NSF CAREER Funding Opportunities - Insights and Lessons from the Application Process

About

This session will provide an overview of the NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program, with a focus on its goals, structure, and expectations for junior faculty. The CAREER award is one of NSF’s most prestigious funding mechanisms, supporting early-career faculty who effectively integrate research, education, and broader impacts into a cohesive scholarly agenda. Drawing on Dr. Litwa’s own experience preparing and submitting an NSF CAREER proposal, she will share practical guidance on developing a competitive application, including articulating a long-term research vision, crafting a compelling education plan, and aligning broader impacts with both institutional and NSF priorities. The session will also address common challenges encountered during the application process, strategies for proposal development and time management, and lessons learned from feedback and reviews. The discussion is intended for early-career faculty who are considering applying for the NSF CAREER award, as well as mentors and research development professionals who support faculty grant writing. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the CAREER program and actionable insights to inform their own proposal development efforts.