NSF CAREER Program & DRK-12

NSF's Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program is a "Foundation-wide activity that offers the National Science Foundation's most prestigious awards in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their department or organization." A CAREER applicant must:

  • Hold a doctoral degree in a field supported by NSF;
  • Be engaged in research in an area of science, engineering, or education supported by NSF;
  • Hold at least a 50% tenure-track (or tenure-track-equivalent) position as an assistant professor (or equivalent title);
  • Be untenured; and
  • Have not previously received a CAREER award. (Prior or concurrent Federal support for other types of awards for non-duplicative research does not preclude eligibility.)

CADRE is pleased to highlight the work of CAREER awardees within NSF's DRK-12 Program.

DRK-12 CAREER AWARDS

Active DRK-12 CAREER Awards
Search NSF for active CAREER awards in the DRK-12 program.

2022 Spotlight on DRK-12 CAREER Awards
Learn about the work of 27 emerging leaders who are developing innovative approaches for improving teaching and learning across STEM disciplines, and hear their advice for developing a successful CAREER proposal and tips for managing a CAREER grant based on their experience in Insight from DRK-12 CAREER Awardees.

Virtual Poster Hall 
View a collection of project posters that feature DRK-12 CAREER projects, presented at DRK-12 PI Meetings.


ABOUT THE NSF CAREER PROGRAM

Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)
Learn about NSF's CAREER Program and solicitation.

Dear Colleague Letter: CAREER Proposals Submitted to the Directorate for Education and Human Resources (EHR)
Released on June 17, 2022, the purpose of this NSF Dear Colleague Letter is (a) to highlight, clarify, and draw attention to important information included in Program Solicitation NSF 22-586 as it relates to CAREER proposals submitted to divisions and programs within EHR; and (b) to list the divisions and programs within EHR that intend to review and fund CAREER proposals.

2023 NSF CAREER Program Webinar
Program officers held NSF-wide webinars about the CAREER program in 2023. View the recording and slides.

2015 Webinar Recording: Perspectives from DRK-12 CAREER Grant Awardees 
CADRE hosted an informational webinar about the NSF CAREER program on February 24, 2015. In this webinar led by NSF PO Karen King, CAREER awardees Alicia Alonzo, Tina Grotzer, and Gloriana González Rivera share their experiences as first-time PIs on both preparing their proposals and leading their projects. View the slides and recording.

Tips for Working with Graduate Students and Advisors
On January 18, 2017, DRK-12 CAREER awardees met virtually with a former CAREER awardee to discuss working with graduate students and advisors. These notes capture the highlights from their conversation and offer tips for other NSF grantees.

Active CAREER Awards
Search NSF for active CAREER awards across NSF programs.