The webpage describes a training program for faculty interested in the National Science Foundation's Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER).
Bootcamp Overview
The Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (OVPRI) invites faculty to join its training program for the prestigious CAREER program, which provides awards to 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. Through in-person workshop sessions and targeted support from Research Development Services staff, the OVPRI CAREER Bootcamp will help faculty plan, write, and submit a compelling and competitive application for the July 28, 2027 deadline.
The CAREER Bootcamp will have a 2-hour, in-person workshop session each month, February through May. Participants will have activities to complete between sessions, and from May through submission in July, participants will have continued support and guidance from Research Development Services.
Bootcamp Session Dates
- February 12, 2027, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- March 12, 2027, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- April 9, 2027, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
- May 14, 2027, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Location: Knight Library DREAM Lab
Eligibility
CAREER Bootcamp is open to tenure-track faculty who meet all the following eligibility requirements as of the annual deadline:
- 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 position as an assistant professor
- Be untenured
- 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.)
- Have not applied to the CAREER competition three times already
Content
The training program provides a supportive learning community that trains participants on the key aspects of planning, writing, and submitting a competitive CAREER proposal, including: finding the correct program for the project; developing effective broader impact activities; integrating the education component with the planned research; writing a compelling departmental letter; understanding all the resources available to complete the submission; and more.
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will be able to create a competitive NSF CAREER grant application that demonstrates a strong understanding of how to create compelling Broader Impacts activities and seamlessly integrate research and teaching activities.
- Participants will be able to build relationships within and outside the university that help them be more successful in their application to the NSF.
Example of prior Bootcamp Syllabus.docx
Application
Fill out the application by clicking the button below. The form asks for a brief paragraph on both your research project and what you would like to get out of the Bootcamp. Please note that your unit head will receive an approval request when the form is submitted.
Application Deadline: November 16, 2026.