Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)

Overview

This program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.

All CAREER proposals should describe an integrated path that will lead to a successful career as an outstanding researcher and educator. NSF recognizes that there is no single approach to an integrated research and education plan, but encourages all applicants to think creatively about the reciprocal relationship between the proposed research and education activities and how they may inform each other in their career development as both outstanding researchers and educators. These plans should reflect the proposer's own disciplinary and educational interests and goals, as well as the needs and context of his or her organization. Because there may be different expectations within different disciplinary fields and/or different organizations, a wide range of research and education activities may be appropriate for the CAREER program. In addition, NSF recognizes that some investigators, given their individual disciplinary and career interests, may wish to pursue an additional activity such as entrepreneurship, industry partnerships, or policy that enhances their research and education plans.

View the funding announcement for important updates to the CAREER competition.

• The PI needs to meet all eligibility criteria as of the annual deadline
• Clarification regarding the minimum percentage appointment (tenure-track and tenure-track equivalent) for eligibility to the program 
• Only one annual deadline applies to all CAREER submissions, regardless of Directorate 
• Added guidance on the CAREER proposal submission timeline

An eligible Principal Investigator may submit only one CAREER proposal per annual competition. No co-PIs are permitted.

A Principal Investigator (PI) may submit only one CAREER proposal per annual competition. In addition, a Principal Investigator may not participate in more than three CAREER competitions. Proposals that are not reviewed (i.e., are withdrawn before review or are returned without review) do not count toward the three-competition limit.

Faculty members who are Associate Professors or in equivalent appointments, with or without tenure, are not eligible for the CAREER program. Faculty members who hold Adjunct Faculty or equivalent appointments are not eligible for the CAREER program

The CAREER award, including indirect costs, is expected to total a minimum of $400,000 for the 5-year duration. Proposers must meet all of the following eligibility requirements as of the annual deadline:
•    Hold a doctoral degree in a field supported by NSF;
•    Be engaged in research in an area of science, engineering, or education supported by NSF;
•    Hold at least a 50% tenure-track (or tenure-track-equivalent) position as an assistant professor (or equivalent title);
•    Be untenured; and
•    Have not previously received a CAREER award. (Prior or concurrent Federal support for other types of awards for non-duplicative research does not preclude eligibility.)

Tenure-Track Equivalency 
For a position to be considered a tenure-track-equivalent position, it must meet all of the following requirements: 

1. the employee has a continuing appointment that is expected to last the five years of a CAREER grant; 
2. the appointment has substantial research and educational responsibilities; and 
3. the proposed project relates to the employee's career goals and job responsibilities as well as to the mission of the department or organization.

As stated in the Proposal Preparation Instructions, for non-tenure-track faculty, the Departmental Letter must affirm that the investigator's appointment is at an early-career level equivalent to pre-tenure status, and the Departmental Letter must clearly and convincingly demonstrate how the faculty member's appointment satisfies all the above requirements of tenure-track equivalency