1 Y.B. Guo Assistant Professor Dept. of Mechanical Engineering The University of Alabama April 6, 2006 Wichita, Kansas Writing a NSF/CAREER Award Proposal -- Key Points and Understanding

2 Outlines Career Planning Research Plan Education Plan Writing Style Summary

3 Career Planning CAREER –What is your CAREER? A growing plan for your entire career, not just five years Critical for layout of your research and educational milestones –What is your vision? Not a research project Not just a list of individual actions Compelling story to lead reviewers follow your path

4 Career Planning Contact Program Manager (s) –Pitch your research idea and ask for advices. –Try to talk to the program manager (s) in person and read his or her body language. Do Some Homework –Read the abstracts published by NSF, and/or some of your friends or colleagues’ CAREER proposals. –Select which program your proposal belongs. –Talk to people in academia and industry (potential collaborations).

5 Research Plan Research Topic –Double-edged hot topics such as “nano” and “bio”. –Do have your own niche. Research Plan –Ambitious but realistic (nobody is superman). –Logic and concise research objectives. –Convincing justification for your proposed research. –Solid research tasks. –Broad vs. focus. –General vs. detail.

6 Research Plan Sell Yourself –Highlight your own unique accomplishments. –Use your record to support your promises which isn't just pie in the sky. –Build credibility for the proposed new RESEARCH, not just an simple extension of your PhD work. –Evaluation component

7 Research Plan Collaborations –Supporting letters from both academia and industry –Not recommendation letters –Specific and mutual beneficial –Interdisciplinary links –Right people and resources to match your proposed activities.

8 Education Plan Critical Component Teaching Philosophy –Conceptualization of learning –Conceptualization of teaching –Goals for students

9 Education Plan Implementation of Your Teaching Philosophy –Naturally integration with research in planning stage. –Common ways won't be enough, but can't hurt. –Brighter points to make a difference. –Information on the latest articles from ASEE journals and magazines. –Evaluation component.

10 Writing Style Format Tips –Punchy and concise presentation. –One picture worth 1000 words. –No small font to overwhelms the reviewers. –Well written project summary. –Concrete evidence (including goals, milestones, etc.) for what you are going to do. –Proofread. –Taking care of your general and expert audience. –Creative plan for excitement from the page.

11 Summary A clear CAREER/vision. A compelling story. Integrated research and teaching. Prior record and future potential.

12 Questions and Discussion