NSF CAREER Proposal Support from Amiable
For STEM faculty and Research Development offices supporting STEM faculty.
Preparing an NSF Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) proposal means balancing strong science with clear plans for education, mentoring, and Broader Impacts. We support faculty preparing to submit with practical guidance, clear strategy, and recommendations grounded in how CAREER proposals are actually reviewed today. We also closely track the evolving policy and funding landscape in DC, so our guidance reflects not only CAREER program norms, but how shifting federal priorities and NSF practices may be shaping proposal review and funding decisions in real time.
Below are our core CAREER support options; other modalities are possible. Final pricing depends on scope and institutional needs.
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One-on-One Customized CAREER Coaching
This option is for faculty who want individualized support throughout the entire CAREER drafting process. Providing the optimal value for faculty members, this coaching service is entirely tailored to their unique needs, strengths and opportunities.
Support includes:
★ One-on-one coaching built around your specific project and timeline
★ Regular meetings on your schedule
★ Assignments every meeting to scaffold development of the proposal
★ Critical feedback on assignments
★ Feedback on initial Concept Outline to send to NSF Program Officer
★ Strategic development of all proposal components
★ Support developing Broader Impacts, mentoring and education plans in line with current requirements
★ Literature review and annotated bibliography for Education activities
★ Support for Evaluation plan development
★ One full Red Team review
★ Timeline and accountability support through submission
Price: Starting at $9000
CAREER Cohort Program
A structured program designed for small groups of faculty (4-8 people) preparing CAREER proposals together. Running from February or March through July, with meetings every 2-3 weeks, cohorts can consist of faculty from a single institution or multiple (usually peer) institutions.
Support includes:
★ Eight to ten 1-hour presentation + Q&A sessions
★ Eight to ten open office hours
★ Assignments every session to scaffold development of the proposal
★ Critical feedback on assignments
★ Feedback on initial Concept Outline to send to NSF Program Officer
★ Literature review and annotated bibliography for Education activities
★ Support for Evaluation plan development
★ One full Red Team review per participant
★ Peer feedback and shared accountability
Price: Starting at $4500 per participant
CAREER Workshop
Structured as an intensive, essentials-only CAREER training, this workshop gives faculty the ability to learn A LOT and put it all into practice. These workshops can be customized to fit any institution's specific needs.
Options include:
★ One hour presentation (additional material beyond the 2/5/2026 public Amiable webinar)
★ Half-day or full-day workshop, about 80% presentation, 20% activities (offered in person or via Zoom; split over days when on Zoom to prevent fatigue)
★ Provides a streamlined version of the full cohort curriculum, focusing on high-level strategy and essential components
★ Many add a Red Team review for each faculty member after they’ve drafted the proposal post-workshop
★ Add-ons (additional cost) could include:
Feedback on initial Concept Outline to send to NSF Program Officer
Evaluation plan development
Literature review and annotated bibliography for Education plan
Broader Impacts design support
Just about anything
Prices:
One-hour presentation: $750
Half-day workshop: $1500
plus travel expenses if in person
One-day workshop: $2500
plus travel expenses if in person
Adding Red Team: +$2500 per person
Red Team Review
For faculty with a solid draft of their proposal who want clear, aggressively-critical external feedback so that they can revise before submission, we offer our Red Team review. These are conducted by Dr. Amy Myrbo and Amiable’s education research professional, Dr. Cheryl Manning. As a bonus, we can often arrange an additional review by one or more retired NSF Program Officers who just can’t stop helping the scientific community by critically reading proposals in their new-found free time.
This service includes:
★ A comprehensive Red Team review of the Project Description and Project Summary
★ Focused guidance on Broader Impacts and education components
★ Red Team review of ancillary documents (including Synergistic Activities, Budget Justification, Facilities, Data Management and Sharing Plan, and more)
Price: Starting at $2500
Literature Review for CAREER Education Activities
Focused support for the education component of CAREER proposals.
It’s vital to give the education portion of your proposal the same weight and attention as the science portion. Amiable’s education research professional, Dr. Cheryl Manning, will curate a list of five to ten important and relevant publications and provide an annotated bibliography to help you read and understand the recommended literature. This option is for faculty who want a strong, well-grounded education plan supported by literature, but do not need full proposal coaching.
This service includes:
★ A tailored, appropriately-sized literature review focused on your specific proposed CAREER education activities
★ An annotated bibliography
Price: $500
Custom CAREER Coaching Packages
We know that every institution and every CAREER applicant has different needs. We regularly design fully customized CAREER coaching packages based on your faculty, timelines, and internal support structures.
If you are not sure which option is the best fit, let’s talk. (And let’s talk even if you DO know what option is the best fit.) We are happy to help you define what your CAREER support needs look like and get started.