Rising Stars of 2025: Young Investigators

The Office of Naval Research (ONR) has reached a significant milestone, marking the 40th anniversary of its Young Investigator Program (YIP). This year, the program honors the Class of 2025 YIP awardees, with $18 million in funding set to propel cutting-edge scientific research that serves the Department of the Navy’s technological needs.

The initiative is designed to identify and engage top-tier scientists and engineers, as highlighted by Chief of Naval Research Rear Adm. Kurt Rothenhaus: “The Young Investigator Program is crucial to our mission, and I am honored to announce the recipients for 2025.” This competitive program specifically targets early-career academics in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics to address the Navy and Marine Corps’ operational demands.

The Class of 2025 awardees were selected from a pool of over 230 applicants, all of whom hold tenure-track or equivalent positions and have earned their Ph.D. on or after January 1, 2017. These new honorees represent 19 academic institutions across 14 states, engaging in diverse fields such as quantum information, artificial intelligence, and advanced sensors.

Grants from the YIP awards are substantial, typically amounting to $750,000 over three years. These funds enable awardees to support stipends and scholarships for postdoctoral and graduate students, acquire crucial laboratory equipment, and cover other research-related expenses.

Dr. Thomas Fu, ONR Executive Director, emphasized the importance of the program: “The ONR Young Investigator Program continues to be a cornerstone for advancing scientific discovery, ensuring a robust pipeline of talent to tackle naval science and technology challenges.”

Since its inception in 1985, the ONR YIP has been a leading force in driving basic research and supporting the professional growth of promising academics whose work benefits the Department of Defense.