The Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER), managed by the National Science Foundation (NSF), represents one of the organization’s most prestigious awards supporting early-career faculty. This program is designed for faculty who demonstrate the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and who are committed to the integration of these areas. The CAREER program is Foundation-wide, encompassing multiple NSF directorates including Biological Sciences, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, STEM Education, Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematical and Physical Sciences, Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, and others.

CAREER proposals aim to provide stable support at a sufficient level to enable early-career faculty to develop careers that combine outstanding research and education. Proposals should include a five-year integrated plan that aligns with the mission and goals of the applicant’s institution. Successful applications propose synergistic research and educational components and may include international or cross-sector dimensions such as partnerships with industry or policy organizations. NSF particularly encourages applications from women, individuals from underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities.

The award provides a minimum of $400,000 over five years, though proposals submitted to the Directorates of Biological Sciences, Engineering, or the Office of Polar Programs are expected to request at least $500,000. Around 500 awards are granted annually with an anticipated total program funding of $250 million, subject to availability. Proposals may not include co-principal investigators, and only one CAREER proposal may be submitted per competition by a Principal Investigator, who may participate in no more than three CAREER competitions over time.

Eligibility is limited to untenured, tenure-track (or equivalent) faculty members holding at least a 50 percent appointment and possessing a doctoral degree in an NSF-supported field. Both two- and four-year institutions of higher education in the U.S., as well as nonprofit, non-academic organizations such as museums and observatories, may apply. Institutions must be accredited and based in the United States. The proposal must include a departmental letter affirming the PI's eligibility and support for the integration of research and education.

Applications must be submitted via Research.gov or Grants.gov and adhere to the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide. The proposal must include specific sections such as project description, biographical sketch, references, and supplementary documents including the required departmental letter and, optionally, a PECASE eligibility statement. Letters of collaboration should follow a specific format and cannot serve as letters of support or recommendations.

The proposal deadline is the fourth Wednesday of July each year, with the next due date on July 23, 2025. The award is not rolling but is recurring annually. Evaluation criteria include intellectual merit and broader impacts, with additional consideration for the integration of research and education. Contact for program-related inquiries is available at nsf-ccc@nsf.gov or (703) 292-5111, and additional contacts by NSF division can be found on the program’s website.