuver, communication and situational awareness in all terrain through understanding and prediction of the physical and mechanical properties and behaviors of rocks, soil, and man-made earth surfaces and their interactions with their surrounding environment. The

Program is especially interested in interdisciplinary efforts that could be eligible for cross-discipline support. Topics for consideration include, but are not limited to, the following:

Investigations on the transmission of information (e.g., seismic, acoustic, electromagnetic, or radio frequency) in challenging environments: Of special interest are urban, high-latitude, high-altitude, and forested environments. Access to new field areas and high-resolution data collection and modeling provide opportunities to differentiate sources and characterize terrain.

Research on fundamental processes within the built environment: How natural and artificial surfaces (e.g., soil, sand, or concrete) store and conduct energy depending on their spatial relationships, inherent material properties, and imparted features such as moisture storage and evapotranspiration. Detailed characterization of these environments will enable prediction of geophysical and environmental processes in diverse urban settings. Investigations that support the development, integrity, and resilience of cyber-physical systems as related to environmental sensing are of special interest.

Science to advance environmental security: These efforts must focus on the fundamental knowledge that will inform new approaches and tools to predict and mitigate risks posed by challenging environments and extreme weather events and to ensure access to natural resources, including strategic minerals. Note that (1) the Program focus is on the science required to enable development of tools and products, not the development of the tools and products themselves, and (2) proposals must target specific Army-relevant challenges rather than general topics (e.g., extreme weather, natural hazards, as broadly defined). A discussion with the program manager is encouraged to determine if a topic sufficiently addresses an Army challenge.

TOPIC 5 POC: DR. JOSH BOSCHELLI, ARO

mailto:aerodynamics@us.af.mil

Email: joshua.d.boschelli.civ@army.mil

Topic 6: Dynamical Influences on Performance

Program Description: The overall goal of this program is to enhance fundamental understanding of interdependent, reciprocal, and complex relationships within and across complex systems, accounting for key contextual factors to understand, enhance, and as necessary modify performance across operational environments. Performance denotes activities undertaken by actors to complete a task required to achieve a desired outcome.

Actors, however, do not perform within bubbles but within and across operational environments uniquely defined by constantly changing conditions, goals, timelines, etc., sometimes parallel to the actors, sometimes in competition with, and/or in opposition to them. These dynamic influences introduce variability to performance within and across tasks from minimum to that of normative to (mal)adaptive. Therefore, performance represents the intersection between the bottom-up actor’s capabilities and top-down contextual factors - temporal, physical, organizational, national, international – where success in the near-, mid-, and/or long-term depends on the dynamic interplay of these factors within and across the various systems. Furthermore, the influence of contextual factors transcends the task that may impact the evaluation of performance in the near-, mid-and/or long-term and within and across systems. Altogether, it is important to take a holistic approach that accounts for the interaction between actors and contextual elements (system, temporal, environmental, etc.) that in the moment and over time shape performance to understand, enhance, and modify to meet mission requirements. For the purpose of this topic, actors denote may denote humans and/or machines (e.g., intelligent systems) as individuals, teams, and/or teams of teams (multi-team systems) as well as larger collectives such as a unit (e.g., brigade) and organization (e.g., the U.S. Army).

The Dynamical Influences on Performance program supports fundamental research to identify and understand key contextual factors that lead to the construction, maintenance, and as necessary reconstruction of systems actors operate within to promote conditions necessary for effective performance. Successful projects will develop innovative theoretical, methodological, and modeling approaches to understand scalable behaviors within complex systems and across environments accounting for the bottom-up and top-down factors that guide, and under certain conditions, directs performance. This program has three focal areas of interest. First, create the scientific capability to identify and assess the influence of meaningful contextual factors (physical, organizational, national, international, etc.) that consciously and unconsciously impact ongoing affective, cognitive, and behavioral processes within and across individuals and collectives. Second, to enable the integration of the science of time (i.e., the experience and perception of time) to understand cascading effects beyond first and second order effects on social systems accounting for the differences within and across actors and systems. Third, to understand how advanced technologies with increasing human characteristics may influence its performance (subjective and objective) to include interaction with key contextual factors in dynamic environments and may redefine performance within complex systems.

TOPIC 6 POC: DR. GREG RUARK, ARO

Email: gregory.a.ruark.civ@army.mil mailto:joshua.d.boschelli.civ@army.mil mailto:gregory.a.ruark.civ@army.mil

Topic 7: Wireless Communications Networks

Program Description: This program is concerned with the investigation and advancement of network science as it applies to communication networks in wireless and tactical environments, focusing on DoD and Army unique problems. Of primary interest is research applicable to infrastructure-less multi-hop wireless networks operating in congested and contested spectrum. Also of interest is the analysis of mutual interaction among communications, social, and information networks.

Wireless Network Theory: Research is required in the broad area of wireless network science including fundamental limits, performance characterization, novel architectures, and high-fidelity simulation of multi-hop wireless networks with mobility, node loss, natural and man-made impairments and unpredictable, bursty traffic. Novel analytical tools and simulation techniques may be necessary to allow for the modeling of very large networking scenarios without losing the fidelity at the physical layer, which is critical in millimeter wave networks. Emerging communications network paradigms of Software

Defined Networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) are also of interest as applied to wireless and hybrid networks. Concepts from SDN/NVF could be adapted for wireless ad hoc networks, centralization is not desirable, but policy control and hierarchical control of semi-autonomous systems could adapt to disconnected and limited connectivity networks. NFV, facilitated by SDN, should adapt resources according to the needs and objectives of the users that are desired. Extending concepts of

NVF and adapting the network to the mission can be extended to distributed data caching and processing.

Ad Hoc and Sensor Networks: Networks serving Army need to operate in highly dynamic environments with limited or no infrastructure support. Available spectrum may be highly congested and contested, and mobile nodes may only have access to noisy local information with limited awareness of remote nodes in the network. Novel networking approaches may be needed to account for the lack of full network state information and reduce the penalty incurred due to coordination while sustaining acceptable performance.

Networking algorithms may need to choose between various radio interfaces, such as traditional military bands, mm wave, and commercial (e.g., cellular) based on throughput, reliability, and security trade-offs.

Adaptive and specialized machine learning techniques are needed for dynamic allocation of network resources based on operation needs, traffic characteristics, mobility, natural and man-made spectrum interference conditions, and security considerations. Networking and sensing architectures for cognitive mobile ad hoc networks need to be developed with qualitative and quantitative performance measures, and the impacts of mobility, fading, and multi-user interference need to be investigated. Networking in combat operations may need to cope with the presence of adversarial actions of various types, including strategically inserted spectral impediments. New signal processing, information theory, game theory and network science methodologies are needed to provide reliable and efficient communications in the presence of various adversarial actions. The analysis and characterization of fundamental tradeoffs among conflicting objectives such as Low Probability of Detection (LPD) vs. rate of communications vs. operating in a limited frequency spectrum are needed, along with novel techniques to achieve optimally located areas in the trade-off boundaries.

Novel and Revolutionary Methods in Communications and Networking: The synergy among social networking and communication networking, particularly in a tactical mobile ad-hoc scenario, is a research area that could advance the design of new communication approaches. There are many social networking aspects that are common to mobile ad-hoc networking needs such as distributed decision making, robustness, cooperation, self-organization, and cluster formation. Novel physical and MAC layer techniques are required to improve LPI / LPD / AJ capabilities as well as throughput.

Examples include mm wave and (sub) THz. bands, which have unique characteristics to overcome or exploit, such as directivity, large bandwidth, and limited range. With limited bandwidth, the co-existence and dual use of communication and sensing signals should be explored. In addition, exploration of quantum information processing, teleportation and networked quantum information theory is of interest.

Extremely Large-Scale Antenna Arrays (ELSAA): There is emerging interest in precise manipulation of phase, frequency, and polarization across large apertures. In the Fresnel near field, ELSAA-enabled waveforms can curve around obstacles (e.g., Airy beams), self-heal around small objects (e.g., Bessel beams), and focus energy into confined regions with high precision. These properties allow ELSAA to deliver electromagnetic energy onto UAVs and other agile or low-signature targets for sensing, tracking, classification, and countermeasures, achieving effects not possible with conventional beams. Proposals should combine analysis, modeling, simulation, and experimentation with emphasis on hardware-driven waveform control. Key research thrusts include:

aperture architectures (e.g., novel extremely large-scale array antennas, synchronized distributed arrays, reconfigurable-intelligent-surface (RIS) with spatial electromagnetic control); waveform generation (e.g., single-signal and multi-signal (MIMO) approaches, novel structured waveforms and adaptations of existing beams, waveforms optimized for sensing, directed energy, communications, and counter-UAV operations); system integration and control (e.g., higher-layer waveform selection and adaptive control, coordination of multi-element apertures for near-field and far-field operation, realization of waveforms in hardware considering SWaP, calibration, and synchronization). The goal is synergistic hardware–waveform research to ensure that engineered waveforms are not only theoretically possible, but also practically

TOPIC 7 POC: DR. ROBERT ULMAN, ARO

Email: robert.j.ulman.civ@army.mil

Topic 8: Electrochemistry

Program Description: This Program supports fundamental electrochemical studies to understand and control the physics and chemistry that governs electrochemical redox reactions and transport of species, and how these are coupled with electrode, catalysis, electrolyte, and interface. Research includes ionic conduction in electrolytes, electrocatalysis, interfacial electron transfer, transport through coatings, surface films and polymer electrolytes, activation of carbon-hydrogen and carbon-carbon bonds, and mailto:robert.j.ulman.civ@army.mil spectroscopic techniques that selectively probe electrode surfaces and electrode-electrolyte interfaces. Novel electrochemical synthesis, investigations into the effect of microenvironment on chemical reactivity, quantitative models of electrochemical systems, and electrochemistry using excited electrons are also of interest. This Program is divided into two research thrusts, although other areas of electrochemical research may be considered:

Reduction-oxidation (Redox) Chemistry and Electrocatalysis: The Redox Chemistry and Electrocatalysis thrust supports research to understand how material and morphology affect electron transfer and electrocatalysis, to tailor electrodes and electrocatalysts at a molecular level, and to discover new spectroscopic and electrochemical techniques for probing surfaces and selected species on those surfaces.

Transport of Electroactive Species: The Transport of Electroactive Species thrust supports research to uncover the mechanisms of transport through heterogeneous, charged environments such as polymers and electrolytes, to design tailorable electrolytes based on new polymers and ionic liquids, and to explore new methodologies and computational approaches to study the selective transport of species in charged environments.

TOPIC 8 POC: DR. MATTHEW GLASSCOTT, ARO

Email: matthew.w.glasscott.civ@army.mil

Topic 9: Nonlinear Transforms for Dynamical Systems

Program Description: The applied physical mathematics program focuses on foundational theory and experimental approaches concerning wave, energy, heat, and momentum dynamics. New mathematics and methods that provide representation of the physical problem, with assumptions that respect physical dynamics, are sought.

Emphasis is placed on spatio-temporal problems utilizing methods that maintain geometric order and seek to develop a minimum description of the spatio-temporal relatedness.

Objectives: Research objectives include, but are not limited to:

• Nonlinear transforms that are invertible and maintain geometric order

• Transform and mathematical theory that simplifies or linearizes a problem without loss of information

• Transforms and mathematics focused on geometric curvature as related to dynamical system representation

• Models and methods that make use of Langrangian frameworks to preserve and simplify geometrical order in transport problems

• Methods, theory, and experiments that provide the ability to understand how a material, fluid, particle(s), or system acts on or with its environment through nonlinear transport of mass, heat, energy, and momentum

TOPIC 9 POC: DR. MEREDITH HUTCHINSON, ONR/CODE 33

mailto:matthew.w.glasscott.civ@army.mil

Email: meredith.n.hutchinson.civ@us.navy.mil

Topic 10: Local and Regional Assessment for Public Affairs

Program Description: This topic supports basic research to support human-centered operations in the information environment, focusing on the problem of narrative conflict in local and regional populations. The US Navy and Marine Corps operate in many situations in which face-to-face communications and local media play more important roles than other forms of media. Understanding local community effects on mission messaging is a new, high priority topic. See the Marine Corps Doctrinal Publication 8:

Information. (https://marine.mil/News/Publications/MCPEL/Electronic-Library-

Display/Article/3077947) and Marine Corps Working Paper 8-10 : Information in Marine

Corps Operations, (https://marines.mil/News/Publications/MCPEL/Electronic-Library-

Display/Article/3712860/mcwp-8-10/) for further information on these new doctrinal considerations.

Local radio, newspapers, engagements, and events are key to “getting the message out,” framing the mission message, and dealing with misinformation, disinformation, and malign information that are critical to public affairs communications, particularly in conflict situations in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and other less studied regions. Research is needed to assist in understanding the obstacles and challenges of communicating in local communities where narrative conflicts are likely to present challenges to public affairs communications. Leveraging new scientific research in cognition, suasion, and local factors can assist public affairs in improving communications.

Objectives: The goal of this effort is to develop new theory and new insights into the role of local communications in the development of attitudes, biases, and perceptions. This research will guide the development of new US Navy/Marine Corps doctrine in information and communications. Similar doctrinal development efforts are beginning at

US Army, US Air Force, and at the Joint Force level. Research in this area should seek to provide better understanding of local processes of social cognition, including the role of local media, real-world events, language and community processes, to identify problems and issues, improve planning and engagement, and assist in countering malign information.

A notional list of potential sub-topics that might be good matches for this topic include:

• New methods and studies in how community relationships affect attitudes, biases, and receptivity to new information

• Cognitive dissonance in local communities and its impact on narratives in conflict

• Rumor propagation in local community contexts (and how rumor is controlled by local community processes)

• The role of local radio and local media in information dissemination

• The role of real-world events in information dissemination

• Community-based methods in countering disinformation and malign information mailto:meredith.n.hutchinson.civ@us.navy.mil…