Research

CAREER Resources

The National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development Program is the agency’s most prestigious award. Awardees should have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education. The award serves to help build a firm foundation for a “lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research.” Successful Principal Investigators propose creative, effective research and education plans that are developed within the context of the mission, goals, and resources of their organizations.

This program is highly competitive. A key to success is to start early. Unlike other submissions, this is a career development submission rather than a research proposal; thus, in addition to proposing a research plan, applicants must also provide a career development plan and an explanation of how they will integrate education with research. This page provides multiple resources and tools to help applicants develop CAREER proposals and address important differences from more traditional NSF submissions.

Eligibility

To be eligible, applicants must:

  • Hold a doctoral degree in a field supported by NSF.
  • Be engaged in an area of science, engineering, or education supported by NSF.
  • Be employed in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor — or equivalent title — as of the annual CAREER proposal deadline — fourth Monday in July.
  • Be untenured as of the annual CAREER proposal deadline — fourth Monday in July.
  • Have not had more than two CAREER proposals reviewed previously.
  • Have not previously received a CAREER award. Note: applicants may have received other funding from NSF or other agencies as long as that funding does not duplicate the research described in the CAREER proposal.

Resources

Program overview

While the eligibility dates regarding tenure are out of date as are the submission numbers, these presentations provide really good information about the program since the requirements have remained fairly stable.

CAREER proposal writing tips

Workshops

  • K-State Nuts and Bolts Workshop and Writing Clinic: These events are typically held in late March. Check the Research Events page and Research Weekly for specific information. The workshop discusses the requirements for a CAREER submission. A panel of K-State faculty members who have submitted to this program also provide writing tips and insight on putting together a CAREER proposal. The Writing Clinic is a follow-on for interested attendees who agree to participate in a series of writing exercises over the period leading up to the CAREER due date; the exercises are designed to help the participant develop a better submission.
  • NSF CAREER Writing Workshop: This virtual workshop provides future CAREER proposal submitters with proposal review experience and interactions with NSF program directors and recent NSF CAREER awardees. This year will be via Zoom. Registration for this workshop is typically in mid-March with the workshop itself occurring in May.

Webinars

  • NSF: Each year in mid May, the NSF CAREER Coordinating Committee hosts a webinar to answer participants' questions about development and submission of proposals to the NSF CAREER program. The webinar gives participants the opportunity to interact with members of the NSF CAREER Coordinating Committee in a question-and-answer format. View the 2023 webinar.

Library of winning CAREER proposals

The Office of Research Development maintains a secure library of successful NSF CAREER proposals from K-State faculty members. To gain access to the library, you must participate in one of the workshops listed above or one of ORD’s or your college’s grant writing/CAREER sessions. Please email ord@k-state.edu with the subject line "NSF CAREER Proposal Library” to request access or find more information.

Tips and other resources

  • Contact an NSF Program Officer early to make sure that your idea is fundable and of interest to the division to which you are considering submitting. If not, the Program Officer can help you redirect your thinking or find a better division for your submission.
  • Search the NSF Awards Database for examples of funded CAREER proposals in the division to which you are considering submitting.
  • Use the application checklist (docx) developed by the K-State Engineering Research and Graduate Programs Office. This list includes target dates for when items are due from engineering faculty members to that office.
  • Education/Broader Impacts Resources
  • Evaluation Resources
  • Data Management Plan Resources

Guidance from other institutions

Other analogous young investigator award programs