Faculty Early Career Development Program | 22 586

Opportunity Information: Apply for 22 586

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is NSF's flagship award for early-career faculty who show strong potential to become leaders in both research and education. The core idea is not just to fund a promising research project, but to support a coherent career-development plan where cutting-edge research and meaningful educational activities are deliberately integrated. CAREER proposals are expected to help the investigator build a long-term foundation for leadership in their field and to advance the mission and strengths of their department or home organization. NSF also makes a point of encouraging submissions from all CAREER-eligible institutions and places special emphasis on broadening participation, explicitly encouraging proposals from women, individuals from underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities.

A key feature connected to CAREER is the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE). PECASE is not a separate application opportunity for individuals; instead, participating federal agencies initiate the process. At NSF, the most outstanding recent CAREER awardees may be nominated for PECASE, with NSF selecting up to twenty-six nominees each year from the pool of PECASE-eligible CAREER awardees. Final selection and public announcement are made by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. PECASE selection focuses on three major criteria: first, the performance of innovative frontier research relevant to the mission of the sponsoring agency; second, community service through scientific leadership, education, or outreach; and third, a demonstrated commitment to STEM equity, diversity, accessibility, and/or inclusion. The overall purpose of PECASE is to spotlight exceptional early-career scientists and engineers, encourage innovation, connect fundamental research to national priorities, and raise the visibility of science and engineering career paths.

Eligibility to submit CAREER proposals is limited to certain types of U.S.-based organizations. Proposals may be submitted by accredited U.S. Institutions of Higher Education (including two-year and four-year colleges and community colleges) that have a campus located in the United States and are submitting on behalf of their faculty members. Certain non-profit, non-academic organizations may also apply, including independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies, and similar U.S. organizations that are directly tied to educational or research activities. If a proposal includes funding or project performance at an international branch campus of a U.S. institution (including via subawards or consultants), the proposal must clearly explain why that international location benefits the project and why the work cannot be done at the U.S. campus.

There are also important limits on who may serve as Principal Investigator (PI) and how often they can apply. A PI may submit only one CAREER proposal per annual competition, and a PI may not participate in more than three CAREER competitions total. Proposals that are withdrawn before review or returned without review do not count toward that three-competition limit, which matters for applicants who may need to adjust timing or eligibility before a proposal is formally evaluated.

From an administrative standpoint, this opportunity is a discretionary NSF grant under Funding Opportunity Number 22-586. It falls under the broad category of science and technology and other research and development, with multiple CFDA listings associated with NSF programs (including 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, and 47.084). The opportunity record shows an original closing date of 2025-07-23 and identifies NSF as the issuing agency. The listing does not specify an award ceiling or expected number of awards in the provided text, but the program is described as NSF's most prestigious mechanism for supporting early-career faculty who can become academic role models and long-term leaders by tightly linking their research agenda with an education and outreach plan.

• 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 Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 47.041, 47.049, 47.050, 47.070, 47.074, 47.075, 47.076, 47.079, 47.083, 47.084.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2022-04-19.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2025-07-23. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Eligible applicants include: Others.

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