FY2019 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program | N00014 18 S F009

Opportunity Information: Apply for N00014 18 S F009

The FY2019 Office of Naval Research (ONR) Young Investigator Program (YIP) is a competitive research grant opportunity designed to identify and support early-career academic scientists and engineers who have shown exceptional promise for creative, high-impact research. The program is meant to bring outstanding new faculty into the Department of the Navy science and technology research community, provide meaningful support for their research programs, and strengthen their long-term teaching and research careers. While it targets university faculty, ONR also encourages applications from individuals in comparable early-career positions at eligible non-profit organizations with a scientific or educational mission.

Eligibility is tightly defined around career stage and citizenship status. The Principal Investigator must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident by the proposal due date, and must be in their first or second full-time tenure-track or tenure-track-equivalent appointment. In addition, the PI must have received a PhD or equivalent degree on or after January 1, 2011. Awards under this announcement are made to U.S. Institutions of Higher Education that award degrees in science, engineering, or mathematics, and certain U.S. non-profit organizations that operate primarily to provide scientific and educational services may also apply. ONR also references a specific definition of "tenure-track-equivalent" on its website, which applicants should review to confirm that their appointment type qualifies.

The research scope is broad but must clearly align with ONR priorities. Proposals are expected to address research areas that fall within ONR's Science and Technology portfolio as described on the ONR website, and they must match interests overseen by specific ONR program officers. A central practical takeaway of the announcement is that applicants are strongly encouraged to contact the appropriate ONR program officer in advance to discuss research ideas and ensure fit with Navy needs. Informal pre-proposals can be used to support these conversations, though they are optional. ONR emphasizes that these discussions can clarify the boundaries of priority topics and improve the alignment and competitiveness of a full proposal, so applicants are advised to allow enough time to have those conversations before submission.

Application requirements include a full research proposal submitted through the university (or eligible organization) and at least one letter of support submitted through the appropriate institutional officials. The letter of support is treated as a required component, not an extra; proposals submitted without at least one support letter are considered incomplete and will not be reviewed for an award. ONR points applicants to the Funding Opportunity Announcement sections on application format and evaluation criteria, and it highlights that the support letter(s) matter in the overall assessment. In addition, because "past performance" is one of the selection factors, applicants are expected to provide thorough biographical and professional information that documents relevant prior and current activities, accomplishments, and indicators of research trajectory.

Funding levels are substantial for an early-career award. Applicants may request up to $500,000 for a 24-month base period, with an option to request up to an additional $250,000 for an extra 12 months. Funds may be used for reasonable research-related costs, including portions of investigator salary, graduate student support, supplies, and indirect costs, among other typical project expenses. After completing the YIP period, awardees may seek continued support through ONR's Long Range Broad Agency Announcement (BAA), but continued funding is not automatic. Any follow-on support is decided based on a new proposal review, ONR priorities at that time, and evidence of creativity and productivity demonstrated during the YIP-supported research.

ONR is explicit that YIP is both highly selective and prestige-oriented. The success rate is typically under 10 percent; as an example, ONR notes that in 2018 more than 340 proposals were submitted and 32 awards were made. The program is not intended as a "research initiation" mechanism with relaxed standards; rather, it is positioned as an honor that recognizes unusually strong early-career investigators in addition to providing funding. ONR also notes that proposals not selected for YIP might still be considered for other ONR funding opportunities, but that outcome is limited historically and depends on the program officer's discretion, with any alternative award competing against the full pool of ONR submissions.

Key administrative details from the source listing include: Funding Opportunity Title FY2019 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program; Funding Opportunity Number N00014-18-S-F009; agency Office of Naval Research; funding instrument type Grant; activity category Science and Technology and other Research and Development; CFDA 12.300; and an original closing date of August 31, 2018.

• The Office of Naval Research in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "FY2019 Office of Naval Research Young Investigator Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 12.300.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2018-07-05.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2018-08-31. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

Apply for N00014 18 S F009

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: