Program Description
The Office of Research and Innovation (R&I)’s NSF CAREER Club is designed to support and guide early-career faculty at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL) in the development of a compelling and competitive National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER) proposal. Activities run annually from January to July.
CAREER Club activities, ranging from project idea conception to submission, include engagement with NSF program officers, mentoring/coaching from experienced administrators and staff, access to an external consultant, one-on-one consultation on broader impacts (i.e., education/outreach), pre-submission expert external review, and access to space for quiet writing time and ongoing consultation.
Eligibility
CAREER Club applicants must be planning to submit a proposal to the upcoming NSF CAREER deadline and be eligible to submit an NSF CAREER proposal per NSF’s eligibility criteria.
Tracks
CAREER Club has two tracks: Track 1, for those preparing new applications to the NSF CAREER program, and Track 2, for those who have previously submitted to the NSF CAREER program and are planning to revise and resubmit another application. Those who submitted a CAREER proposal to the previous deadline and who still have pending proposals should apply in Track 2, with the understanding that they will only participate in CAREER Club activities if their pending application is declined, and they are resubmitting to the upcoming deadline. Enrollment opens Nov. 1, 2026, and is due Dec. 16, 2026.
Schedule
| 2027 Program Dates | Track | Time | Location |
| January 13 | Track 1 and 2 | 3:00-4:30 p.m. | East Campus Union, Prairie Suite |
| January 27 | Track 1 | 3:00-4:30 p.m. | East Campus Union, Prairie Suite |
| February 3, 10, 17, 24 | Track 1 | 2:00-4:00 p.m. | Virtual |
| March 3 | Track 1 | 2:00-4:30 p.m. | Virtual |
| March 24 | Track 1 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. | Virtual |
| April 7 | Track 1 and 2 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. | WHIT 344 |
| April 21 | Track 1 and 2 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. | WHIT 344 |
| May 12 | Track 1 and 2 | 2:00-4:30 p.m. | WHIT 152 |
| May 19 | Track 1 and 2 | 2:00-4:30 p.m. | WHIT 152 |
| June 2 | Track 1 and 2 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. | WHIT 344 |
| June 16 | Track 1 and 2 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. | WHIT 344 |
| June 30 (optional office hour) | Track 1 and 2 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. | Virtual |
| July 14 (optional office hour) | Track 1 and 2 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. | Virtual |
| July 23 | Track 1 and 2 | 12:00-1:00 p.m. | Virtual |
Enrollment Process
To enroll in the NSF CAREER Club, please complete the online enrollment form by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 16.
For More Information
For more information, contact Tisha Gilreath Mullen, director of proposal development.
