The Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program represents the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) commitment to fostering the next generation of academic leaders. Recognized as the NSF’s most prestigious award for early-career faculty, the CAREER program is designed to support individuals who demonstrate exceptional potential to excel as academic role models in both research and education. This program serves as a pivotal launchpad for early career faculty, enabling them to establish a robust foundation for a lifetime of leadership in integrating research with educational advancements.
The NSF CAREER Program: An Overview
The CAREER program is a Foundation-wide initiative that underscores the NSF’s dedication to identifying and nurturing future leaders within academia. It provides significant funding and recognition to early-career faculty members who are not only conducting innovative research but are also deeply committed to education and outreach. The core mission of the CAREER program is to empower these individuals to seamlessly weave together their research endeavors with their educational responsibilities, thereby enriching both domains.
Program Objectives
The activities supported by the Early Career Program are intended to lay a strong groundwork for a sustained career characterized by leadership in merging education and research. NSF emphasizes the importance of this integration, believing that the most impactful academics are those who can effectively connect their cutting-edge research with inspiring and effective teaching and mentoring. By supporting this synergy from the outset of an academic career, the CAREER program aims to cultivate a new generation of faculty who are not only outstanding researchers but also exceptional educators and mentors.
Encouraging Broad Participation
NSF strongly encourages the submission of CAREER proposals from all CAREER-eligible organizations and is particularly proactive in promoting applications from groups historically underrepresented in STEM fields. This includes women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities. This emphasis on diversity and inclusion reflects the NSF’s commitment to ensuring that the scientific and engineering workforce is representative of the nation as a whole and benefits from the widest possible range of perspectives and talents.
Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE)
Building upon the foundation of the CAREER program, the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) represent the highest honor bestowed by the United States government on outstanding scientists and engineers in the early stages of their independent research careers. PECASE awards are intrinsically linked to the CAREER program, as nominees are selected from among the most exceptional recent CAREER award recipients.
PECASE Selection Criteria
Selection for a PECASE award is a highly competitive process based on three primary criteria:
- Innovative Research: Demonstrated performance of innovative research at the frontiers of science, engineering, and technology that is directly relevant to the mission of the sponsoring federal agency, such as NSF.
- Community Service: Evidence of community service through scientific leadership, engagement in education, or broader community outreach activities.
- Commitment to STEM Equity: A clear commitment to enhancing STEM equity, diversity, accessibility, and inclusion in all aspects of their work.
Significance of PECASE Awards
The PECASE awards serve multiple vital purposes. They not only recognize and foster groundbreaking developments in science and technology but also elevate public awareness of careers in these critical fields. Furthermore, these awards strengthen the connection between fundamental research and overarching national goals, underscoring the paramount importance of science and technology for the nation’s future prosperity and global competitiveness.
Nomination and Selection Process
It is important to note that individuals cannot directly apply for PECASE awards. Instead, participating federal agencies, including NSF, nominate candidates from their pools of recent CAREER awardees. At NSF, up to twenty-six nominees are selected each year from those CAREER awardees deemed most likely to become pioneering leaders in academic research and education in the 21st century. The final selection and public announcement of PECASE awardees are made by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, highlighting the prestige and national significance of this recognition.
