This page was created in response to information requests I received from participants in QEM (Quality Education for Minorities) Workshops on the NSF-CAREER Program in which I participated as a consultant over several years (2002-present).

I have posted copies of BOTH my unsuccessful (FY-96) and successful (FY-97) CAREER proposals in PDF format. Click HERE to scroll directly to the file links.

While I certainly don't pretend to have any particularly "magical" insights into this process, it is my hope that this information will allow you to compare and contrast my experiences and to see how I put my proposal together. The best advice I can give you is to talk with persons both at your institution and in your field to learn from their experiences in proposal development.

If you have just randomly come across this site, the only thing I ask is that you send me a quick e-mail message letting me know that you are using these files and if you found them helpful.

WORDS OF CAUTION: These are technical proposals are on topics in experimental plasma physics. While the subject may be different from yours, I believe you might be able to get some insights on the the general formatting and organization of a CAREER proposal. HOWEVER, the rules under which CAREER grants are awarded have changed over time. Big differences between now and then:

1. In my opinion my educational plan (as written under the FY-97 rules) does not have the necessary evaluation mechanisms to be successful under the FY-05 (or later) rules. Also, I'm not sure that the integrated nature of research and education plans came through as effectively as would be needed for the present competition. Nonetheless, the basic plan is, I think, still sound.
   
   
2. Under the FY-97 rules, CAREER proposals were limited to a maximum of $100k per year for 5 years. Please review the current rules on budgets. However, the basic elements of the budget (Personnel, Materials and Supplies, Travel, Major Equipment) remain the same.
   
   
3. My summary did not have the "Intellectual Merit" and "Broader Impact" statements that are now REQUIRED for all NSF proposals. That rule was not in effect in FY-97.
   
   
4. New comment (Spring, 2008) - The proposal listed below in FY-08 was written using the guidelines noted above. Effective January 5, 2008, the most recent revision to the "Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide" went into effect (NSF081). As a general rule, always go to the NSF website and make sure that you are following the rules for the current year's competition!
   
   
5. New comment (Spring, 2008) In preparing for a recent QEM workshop, I tried my hand at re-writing my FY-97 CAREER summary using the FY-08 competition current guidelines. Most of the summary remains intact, but reorganized. Both versions are contained in THIS pdf file.

Files for download:

FY-96: Unsuccessful CAREER Proposal

• Summary (23 kB)
• Proposal Text (234 kB)

FY-97: Successful CAREER Proposal

• Summary (44 kB)
• Proposal Text (327 kB)
• Budget Justification (37 kB)
• Budget Numbers (34 kB)

FY-08: Current NSF Proposal

• Summary (66 kB)
  This is the summary of my most recently funded (~May, 2008) NSF grant. This is an example of the structure of the project summary under the NSF proposal guidelines that were in effect through December, 2007 (These were summarized in NSF 07-140.)
  
  
• FY-97 Summary re-write (68 kB)
  This file contains both the original and rewritten versions of my FY-97 CAREER proposal summary.

BEST OF LUCK!!

Ed Thomas (etjr[at]physics.auburn.edu)
Professor, Physics Department, Auburn University