Science for Protection

• This research thrust seeks to advance knowledge for 

protection of personnel, resources, and infrastructures

• Research involves basic science investigations that 

reduce consequences of WMD, assist in the restoration 

of infrastructures, equipment and facilities, and supports 

assessments 

• Advances capabilities to improve complex physical 

network functions against wide-area WMD effects; 

shield or harden components or systems (e.g. satellites,

electronics) and infrastructure (e.g. communication); 

understand emerging threats, including better 

knowledge of potential CBRNE effects and 

countermeasures to attack

Science of WMD Sensing and Recognition

• This research thrust involves exploration and exploitation 

of interactions between materials and various 

electromagnetic phenomena, molecules, nuclear 

radiation or particles

• Research explores fundamental understanding of the 

measurable changes that occur when a material is 

stimulated by energy, molecules or particles from WMD in 

the environment

• Advances capabilities to detect, identify and characterize 

WMD materials; and promises significant advancements 

in stand-off capabilities

Science to Defeat WMD

• This research thrust seeks new methods and materials to 

neutralize or destroy WMD systems, and investigates 

enhanced modeling and simulation of the interaction and

response of WMD components and materials to explosive 

blast and/or neutralizing environment

• Research focuses on orders-of-magnitude improvements 

in energy density and energy release rate over current 

capability; and eliminates WMD-material collateral effects

• Advances capabilities to characterize and defeat hidden or 

hardened structures containing WMD, the complex 

challenges associated with accessing these targets, and 

denying the enemy use of WMD

Basic Research for Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

DTRA sponsors basic research to enable capabilities that counter the global WMD threat

New research efforts are needed: Cognitive and Information Science

• This research thrust explores attributes of complex, 

often independent physical and social networks, and of 

WMD-related human motivation and decision factors in 

the context of these networks

• Research investigates better understanding and 

prediction of individual and group dynamics associated 

with acquisition, proliferation, potential use of WMD 

and of the behavior and vulnerabilities of physical and 

social networks that underlie these dynamics

• Advances capabilities to understand the factors that 

influence network robustness, dynamic behavior, concepts 

of operation, affect adversarial strategic decisions, and 

significantly enhance WMD situational awareness

Science to Secure WMD

• This research thrust seeks to improve scientific knowledge 

that supports verification of treaties, safeguards, and

non-proliferation

• Research includes revolutionary means to safely handle, 

transport, secure, or eliminates WMD components and 

weapons; and novel means that lead to physical or other 

methods to monitor compliance and reduce illegal 

proliferation pathways 

• Advances capabilities for safe and verifiable control 

of materials, systems, and facilities that underpin greater 

confidence for entering, exiting, or sustaining multinational WMD-related agreements

DTRA is focused on attracting and training world-class talent and on promoting fundamental research

that enables revolutionary advances in countering WMD threat.

Basic Research Strategy

Basic research is directed towards greater knowledge or 

understanding of phenomena without regard to specific 

applications. The DTRA Basic Research Program pursues 

efforts within and across disciplines such as biological 

science, chemical science, computer/network science, 

material science, math¬ematics, medical science, nuclear 

science, physics, and social sciences.
DTRA is committed to investing in Basic Research. 

Our technical experts foster basic research projects 

that could eventually transition to research results 

that support our ability to counter the threat of 

weapons of mass destruction. Using carefully 

balanced research portfolios, our technical leaders 

seek to create opportunities for revolutionary 

scientific breakthroughs that will enable the U.S. to 

better address future threats.

DTRA’s Basic Research Program 

Defense Threat Reduction Agency

Basic Research

for Countering

Weapons of Mass

Destruction Research & Development Enterprise

8725 John J. Kingman Road • Stop 6201

Fort Belvoir, Virginia 22060-6201

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Mission

The Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) 

safeguards the United States and her allies 

from weapons of mass destruction (chemical, 

biological, radiological, nuclear, and high yield 

explosives) by providing capabilities to reduce, 

eliminate, and counter the threat and mitigate its 

effects.

Basic Research Investment

DTRA accomplishes its mission by investing in 

basic research efforts at universities, national labs 

and DoD service labs, to enable future capabilities 

to better counter threats posed by weapons of 

mass destruction. We also facilitate productive 

relationships with other scientific organizations 

and seek to identify promising research efforts 

overseas. Through the Basic Research Program, 

DTRA recruits and trains scientists and engineers 

to develop a talented workforce for the future.

Call for proposals and Broad Agency 

Announcements can be found at:

www.grants.gov

www.fedbizopps.gov

To submit proposals for DTRA Basic Research 

funds go to:

http://www.dtrasubmission.net/SignIn.asp

If you have questions about the DTRA Basic 

Research Program

contact:

BasicResearch@dtra.mil

For employment opportunities at DTRA visit

www.usajobs.gov

BR Brochure 2010-01

For information on DTRA, please go to:

www.dtra.mil