Opportunity Information: Apply for 08 557
Apply for 08 557
- The National Science Foundation in the science and technology and other research and development sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041 Engineering Grants 47.049 Mathematical and Physical Sciences 47.050 Geosciences 47.070 Computer and Information Science and Engineering 47.074 Biological Sciences 47.075 Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences 47.076 Education and Human Resources 47.078 Polar Programs 47.079 Office of International Science and Engineering 47.080 Office of Cyberinfrastructure.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 8, 2010 and posted on Mar 4, 2009.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jul 21, 2009 Full Proposal Deadline(s) July 21, 2009 BIO, CISE, EHR July 22, 2009 ENG July 23, 2009 GEO, MPS, SBE, OPP July 20, 2010 BIO, CISE, EHR July 21, 2010 ENG July 22, 2010 GEO, MPS, SBE, OPP. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $80,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 425 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification).
- Organization Limit Proposals may only be submitted by the following Academic institutions in the U.S., its territories or possessions, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that award degrees in fields supported by NSF. Non profit, non degree granting organizations such as museums, observatories or research labs may also be eligible to submit proposals, if the eligibility requirements of the PIs position are satisfied. PI Limit Special eligibility criteria apply.
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Opportunity Summary:
The National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is NSF's flagship award for early-career faculty who are building their academic trajectories as "teacher-scholars." The program is designed to support junior faculty who combine strong, innovative research with excellent education efforts, and who can show a clear, intentional plan for integrating research and teaching in ways that fit the mission and context of their home institution. In practice, a competitive CAREER proposal is not just a research project with a teaching add-on; it is a single, coherent career development plan that links what the investigator will discover or build in their research with how they will educate students, broaden participation, and create lasting educational impact. NSF frames CAREER as an investment meant to establish a firm foundation for long-term leadership, with the expectation that awardees will become influential contributors to both research and education over the course of their careers. NSF also explicitly encourages applications from women, individuals from underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities.
This opportunity is a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category. It is described as a foundation-wide activity, meaning it spans NSF directorates and scientific areas rather than being limited to a narrow topic. The CFDA listings associated with the opportunity indicate broad coverage across NSF, including Engineering (47.041), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (47.049), Geosciences (47.050), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (47.070), Biological Sciences (47.074), Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (47.075), Education and Human Resources (47.076), Polar Programs (47.078), the Office of International Science and Engineering (47.079), and the Office of Cyberinfrastructure (47.080). This breadth signals that CAREER awards can be pursued in many disciplines and interdisciplinary areas, as long as the proposed work aligns with NSF-supported fields and meets the program's emphasis on integrated research and education.
Eligibility is primarily tied to the applicant organization and the principal investigator's career stage and position. Proposals may be submitted by U.S. academic institutions (including U.S. territories or possessions and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) that award degrees in NSF-supported fields. In some cases, non-profit, non-degree-granting organizations such as museums, observatories, or research laboratories may also be eligible, provided the PI's position satisfies the CAREER eligibility requirements described in the full solicitation. The source information notes that special eligibility criteria apply to the PI, which is consistent with CAREER's focus on "junior faculty" and early-career academic appointments. There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed for this opportunity, which matters because it indicates institutions are not expected to provide a mandatory financial match as a condition of the award.
From a funding and scale standpoint, the opportunity lists an estimated total program funding level of $80,000,000 and an expected number of awards of 425, underscoring that this is a major NSF investment with a substantial annual footprint across disciplines. The award floor is listed as $400,000, which gives a sense of the minimum award size anticipated under this solicitation (though actual award amounts can vary by directorate norms, project scope, and NSF policy at the time). The opportunity is identified as NSF Publication 08-557 (Funding Opportunity Number 08-557), with posted date March 4, 2009, and it includes multiple directorate-specific full proposal deadlines. For the cycles shown, the due dates are staggered by NSF directorate: in 2009, July 21 for BIO, CISE, and EHR; July 22 for ENG; and July 23 for GEO, MPS, SBE, and OPP. A similar pattern appears for 2010 with deadlines from July 20 through July 22 depending on the directorate. These staggered deadlines reflect the way CAREER proposals are routed and reviewed within the appropriate NSF disciplinary home.
A notable feature associated with CAREER is its connection to the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Each year, NSF selects a small set of nominees for PECASE from among the most meritorious new CAREER awardees. PECASE is not something an individual applies for directly; instead, participating federal agencies initiate nominations. At NSF, up to twenty nominees are selected annually from the pool of PECASE-eligible CAREER awardees who are judged most likely to become leaders of academic research and education in the 21st century. The selection criteria emphasized in the opportunity are (1) innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology that is relevant to the mission of the sponsoring agency and (2) community service demonstrated through scientific leadership, education, or community outreach. Final selection and public announcement of PECASE awardees is made by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. This linkage effectively means a CAREER award can serve as a pathway to national-level recognition, but only after receiving CAREER funding and being selected through the agency-led nomination process.
For practical access and administrative support, the announcement notes that applicants having difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically can contact NSF's grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov. The complete program details, including the specific PI eligibility rules and proposal preparation requirements, are contained in the solicitation referenced as NSF Publication 08-557.
NSF CAREER Program (NSF 08-557) FAQs
What is the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program?
The NSF CAREER Program is NSF's flagship award for early-career faculty. It supports junior faculty who are building their careers as "teacher-scholars" by funding an integrated plan that combines innovative research with strong education efforts.
What does NSF mean by a "teacher-scholar" in the CAREER context?
In this program, a teacher-scholar is an early-career faculty member who advances a research agenda while also contributing meaningfully to education. CAREER emphasizes that research and education should be intentionally linked, rather than treated as separate activities.
What makes a CAREER proposal competitive, based on the description provided?
A competitive CAREER proposal is presented as a single, coherent career development plan. It is not described as "a research project with a teaching add-on," but as a unified plan showing how the investigator's research and educational activities reinforce each other, fit the home institution's mission and context, broaden participation, and create lasting educational impact.
Is the CAREER Program limited to a specific scientific topic area?
No. The opportunity is described as a foundation-wide activity spanning NSF directorates and scientific areas, rather than being limited to a narrow topic. Proposals may be pursued in many disciplines and interdisciplinary areas as long as they align with NSF-supported fields and meet the program emphasis on integrated research and education.
Which NSF directorates and fields are associated with this CAREER opportunity?
The associated CFDA listings indicate broad coverage across NSF, including Engineering (47.041), Mathematical and Physical Sciences (47.049), Geosciences (47.050), Computer and Information Science and Engineering (47.070), Biological Sciences (47.074), Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (47.075), Education and Human Resources (47.076), Polar Programs (47.078), the Office of International Science and Engineering (47.079), and the Office of Cyberinfrastructure (47.080).
What type of grant program is this?
This opportunity is described as a discretionary grant program in the Science and Technology and other Research and Development category.
Who can submit a proposal (eligible organizations)?
Proposals may be submitted by U.S. academic institutions (including U.S. territories or possessions and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) that award degrees in NSF-supported fields.
Are non-profit, non-degree-granting organizations eligible to submit?
In some cases, yes. The opportunity notes that non-profit, non-degree-granting organizations such as museums, observatories, or research laboratories may also be eligible, provided the PI's position satisfies the CAREER eligibility requirements described in the full solicitation.
Who is eligible to serve as the Principal Investigator (PI)?
The opportunity indicates that special eligibility criteria apply to the PI, consistent with the program's focus on junior faculty and early-career academic appointments. The specific PI eligibility rules are contained in the full solicitation (NSF Publication 08-557).
Does this opportunity require cost sharing or a matching contribution?
No. The opportunity states there is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed, indicating institutions are not expected to provide a mandatory financial match as a condition of the award.
How much funding is available through this opportunity overall?
The estimated total program funding level is listed as $80,000,000.
How many awards does NSF expect to make?
The expected number of awards is 425.
What is the minimum award size mentioned for this solicitation?
The award floor is listed as $400,000, indicating the minimum award size anticipated under the solicitation (noting that actual award amounts can vary by directorate norms, project scope, and NSF policy at the time).
What is the Funding Opportunity Number and publication identifier for this CAREER solicitation?
The opportunity is identified as NSF Publication 08-557 (Funding Opportunity Number 08-557).
When was this opportunity posted?
The posted date is March 4, 2009.
Are there different proposal deadlines depending on the NSF directorate?
Yes. The solicitation includes multiple directorate-specific full proposal deadlines, with due dates staggered by directorate.
What were the 2009 CAREER proposal due dates listed in the opportunity?
For 2009, the due dates listed are July 21 for BIO, CISE, and EHR; July 22 for ENG; and July 23 for GEO, MPS, SBE, and OPP.
What were the 2010 CAREER proposal due dates pattern described in the opportunity?
For 2010, a similar staggered pattern is described, with deadlines from July 20 through July 22 depending on the directorate.
Why are CAREER deadlines staggered across directorates?
The opportunity indicates the staggered deadlines reflect how CAREER proposals are routed and reviewed within the appropriate NSF disciplinary home.
How does the CAREER Program connect to PECASE?
The CAREER Program is linked to the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). Each year, NSF selects a small set of nominees for PECASE from among the most meritorious new CAREER awardees.
Can an individual apply directly for PECASE through NSF?
No. The opportunity states PECASE is not something an individual applies for directly. Participating federal agencies initiate nominations.
How many PECASE nominees can NSF select each year from CAREER awardees?
NSF may select up to twenty nominees annually from the pool of PECASE-eligible CAREER awardees, based on those judged most likely to become leaders of academic research and education in the 21st century.
What criteria are emphasized for PECASE consideration in this description?
The opportunity emphasizes (1) innovative research at the frontiers of science and technology relevant to the sponsoring agency's mission and (2) community service demonstrated through scientific leadership, education, or community outreach.
Who makes the final selection and public announcement of PECASE awardees?
Final selection and public announcement is made by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Does NSF encourage applications from specific groups?
Yes. NSF explicitly encourages applications from women, individuals from underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities.
Where can applicants find the detailed PI eligibility rules and proposal preparation requirements?
The complete program details, including the specific PI eligibility rules and proposal preparation requirements, are contained in the full solicitation referenced as NSF Publication 08-557.
Who should applicants contact if they have trouble accessing the full announcement electronically?
Applicants having difficulty accessing the full announcement electronically can contact NSF's grants.gov support at grantsgovsupport@nsf.gov.
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