Early Career Faculty Funding Opportunities
The Office of Faculty Research Development (FRD) maintains a list of funding opportunities that we are currently aware of for early career faculty. This list and page are a work in progress. If you identify any early career opportunities that are not included below, please email us at Scholarly.Awards@utsa.edu. Opportunities marked with an asterisk (*) fall into the category of “limited submissions.” For more information about these opportunities and UTSA’s management of them, please visit our site.
All funding opportunities should comply with institutional pre-award administration delineated at the bottom of this page.
Early Career Funding Opportunities (PDF)
NSF CAREER
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 and especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, and persons with disabilities to apply.
Application Deadline
July 23, 2025
Fourth Wednesday in July, Annually Thereafter
Read: Solicitation 22-586
NSF CAREER ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
Proposers must meet all of 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 (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.)
UTSA Faculty Resources
Faculty Research Development (FRD) Services
Faculty Research Development (FRD) encourages and supports faculty planning to submit a CAREER proposal by offering workshops and access to numerous resources (e.g., templates, grant-smithing and editorial services, project management support, technical review coordination, acquiring external consultants, and more).
Pre-Award Administration
The Office of Sponsored Projects reviews authorizes, and submits all NSF CAREER proposals. In addition to conducting detailed reviews of each proposal, College Research Administrators can assist with budget development, Research.gov, and Cayuse routing. Administrators request that all CAREER applicants follow the 15/5 Rule to ensure quality proposals are submitted on time. Please notify the College Research Administrator staff that you plan to apply by submitting a Notice of Intent form.
- NSF CAREER webinar recording and slides (May 2024)
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for the Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) Program for Submission in Years 2022 – 2026 (NSF 22-100)
- CAREER Directorate and Division Contacts
- Do you have a project in mind but are unsure of which NSF directorate is the best fit? Try using the NSF Program Suitability & Proposal Concept Tool (ProSPCT) to determine the suitability of a project idea before submission of a proposal.