The Department of Defense funds basic and applied research through several granting programs described below: AFOSR, ARO, ONR, DARPA, and DTRA.
DOD grant programs publish funding opportunities as grants/contracts that are found in core Broad Agency Announcements (BAAs) available on Grants.gov. In general, BAAs have rolling deadlines and applicants can engage at any time of year.
Networking and relationship building is important for DOD, especially for understanding the interests and needs of specific funding programs. We encourage interested applicants to attend agency day events and build relationships with Program Officers. More information can be found here: DOD Landscape and Outreach.
AFOSR: Air Force Office of Scientific Research’s mission is to discover, shape, champion, and transition high risk basic research to profoundly impact the future Air and Space Force. The office manages the Air Force’s intra- and extramural basic research program. Areas of focus include Engineering & Complex Systems, Information & Networks, Physical Sciences, Chemistry & Biological Sciences.
ARO: Army Research Office drives cutting-edge and disruptive scientific discoveries that will enable crucial future Army technologies and capabilities through high-risk, high pay-off research opportunities. ARO manages the Army’s extramural basic research program. Areas of focus include Chemical Sciences, Life Sciences, Physics, Electronics, Materials Science, Mechanical Sciences, Computing Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Network Sciences.
ONR: The Office of Naval Research coordinates, executes and promotes the science and technology programs of the United States Navy and Marine Corps. The ONR funds basic and applied research as well as advanced technology development. Areas of focus include Information, Cyber, Ocean Battlespace and Expeditionary Access, Naval Platforms, Warfighter Performance, Aviation, Force Projection and Integrated Defense.
DARPA: The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s mission is to make pivotal investments in breakthrough technologies for national security. DARPA funds both basic and applied research. Areas of focus include Math, Computation and Design, Biological Technologies, Information Innovation, Microsystems, Ground Systems, Maritime Systems, Air Systems, And Space Systems.
DTRA: The Defense Threat Reduction Agency offers funding opportunities for research and development to counter weapons of mass destruction (WMDs). These opportunities are available through BAAs and Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) programs. Areas of focus include Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Improvised Threats.
Please reach out to us if the file you are looking for is not updated for the current proposal call. We will be happy to update it for you!
General Files
Please contact the UC Davis Proposal Development Services team for assistance with specific DoD proposals. Most DoD applications are unique and we can help develop specific templates and individualized guidance.
Early Career Resources
Several DoD sub-agencies run their own Young Investigator funding program (YIP). Resources for applying to those programs are linked below.