The CAREER Club equips prospective NSF CAREER applicants in the social and behavioral sciences with the knowledge, resources, and writing support necessary to develop a competitive proposal for the National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Program (CAREER).
Eligibility
CAREER Club applicants must be planning to submit a proposal to the annual NSF CAREER deadline in an area related to social and behavioral science, and be eligible to submit an NSF CAREER proposal per NSF’s eligibility criteria:
- Hold a doctoral degree by proposal deadline
- Be untenured and employed in an at least 50% tenure-track (or tenure-track-equivalent) assistant professor (or equivalent title) position at an eligible institution as of the annual deadline
- Have both research and educational responsibilities at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
- Have not previously received a CAREER award
- Have not had more than two CAREER proposals reviewed previously
Activities
CAREER Club activities include information sessions, training and consultation on broader impacts activities, structured writing groups, peer feedback, comprehensive pre-submission reviews by experienced research development staff, and a supportive environment throughout the proposal process, from conception to submission. All activities and services are offered at no cost to CAREER Club members.
Expectations
Participants are expected to:
- Attend all the required sessions outlined below.
- Complete individual tasks prior to the scheduled session.
- Engage respectfully with all participants and staff.
As space is limited, we respectfully request that only faculty who are fully committed and able to attend all required sessions register for the series.
Spring 2026 | Schedule of Activities
| Session | Date, Time, & Location |
| CAREER Club Kickoff | Friday, January 23, 2026, 9:00 –11:00am, NCSA 3100 |
| Planning & Writing a CAREER + Panel with NSF grantees | Friday, February 13, 2026, 9:00 –11:00am, NCSA 3100 |
| Broader Impacts | Friday, March 06, 2026, 9:00 – 11:00am, NCSA 3100 |
| Writing Session 1* | Friday, April 10, 2026, 9:00 – 11:00am, NCSA 3100 |
| Writing Session 2* | Friday, April 17, 2026, 9:00 –11:00 am, NCSA 3100 |
| Peer Feedback Session | Friday, May 08, 2026, 9:00 –11:00 am, NCSA 3100 |
| CSBS Office Hours | May & June by appointment (virtual or in person) |
| Comprehensive Proposal Review | Submit proposal to CSBS by June 8th Receive feedback via email by June 22nd |
| CAREER Proposal Deadline | Wednesday, July 22, 2026 |
*Must attend 1 of the 2 writing sessions; however, participants are encouraged to attend both.
How to Apply
Applications for the CAREER Club – Spring 2026, open on Wednesday November 12, 2025 and close December 03, 2025. Applications will be reviewed immediately following the application close date.
Space is limited, and selections for membership will be based on:
- the project’s alignment with the specified NSF directorate, division, and program’s funding priorities and mission, and
- the order in which applications were received.
Information Session
A 30-minute information session will be held on Monday, November 17, 12:00-12:30pm CST via Zoom. Learn about the CAREER Club programming, application process, and engage in Q&A with the CSBS staff.
Questions
Please direct all questions concerning the CAREER Club to Senior Research Development Manager, Kaylee Lukacena, lukacen2@illinois.edu.