Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship

The Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship (VBFF) is the Department of Defense’s most prestigious single-investigator award and supports basic research with the potential for transformative impact. As a 5-year fellowship with up to $3 million in funding, the VBFF supports new, out-of-the box ideas where researcher creativity intersects with the unknown. Vannevar Bush Fellows represent a cadre of experts that provide invaluable direction to the DoD in its scientific efforts and also train the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Formerly known as the National Security Science and Engineering Faculty Fellowship, the program changed its name in 2016 to commemorate Dr. Vannevar Bush (1890-1974) the director of the Office of Scientific Research and Development during WWII and the author of “Science, The Endless Frontier.” As a devoted teacher, administrator and entrepreneur, Dr. Vannevar Bush was an ardent advocate for basic research and made creative and innovative contributions to the nation’s security. In line with his vision, the VBFF reflects the DoD’s commitment to “blue sky”, unfettered research and the exchange of scientific knowledge between the Fellows and the government to benefit the country.

Click below for some tips for potential applicants:

Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship Proposer's Guide

FY2025 FOA

The FY2025 Vannevar Bush Faculty Fellowship (VBFF) Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) is now available. To view the announcement, please click here.

To apply, please click here. 

VBFF Webinar

FY25 VBFF Webinar is August 2nd at 3:00 EST. Please register here:

Past Webinars

Please click here for a PDF of the webinar.

Please click here for a PDF of the webinar.

Please click here for the full transcript of the presentation.

Please click here for a transcript of the Q&A for the webinar.