Mid-Career Advancement
Mid-Career Advancement program offers support to mid-career scientists/engineers for enhancing research trajectory, fostering diversity, and enabling interdisciplinary partnerships across science fields.
Funder: U.S. National Science Foundation
Due Dates: February 1, 2027 (submission window opens) | March 1, 2027 (full proposal deadline)
Funding Amounts: $14M–$18M total program funding; approx. 35–45 awards; up to 6.5 months PI salary + $100,000 direct costs over 3 years per award
Summary: Supports mid-career scientists and engineers in the U.S. to advance research and career trajectory through protected time and collaborative partnerships.
Description
This opportunity provides mid-career scientists and engineers with resources and protected time to enhance and advance their research programs and career trajectories. The program is designed for researchers at a critical career stage who face constraints from service, teaching, or other responsibilities that limit research productivity. Awards support mutually beneficial collaborations—typically with partners outside the PI’s home institution—to foster new skills, interdisciplinary networking, and innovative research directions. The program spans multiple NSF directorates, including Biological Sciences, Geosciences, Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, and STEM Education.
