Numerous KU researchers supported with NSF early-career awards
KU faculty researchers have had an impressive record of success garnering Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) awards granted by the National Science Foundation. Since 1995, 50 of KU’s current faculty have won the award, which is designated as “prestigious” by the National Research Council. Along with enabling recipients to fund innovative research, prestigious awards contribute to KU’s strength as an AAU member institution.
Junior faculty selected for the award, which provides a minimum of about $500,000 over five years, have demonstrated the potential to serve as teacher-scholar role models who can integrate research and education within the context of their departments’ mission. Only those in a tenure-track position as an assistant professor at the time of proposal submission are eligible for the award.
KU’s 2023-24 recipients of the CAREER award include:
- Elisabeth Mills, Physics & Astronomy
- Kelly Matsunaga, Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
- Amy Hansen, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
- Admin Husic, Civil, Environmental & Architectural Engineering
- Hartwin Peelaers, Physics & Astronomy
Emily Arnold, associate professor of aerospace engineering, received a CAREER grant totaling $609,000 in 2019. “Consistent funding for five years was critical to establishing my research program,” Arnold said. “The NSF CAREER award also allowed me to focus my research applications on environmental remote sensing, which is a very unique opportunity in the field of aerospace engineering.”
The Office of Research partners each year with the Bremner Editing Center in KU’s School of Journalism to offer a CAREER Writing Workshop that provides strategies, tips and targeted partner review to enhance proposal competitiveness.
Eligible principal investigators are allowed to submit one CAREER proposal per annual competition. The deadline for proposals for 2025 awards is July 24, 2024. More information on NSF’s CAREER program is available on the agency’s website.
KU’s Office of Faculty Recognition & Awards provides support for faculty nominations for external research awards that recognize outstanding achievements in research, scholarship and creative activity. Connect with Robin Lehman, director of faculty recognition & awards, to learn more about pathways to external recognition.