Nearly 50 Scientists, Engineers to Receive AFRL Funding for Various Research Pursuits

The U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s basic research arm will award 48 scientists and engineers $21.5 million in total funding to pursue various projects under the 2024 Young Investigator Program.

According to the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the researchers will focus on multiple research disciplines, including aerospace composite materials, propulsion, communication networks, atomic and molecular physics, human performance and computational mathematics. AFOSR also funded projects for astrodynamics and high-energy radiation-matter systems for the first time.

Awardees will receive three-year grants worth up to $450,000 each, the AFRL said.

The AFRL has been offering opportunities that allow individuals and organizations to create solutions for various problem sets.

In October, the AFRL launched the second Airlift Challenge Competition, wherein participants are tasked with using artificial intelligence-based solutions to simulate airlift scenarios. Participants must craft solutions that can address different airlift-related challenges of varying difficulties.

In May, the AFRL picked eight universities to develop Earth observation, communications and technology demonstration nanosatellites under the Mission Concept Program. The MCP is designed to prepare future scientists and engineers for a career in the aerospace industry.