The Grainger College of Engineering
Office of the Associate Dean for Research

NSF CAREER Workshop Series

Every year, the Office for the Associate Dean for Research offers a workshop series to faculty eligible for the prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program (CAREER). These workshops are designed to provide information and resources that can assist faculty with putting forth their best possible proposal.

76+

Engineering faculty awarded NSF CAREER grants 

42%

Percentage of proposals submitted that were funded

Workshops in the Series

The Office for the Associate Dean for Research's NSF CAREER Workshop Series is divided into three separate workshops, each with a unique area of focus. Click below to learn more about each workshop.

This workshop consists of a unique panel of Illinois faculty who have received CAREER awards to share their experiences and best practices for the NSF CAREER proposal process and answer other questions from attendees. 

NSF CAREER proposals need a compelling synergy between the professor's research and educational career goals, including educational activities outside their university teaching. This workshop will consist of a panel of potential partners offering unique educational activities and services that Illinois faculty can participate in related to their specific research.

Current Education/Outreach Partnership Opportunities

 

CAREER awardees cite participating in a review panel as one of the most important and helpful activities in preparation for submitting a winning proposal. This workshop will consist of participants performing the exact duties of a panelist on an NSF Proposal Review Panel. This includes reviewing approximately three proposals that were previously submitted by Illinois faculty to NSF from a variety of disciplines. Every attempt is made to match panelists with proposals that are similar to his/her area of expertise.

Next Session: Spring 2026

Registration is not yet open. In the meantime, check out our syllabus!

2026 Syllabus

Contact Us

DON TAKEHARA, PhD
Director for Research
203A Engineering Hall
(217) 330-1826
dtakehar@illinois.edu

L'Y FEHER, MBA
Program Coordinator
201 Engineering Hall
(217) 333-9366
feher2@illinois.edu

Questions about the NSF CAREER Workshop Series? Contact us today to learn more about our workshop resources and services. We look forward to hearing from you!