Faculty Early Career Development Program
The Faculty Early Career Development Program offers prestigious awards to early-career faculty supporting research, education, and leadership potential, including the opportunity for Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE).
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: July 27, 2022 | July 22, 2026
Funding Amounts: Minimum $400,000 (5 years); $500,000 minimum for BIO, ENG, or OPP directorates; ~$250M total program annually; ~500 awards/year
Summary: Supports early-career faculty in the U.S. to build a foundation for leadership in research and education through integrated research and educational activities.
Key Information: Only one CAREER proposal per PI per year; maximum of three competitions per PI.
Description
The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is the National Science Foundation's most prestigious award for early-career faculty. It aims to support those who demonstrate the potential to serve as academic role models in both research and education, and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization. The program encourages the integration of research and education, supporting activities that will build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in both areas. The CAREER program is open to a wide range of disciplines supported by NSF, and emphasizes creative, innovative research and educational plans that are synergistically integrated.
Each year, a subset of recent CAREER awardees may be considered for the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the highest U.S. government honor for early-career scientists and engineers. PECASE is honorary and does not provide additional funds.
