Faculty & Staff

National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program

Program Synopsis

The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of junior faculty who exemplify the role of teacher-scholars through outstanding research, excellent education, and the integration of education and research within the context of the mission of their organizations.

Such activities should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from junior faculty members at all CAREER-eligible organizations and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.

To learn more, visit the main NSF website, review helpful program FAQs, or read the program’s full announcement.

Additional Program Information and Data

• Key NSF Contacts
• Estimated Number of Awards: 425 per year
• Anticipated Funding Amount: $80M per year for new awards. This amount is approximate and subject to availability of funds. Funding for CAREER awards is contained within program allocations. The minimum CAREER award, including indirect costs, will total $400,000 for its 5-year duration with the following exception: proposers to the Biological Sciences Directorate (BIO) must submit budget requests for a minimum of $500,000 for the 5-year duration.
• The R2 Office has prepared a summary of the NSF CAREER Awards.

Agency for Healthcare Research (AHRQ) K Awards

AHRQ offers the following Career Development Awards:

• Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01): Health services research career preparation support for emerging scientists with research doctorates.
• Independent Scientist Awards (K02): Career development support for newly-minted clinical and research investigators.
• Mentored Clinical Scientist Development Awards (K08): Support for the development of outstanding clinician research scientists who are committed to a career in health services research, with a focus on development as an independent scientist.

More information can be found on AHRQ’s Training and Education Funding Opportunities page under “Post-doctoral Individual Level Grants.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
For information about the CDC’s Mentored Public Health Research Scientist Development Award (K01), please visit their website.

CDC's National Institute for Occupation Safety and Health (NIOSH), the branch of the CDC responsible for work-related illness and injuries, offers a Mentored Research Scientist Development Award (K01).