Opportunities
EVENTS
Have questions about the Program Year 26.1 STRATFI Notice of Opportunity? Join the STRATFI team for virtual open office hours—your chance to get answers directly from program experts. You’re welcome to attend one or multiple sessions. Come prepared with your questions! The submission deadline has been extended to Friday, October 3, and in response, additional AMA (Ask Me Anything) sessions will now be offered throughout September and October.
September 18 l 2:00 p.m. EDT l Zoom
DARPA Connect
DARPAConnect opens the doors for you to hear directly from DARPA’s Program Managers and team. If you can’t travel to Montana, don’t miss the chance to join virtually and get a seat at the table. What You Get With Virtual Access
As a virtual participant, you will:
Go inside DARPA’s playbook: hear exactly how to engage with Program Managers and position your ideas.
Unlock funding pathways that can accelerate your innovation from concept to contract.
Engage in real time: ask questions and connect to the sessions most critical to your mission.
Leave with a roadmap of next steps tailored to innovators like you -- academics, entrepreneurs, or established companies.
September 24 l 8:30 a.m. MST l Zoom
Innovation Unleashed
Join us for the next installment of the “Innovation Unleashed” series—an interactive, one-hour webinar designed for innovators across government, industry, and academia.
Whether you're driving defense tech, developing commercial solutions, or leading cutting-edge research, this session will show you how to advance your work through the AFWERX and SpaceWER
September 30 l 11:00 a.m. MST l Zoom
FUNDING
NSWC Dahlgren BAA
Seeks basic and applied research proposals that align with its mission and follow specific topic areas.
Application Due: October 14, 2025
Information Innovation Office (I2O) Office-Wide
Seeks new research ideas for topics not currently addressed in ongoing I20 programs.
Application Due: October 29, 2025
Exploration Announcement (EA) for its Advanced Research Concepts (ARC) Initiative
Seeks to answer high-risk/high-reward questions that assess the impact of further investment on problems of importance to DOD.
Application Due: November 26, 2025
ERDC Broad Agency Announcement
Seeks research and development proposals geared towards various topics related to the environment and technology
Application Due: December 31, 2025
Air Dominance Broad Agency Announcement (BAA)
Seeks proposals that will transfer basic research into state-of-the-art solutions for systems and components that will lead to new operation capabilities.
Application Due: October 31, 2029
Foundations of Trusted Systems
Solicits white papers to develop secure, resilient and affordable computational systems and software.
Application Due: December 5, 2028
Automated Processes for Knowledge Discovery and Information Retrieval
Solicits research to process multi-source and open-source decision processes.
Application Due: September 9, 2029
Fundamental Research to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction
Seeks ideas to contribute to the current knowledge base or advance ground-breaking technology for countering weapons of mass destruction (C-WMD) threats.
Application Due: September 30, 2034
FELLOWSHIPS & INTERNSHIPS
National Research Council (NRC) Fellowship Opportunities
The National Research Council (NRC) offers a range of fellowship programs at the DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (ARL) to support research and academic collaboration. The fellowship types are:
- Postdoctoral Fellow: For researchers within 5 years of earning a PhD.
- Senior Fellow: For researchers with more than 5 years post-PhD experience.
- Short-Term Fellow: Open to Postdocs or Senior Fellows for research assignments at ARL lasting up to 20 weeks.
- Davies Fellow: For faculty at the U.S. Military Academy (USMA) who also conduct research at ARL.
- ARL Distinguished Fellow: (Under development) A three-year fellowship allowing recipients to define their own technical research focus. Awardees will be selected by ARL Fellows.
Multiple Deadlines
DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory Fellowship Programs
The DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory (ARL) offers Fellowship Programs to prepare science and engineering researchers for future challenges. Fellows engage in meaningful research and education at a leading facility while supporting ARL's mission. Fellowships may include:
- Stipend and health insurance supplement.
- Relocation and travel allowances.
- Opportunities at all DEVCOM ARL locations, open to U.S. and non-U.S. citizens.
Fellows conduct impactful basic and applied research under ARL advisors, bringing fresh perspectives to maintain ARL’s leadership in science and technology. Programs are flexible, running from several weeks to a year, with renewals available for up to three years. The fellowship types are:
- Postdoctoral Fellow: Less than 5 years post-PhD.
- Senior Fellow: More than 5 years post-PhD.
- Short-Term Fellow: Up to 20 weeks for Postdocs or Senior Fellows.
- Journeyman Fellow: Undergraduate degree or in graduate studies.
- Summer Student Program: For undergraduates or non-PhD participants.
Multiple Deadlines
www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/rap/for-applicants
The NDSEG Fellowship is a prestigious and highly competitive program designed to support U.S. citizens and nationals pursuing doctoral degrees in one of 15 STEM disciplines relevant to the Department of Defense (DOD). Sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), Army Research Office (ARO), and Office of Naval Research (ONR), the fellowship offers flexibility for recipients to study at any U.S. institution.
The benefits include full tuition coverage, a monthly stipend, and up to $1,000 for medical insurance. The program lasts for three years, and applicants must demonstrate exceptional aptitude for advanced training in science and engineering, with plans to pursue a doctorate in a DOD-relevant field.
Multiple Deadline
DTRA Releases FRCWMD BAA
The Defense Theat Reduction Agency (DTRA) released a Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) for Fundamental Research to Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (FRCWMD). DTRA seeks to protect America and its allies from weapons of mass destruction and “provides capabilities to reduce, eliminate, and counter the threat and effects from chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield explosives.” The goal of this BAA is to gather ideas and pre-application white papers that will contribute to the current knowledge base or advance ground-breaking technology for countering weapons of mass destruction (C-WMD) threats. This announcement will remain open from October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2034. When additional topics are published, they will include instructions on “topic-specific” deadlines and details about award types, dollar amount, and eligibility.
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship
With recent changes in the federal funding landscape, we would like to ask you to encourage your eligible students to apply for the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG).
The NDSEG Fellowship is charged with increasing the number of U.S. citizens and nationals receiving doctoral degrees in science and engineering disciplines of military importance. Awardees receive full coverage of all educational expenses plus a stipend of $3,400 per month.
Deadline: November 15