← Back to search

U.S. National Science Foundation

Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER)

Open

Key facts

Deadline
Due Jul 28, 2027 · 294 days left
Award size
From $400K
Total available
$250M
Match ?
Not required · Work out your budget and match
Who can apply
Set by the official notice: see Who can apply below
Where
Anywhere in the U.S., including Tennessee

Before you apply: federal grants require an active SAM.gov registration (Unique Entity ID) and a Grants.gov account. Registration is free but can take weeks, so start now, not when the deadline is close. Get-ready checklist

How this fits you

  • Available in Warren County (nationwide program)
  • No match required
  • Past Tennessee awards on file: 563

Tell us who you are to see whether you're eligible.

View on Grants.gov Add deadline to my calendar

More from U.S. National Science Foundation

About this grant

CAREER: 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 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. Activities pursued by early-career faculty should build a firm foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating education and research. NSF encourages submission of CAREER proposals from early-career faculty at all CAREER-eligible organizations. PECASE: Each year NSF selects nominees for the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) from among the most meritorious recent CAREER awardees. Selection for this award is based on two important criteria: The criteria are 1) performance of innovative research at the frontiers of science, engineering, and technology that is relevant to the mission of the sponsoring organization or agency; and 2) community service demonstrated through scientific leadership, education or community outreach. These awards foster innovative developments in science and technology, increase awareness of careers in science and engineering, give recognition to the scientific missions of the participating agencies, enhance connections between fundamental research and national goals, and highlight the importance of science and technology for the Nation’s future. Individuals cannot apply for PECASE. These awards are initiated by the participating federal agencies. At NSF, up to twenty-six nominees for this award are selected each year from among the PECASE-eligible CAREER awardees most likely to become the leaders of academic research and education in the twenty-first century. The White House Office of Science and Technology Policy makes the final selection and announcement of the awardees.

Who can apply, from the official notice

*Who May Submit Proposals: Proposals may only be submitted by the following: -Non-profit, non-academic organizations: Independent museums, observatories, research laboratories, professional societies and similar organizations located in the U.S. that are directly associated with educational or research activities. -Institutions of Higher Education (IHEs): Two- and four-year IHEs (including community colleges) accredited in, and having a campus located in the US, acting on behalf of their faculty members. Special Instructions for International Branch Campuses of US IHEs: If the proposal includes funding to be provided to an international branch campus of a US institution of higher education (including through use of sub-awards and consultant arrangements), the proposer must explain the benefit(s) to the project of performance at the international branch campus, and justify why the project activities cannot be performed at the US campus. *Who May Serve as PI: A Principal Investigator (PI) may submit only one CAREER proposal per annual competition. In addition, a Principal Investigator may not participate in more than three CAREER competitions. Proposals that are not reviewed (i.e., are withdrawn before review or are returned without review) do not count toward the three-competition limit.

Ask a partner for a letter

Your schedule, working back from the deadline

  1. Oct7
    Check that your SAM.gov registration is active (or start it now)
    Grants.gov: allow up to 10 business days for SAM registration, weeks or months if information isn't verified. It must be renewed every year. Grants.gov
  2. Jul7
    Ask partners for letters of support or commitment
    Suggested: partners need about three weeks to write and sign letters.
  3. Jul21
    Finish a complete draft for a final review
    Suggested: leave about a week for someone else to read the draft.
  4. Jul26
    Submit
    Grants.gov: submit at least 24–48 hours before the deadline: uploads fail, systems slow down, errors need fixing. Grants.gov blog
  5. Jul28
    Deadline
    From the funder.

Save this grant to put these dates in My grants and your private calendar.

Writing the need statement? Warren County facts with citations.

Who in Tennessee has won this program

227 awards to Tennessee groups in 12 counties since 2016 · 0 in Warren County. Largest shown:

Past Tennessee winners
Past winnerWhereAmountFiscal year
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$15M2023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$13.3M2019
State of TennesseeNashville$13.2M spent that year2025
State of TennesseeNashville$12.2M spent that year2025
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$11.7M2023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson County$9.3M2024
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox County$9M2026
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville$8.8M spent that year2025
State of TennesseeNashville$7.7M spent that year2025
State of TennesseeNashville$7.3M spent that year2025
State of TennesseeNashville$6.7M spent that year2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville$6.1M spent that year2025

Source: USAspending.gov, Federal Audit Clearinghouse. Past awards show who this program funds. They don't guarantee future awards.

Tennessee groups that got this money through Tennessee Department of Education

This federal money also reaches local groups as pass-through grants. In Tennessee, Tennessee Department of Education passes it on: watch that agency for applications, not the federal agency. 336 pass-through grants on file · 0 in Warren County. Largest shown:

Tennessee pass-through grant winners
Past winnerWhereThroughAmountFiscal year
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyHudsonalpha Institute for Biotechnology$1.7M2026
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyGeorgia Tech Research Corp$1.2M2023
Fisk UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyVanderbilt University$956K2024
Vanderbilt UniversityNashvilleNorth Carolina State University$922K spent that year2025
State of TennesseeNashvilleThe Ohio State University$849K spent that year2025
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyUniversity of California Santa Cruz$792K2023
Meharry Medical CollegeNashville, Davidson CountyVirginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$767K2025
Aglaunch InitiativeMemphis, Shelby CountyNorth Dakota State University$703K2026
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyArizona State University$638K2026
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyUniversity of Missouri System$586K2023
Vanderbilt UniversityNashville, Davidson CountyVirginia Polytechnic Institute & State University$534K2024
University of TennesseeKnoxville, Knox CountyUniversity of Texas at San Antonio, the$490K2024

Source: USAspending.gov pass-through reports (the first recipient reports each one of $30,000 or more).

About the federal program

Engineering, also called “(ENG)”
Program number 47.041 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · National Science Foundation · Project grant

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

Mathematical and Physical Sciences, also called “(MPS)”
Program number 47.049 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · National Science Foundation · Project grant

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

Geosciences, also called “(GEO)”
Program number 47.050 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · National Science Foundation · Project grant

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

Computer and Information Science and Engineering, also called “(CISE)”
Program number 47.070 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · National Science Foundation · Project grant

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

Biological Sciences, also called “(BIO)”
Program number 47.074 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · National Science Foundation · Project grant

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences, also called “(SBE)”
Program number 47.075 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · National Science Foundation · Project grant

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

STEM Education (formerly Education and Human Resources), also called “(EDU)”
Program number 47.076 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · National Science Foundation · Project grant

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

About the federal program

Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships, also called “NSF Directorate for Technology, Innovation, and Partnerships (TIP)”
Program number 47.084 (the federal Assistance Listing number) · National Science Foundation · Grant

Match

None required (federal program listing).

This program on SAM.gov

Something wrong on this page? Tell us
What's wrong?