The NSF Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) program aims to support scientists and engineers at a critical mid-career stage to advance their research programs and career trajectories. Mid-career researchers, often constrained by teaching and service responsibilities, are offered "protected time," resources, and the opportunity to form synergistic partnerships, enabling them to address new and challenging research areas. The program targets associate professors (or equivalent) who have held their position for at least three years, with expanded eligibility for full professors at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs) in the biological and geosciences fields.

MCA proposals must demonstrate how the program’s resources will enable substantial enhancements to the PI’s research and career trajectory, fostering innovation and career advancement that would not occur otherwise. The program promotes interdisciplinary research and welcomes partnerships across disciplines to tackle problems requiring diverse methodologies and expertise. Each proposal must include three critical sections: past research, a research advancement and training plan, and long-term career plans, accompanied by an impact statement and letters of collaboration.

Funding of up to $14-18 million will be allocated annually, supporting 35-45 awards. Each award allows for a maximum of 6.5 months of PI salary and up to $100,000 in direct costs over three years, including provisions for a two-day networking event at NSF headquarters. PIs must coordinate with their departmental leadership to ensure institutional support for their reduced duties and project feasibility during the grant period. Collaborative partners cannot serve as co-PIs but can receive one month of summer salary or equivalent costs.

Eligible proposals must address one of the participating NSF directorates, including Biological Sciences, Geosciences, Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, and STEM Education, with specific restrictions on research topics related to disease mechanisms or treatments in human biology. Proposals are evaluated based on intellectual merit, broader impacts, the novelty of the research, and the potential to foster transformative science while broadening participation in STEM fields.

Proposals are submitted through NSF’s Research.gov or Grants.gov platforms. A key requirement is the inclusion of an impact statement explaining how the award will address the PI's career constraints and enhance their scientific contributions. Supporting documentation, including biographical sketches, collaboration letters, and departmental endorsements, must align with NSF guidelines.

The application window for MCA proposals opens annually from February 1 to March 1. PIs are encouraged to contact NSF program officers to confirm alignment with program goals and discuss their research topics' suitability. By fostering bold, interdisciplinary, and innovative research, the MCA program aligns with NSF’s strategic objectives of advancing scientific knowledge and cultivating a diverse, world-class STEM workforce.