The NSF Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) grant supports early-career faculty with innovative research projects and educational activities that integrate teaching and research and simultaneously advance both fields. The NSF CAREER award is one of the most prestigious grants available to early-career faculty and proposals are due each year on the 4th Wednesday in July. Developing a strong and comprehensive statement of your long-term research and educational vision takes time so by starting early, faculty are better able to:
- Align proposed project goals with NSF and Directorate mission and priorities
- Develop a strong, integrated educational plan
- Attain institutional support and feedback
- Increase competitiveness by avoiding common pitfalls and last-minute stress
The goal of this training workshop is to prepare tenure-track assistant professors with a passion for integrating education and discovery to advance their careers at WSU by providing understanding of each step of the NSF CAREER proposal preparation process: from identifying and aligning goals with the appropriate NSF Directorate’s priorities to submitting the proposal in the Research.gov platform.
Participants will join Research Development Specialist Cheryl Dykstra-Aiello, PhD from the Office of Research for five 90-mintue hybrid sessions on Wednesdays from 2:30 pm – 4:00 pm October 1, 2025 through October 29, 2025 in-person in the Pullman Office of Research conference room (Lighty 280) and virtually over Zoom.
Eligibility
This training series is suitable for early career WSU tenure-track faculty from any STEM or social science discipline.
The workshop is limited to 15 faculty systemwide. Applications are submitted online and must include a letter from your department chair expressing support for your participation. The deadline to apply is Friday, September 19.
Selected applicants will attend each session of the workshop at no cost to their home unit. If the registrant fails to fully participate in the workshop without prior arrangement, their home unit will be required to defray some or all of the cost of their participation.
Workshop Sessions
2:30 – 4:00 pm on Wednesdays, October 1 – October 29, 2025
Objective
- Understand the purpose, goals, and expectations of the CAREER program.
Topics Covered
- Overview of the NSF CAREER Award: Purpose, eligibility, impact, and timeline
- The importance of integrating research and education
- Navigating NSF’s funding priorities and Directorate-specific goals
- Aligning your research goals with NSF and WSU
- Communicating with NSF program officers
- Understanding NSF’s merit review criteria: Intellectual Merit & Broader Impacts
- Timeline planning
Activities
- Review of successful CAREER abstracts
- Group discussion: What makes a compelling CAREER vision?
Homework
- Draft a logic model and one-paragraph CAREER project vision statement
- Develop a submission timeline and action plan
Objective
- Learn the structure and required elements of a CAREER proposal.
Topics Covered
- Required documents: Project Summary, Project Description, References, Budget, Data Management Plan, Key Personnel Documents, Supplementary Documents and letters
- Project Description Deep Dive (15 pages)
- Objectives/Specific Aims/Goals
- Research Plan
- Education Plan
- Broader Impacts
- Timeline
Activities
- Analyze a sample proposal section-by-section
- Peer review of vision statements
Homework
- Begin drafting the Project Summary
- Outline the Project Description
Objective
- Develop strong, persuasive writing tailored to NSF reviewers.
Topics Covered
- Writing for reviewers: clarity, coherence, and impact
- Formatting essentials
- Defining and demonstrating Intellectual Merit
- Crafting compelling Broader Impacts beyond research contributions
- Real-world examples of impactful Broader Impacts plans
- Addressing NSF’s data management plan requirements
- Common pitfalls and how to avoid them
Activities
- Writing workshop: Broader Impacts brainstorming
- Peer review Project Summary
Homework
- Draft the Broader Impacts section
Objective
- Understand the logistics of proposal submission and how to use SciENcv for compliant key personnel documents.
Topics Covered:
- Using Research.gov for submission
- Submission timeline
- Using SciENcv for compliant Biosketch, Current and Pending (Other) Support
- Institutional support and letters
Activities
- Create your Biosketch in SciENcv
- Peer review Broader Impacts
Homework
- Use SciENcv to create your Current and Pending (Other) Support
Objective
- Understand NSF’s review process and decision factors and strategize next steps before submission
Topics Covered
- How proposals are evaluated
- Final checklist before submission
- Resources for continued support (e.g., grant writing groups, mentors)
Activities
- Review Session 1 timeline draft and strategize next steps before submission
- Q&A with past CAREER awardees and/or Office of Research development specialist(s)
Homework
- Revise and prepare for internal submission deadlines
Research Content and Confidentiality
Important
Participants in this workshop will be asked to share research ideas or plans with the group. This method is the best way to gain valuable feedback and insights that will benefit your proposals. These discussions must be absolutely confidential.
Your participation in the class means that you have agreed that all information presented and/or shared is confidential. You may not discuss, use, or forward your colleagues’ materials with or to anyone else during the class or at any time afterwards.
This prohibition includes verbal presentations and written materials, specifically proposals and/or proposal sections.