A Caveat: This document consists of a list of the evaluation criteria of winning CAREER proposals. The following essential tips illustrate "what tasks" you should undertake rather than "how" to perform these tasks. About This Document " Proposal preparation phase: Sections 1 (Foundations), 2 (Preliminaries), and 6 (Other Suggestions) offer a list of tips on how to prepare your proposals. " Proposal writing phase: Sections 3 (Key Components) and 4 (Writing) are comprised of a list of proposal components and writing styles. " Proposal proofreading phase: Section 5 (Polishing a Proposal Draft) is a final proposal checklist.

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Making a Competitive NSF CAREER Proposal
Xiao Qin
Auburn University
Revised: May 9, 2018. Version 1.1
A Caveat: This document consists of a list of the evaluation criteria of winning CAREER
proposals. The following essential tips illustrate “what tasks” you should undertake
rather than “how” to perform these tasks.
About This Document
• Proposal preparation phase: Sections 1 (Foundations), 2 (Preliminaries), and 6
(Other Suggestions) offer a list of tips on how to prepare your proposals.
• Proposal writing phase: Sections 3 (Key Components) and 4 (Writing) are
comprised of a list of proposal components and writing styles.
• Proposal proofreading phase: Section 5 (Polishing a Proposal Draft) is a final
proposal checklist.
1. Foundations
1) Visit NSF and Communicate with your program director
2) Become an NSF proposal reviewer or an NSF panelist
3) Read well-­‐written NSF proposals
4) Build an impressive publication track-­‐record
5) Become conference and journal reviewers
6) Increase the number of your collaborators outside of Auburn University
7) Find a mentor outside of your department
2. Preliminaries
1) Follow NSF grant proposal guidelines
2) Find a home NSF Program for your proposal
3) Use required fonts and legible figures/tables
4) Your proposal isn’t a research paper
5) Collect evidence and preliminary results
6) Prepare and submit your proposal early
3. Key Components
1) The summary page is utterly important
2) Tell a compelling story
3) Formulate exciting and intriguing research objectives
4) Develop educational goals to be integrated with your research objectives
5) Establish a logical and chronological plan of 5-­‐year research activities
6) Establish education activities
7) Create experimental methods coupled with measurable metrics
8) Intellectual merit and broader impacts are equally critical

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9) Show ways of disseminating your research and educational findings
4. Writing
1) Articulate a high-­‐risk, high-­‐reward research plan (i.e., be ambitious yet
believable)
a. Make your proposed research plan unique
2) Research activities must be consistent with your research objectives
3) Education activities should lead to your education objectives
4) Research and education activities should be integrated
5) Include relevant and high-­‐quality graphics, tables, diagrams, and figures
6) Show evidence and your preliminary results
5. Polishing a Proposal Draft
1) Ensure that the 1-­‐page project summary contains motivations, related work,
proposed work, intellectual merit, and broader impact.
2) Check spelling and grammar
3) Try to use 12 pt font and 1” margins
4) Double check captions, project summary, and section headings
5) Pick captivating project names and proposal titles
6. Other Suggestions
1) Collect letters of supports from industry collaborators
2) Submit a few NSF proposals prior to developing your CAREER proposal
3) Research activities must be consistent with your research objectives
4) Discuss research ideas and activities with your mentor, collaborators, colleagues,
NSF program directors, department chair; seek feedback from them.
5) Keep writing research proposals; we will survive.
References
[1] NSF CAREER Proposal Writing Tips, edited by Z.J. Pei.
[2] How to Write A Winning CAREER Proposal, Lucy Deckard, Academic Research
Funding Strategies, LLC.
[3] NSF CAREER workshop: Tips and strategy plan, Haruka Wada, Auburn University.
[4] Faculty Early Career Development program “CAREER”,
http://www.nsf.gov/career