AFRL/AFOSR awards $25 million via Young Investigator Research Program

ARLINGTON, Va. — The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, or AFOSR, the basic research arm of the Air Force Research Laboratory, will award approximately $25 million in grants to 58 scientists and engineers from 44 research institutions and businesses in 22 states under the fiscal year 2023 Young Investigator Research Program, or YIP. Two grants will be awarded to the quantum information sciences research portfolio for quantum computing funded by the National Security Agency. The remaining awards will be funded by AFOSR YIP and/or core research portfolio funds.

“Through the YIP, the Department of the Air Force fosters creative basic research in science and engineering, enhances early career development of outstanding young investigators and increases opportunities for the young investigators to engage in forwarding the DAF mission and related challenges in science and engineering,” said Ellen Robinson, YIP program manager.

YIP recipients receive three-year grants of up to $450,000. The program is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are scientists and engineers at U.S. research institutions. Individuals must have received Ph.D. or equivalent degrees in the last seven years and show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research of Department of the Air Force, or DAF, relevance. Award selections are subject to successful completion of negotiations with the academic institutions and businesses.

According to Robinson, AFOSR received more than 175 proposals requesting approximately $78.5 million in FY23 funding.

The 36 research areas for the 2023 YIP awards are:

• Aerospace composite materials.
• Aerospace materials for extreme environments.
• Agile science for test and evaluation.
• Atomic and molecular physics.
• Cognitive and computational neuroscience.
• Complex networks.
• Computational cognition and machine intelligence.
• Computational mathematics.
• Condensed matter physics.
• Dynamic data and information processing.
• Dynamics materials and interactions.
• Dynamical systems and control theory.
• Electromagnetics.
• Energy combustion and nonequilibrium thermodynamics.
• Gigahertz to terahertz electronics and materials.
• High-speed aerodynamics.
• Human performance and biosystems.
• Information assurance and cybersecurity.
• Laser and optical physics.
• Mathematical optimization.
• Mechanics of multifunctional materials and microsystems.
• Molecular dynamics and theoretical chemistry.
• Multiscale structural mechanics and prognosis.
• Natural materials and systems.
• Optoelectronics and physics.
• Organic materials chemistry.
• Physics of remote sensing.
• Plasma and electro-energetic physics.
• Propulsion and power.
• Quantum information sciences.
• Science of information.
• Computation and fusion.
• Space science.
• Trust and influence.
• Ultrashort pulse laser matter interactions.
• Unsteady aerodynamics and turbulence flows.

To view a list of FY23 winning proposals CLICK HERE. For additional information on the AFOSR YIP, email: AFOSRYIP@us.af.mil.

About AFRL

The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development, and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space, and cyberspace force. With a workforce of more than 11,500 across nine technology areas and 40 other operations across the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit: www.afresearchlab.com.

AFRL/AFOSR

The Air Force Office of Scientific Research, or AFOSR, expands the horizon of scientific knowledge through its leadership and management of the Department of the Air Force’s basic research program. As a vital component of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), AFOSR’s mission is to discover, shape, champion and transitions high- risk basic research that profoundly impacts the future Air and Space Forces. AFOSR accomplishes its mission through global investment in advanced discovery research efforts in relevant scientific areas. Central to AFOSR’s strategy is the transfer of the fruits of basic research to industry, the supplier of Department of the Air Force acquisitions; to the academic community, which can lead the way to still more accomplishment; and to the other directorates of AFRL that carry the responsibility for applied research leading to acquisition.