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Strategic Planning for NSF Career Award Success

Learn how to prepare for and write a competitive NSF Career Award proposal, with practical advice from experts in the field. This guide covers crafting a strong career research plan and education plan, working with students, and effective proposal writing strategies. Discover key tips to differentiate your research, engage with literature, and establish valuable contacts. Enhance your chances of securing this prestigious award and advancing your academic career.

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Strategic Planning for NSF Career Award Success

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  1. Writing for an NSF Career Award Sandra H. Harpole February 6,2012

  2. Acknowledgements • Dr. George Hazzelrigg • Competitive Proposal Writing • www.research.lsu.edu/files/item38877.pdf • Dr. Elizabeth VanderPutten • Why This is Such a Great Time to be in Education • www.research.lsu.edu.item39157.pdf

  3. What is an NSF Career Award? • NSF’s most prestigious award for assistant professors • Funds academic career development of new faculty – not a research award • Based on a developmental plan • “well argued specific proposal for activities that will build a firm foundation for a lifetime of integrated contributions to research and education”

  4. What is an NSF Career Award? • Five-year award with minimum award of $400,000 • Designed to provide stable support at level and duration to build foundation for a lifetime of integrated contributions to research and education • Very competitive – about 400 of 3,000 proposals are funded each year • Deadline: July each year

  5. Planning Your Career • What is your expertise? Your interests? • What are your life/career goals? • What are your resources? • Do you have a strategic plan? • Where are you now? • Where do you want to be in 5, 10, 20 years? • How do you get there?

  6. Characteristics of Career Research Plan • Innovative, researchable project sufficient for five years of work • Built on existing literature with strong potential to contribute to that literature • Has appropriate methodologies for research questions • Reflects expertise and passion of principal investigator

  7. Career Education Plan • Brings excitement of research to education • Is consistent with mission and goals of the university • Is innovative but builds on the work of others • Is doable • Reflects the expertise as well as limitations of principal investigator • Is capable of being evaluated

  8. What do Career awardees do? • 90% work with graduate students to submit peer reviewed papers. • Only 8% work with graduate students who have internships in business. • Almost 80% involve undergraduates in research with 6% of the students getting industrial internships. • About 50% work with K-12 teachers or students

  9. Advice from Hazzelrigg and VanderPutten • Have a strategic plan • Build on your strengths • Differentiate your proposed research from your PhD. Thesis work and other sponsored research • Perform thorough literature search and exploratory research before writing proposal • Journal articles (update with personal contact) • NSF Grant Proposal Guide • Establish and maintain your contacts

  10. Advice from Hazzelrigg and VanderPutten • Read, critique and use research about STEM education • Science, Nature, Journal of Research in Science Teaching, professional societies • Read some National Research Council’s Synthesis work in education • How People Learn • Adding It Up • Knowing What Students Know • Scientific Research in Education • Learning Science in Informal Environments

  11. Writing the proposal • Read the request for proposals (RFP) carefully • Contact program directors early • Don’t make the research and education proposed too broad or too narrow. • Write to the reviewers • What is the research about (research objective)? • How will you conduct the research (technical approach)? • Can you do it (you and your facilities)? • Is it worth doing (intellectual merit and broader impact)?

  12. Writing the proposal • Work with others • Develop budget based on the research and education plan • Do not ask for too much or too little money • Follow the guidelines carefully • Have someone review your proposal • Proof and proof again • Prepare IRB if human subjects are involved

  13. Writing a Competitive ProposalGeorge Hazzelrigg • www.research.lsu.edu/files/item38877.pdf

  14. Contact Information • Sandra H. Harpole • sharpole@research.msstate.edu • 662-325-2922

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