The Department of Defense, through the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), has released a funding opportunity announcement titled “Fiscal Year 2025 Department of Defense Multidisciplinary Research Program of the University Research Initiative (MURI).” This initiative aims to support university research teams conducting multidisciplinary studies of high importance to the Department of Defense (DoD). The MURI program seeks to foster innovations that span multiple disciplines, often requiring a collaborative team of investigators to address complex scientific challenges with significant potential for advancements in military operations and national security.

The purpose of the MURI program is to enable scientific breakthroughs in areas of strategic interest to the DoD. By supporting multidisciplinary teams, the program intends to accelerate research in areas where the scope of the problems extends beyond the expertise of individual researchers. This initiative encourages the formation of collaborative research teams that can propose and execute research projects crossing traditional disciplinary boundaries.

The funding scope includes support for fundamental research aligned with specific technical topics provided in the announcement. These topics are proposed by various branches within the DoD including the Air Force, Army, and Navy, and are subject to change each fiscal year. Each research topic is guided by a responsible Research Topic Chief (RTC), whose contact information is provided in the appendix for interested applicants to discuss potential proposals before submission.

Eligible applicants for this opportunity include United States institutions of higher education with strong research capabilities. Teams are expected to consist of investigators from multiple disciplines and may include multiple institutions. The program encourages inclusion of early-career faculty and aims to enhance scientific diversity and innovation through these collaborative efforts. The DoD places particular emphasis on integrating disciplines in ways that generate innovative research approaches and outcomes.

Applications for the FY 2025 MURI program must be submitted by September 9, 2024. Although white papers are strongly encouraged for feedback purposes and should be submitted by June 17, 2024, they are not mandatory. Proposals should follow the specified formats and address the evaluation criteria including scientific merit, relevance to DoD needs, qualifications of the research team, and the management plan. Awards are expected to be made around March 2025, with each award covering up to five years of funding, not to exceed $7.5 million in total.

Important deadlines include the white paper submission date of June 17, 2024, and the full proposal deadline of September 9, 2024. Funding decisions are anticipated by March 2025. Interested parties are encouraged to consult the full announcement and contact the relevant Research Topic Chiefs for topic-specific guidance and clarification during proposal preparation.