How to Structure your NSF CAREER Proposal: Sample Outline and Tips

This is the next post in my ongoing series on “Writing a Strong NSF CAREER Proposal.” Read all the posts here.

The NSF CAREER proposal may not be the first one you write, but it’s (probably) the one that feels the most important. Page limits, required subsections, supplemental documents, budget rules…the list goes on. And all of that is on top of the brilliant research plan, education plan, and flawless writing you’re also supposed to deliver.

BUT, there is hope. Following an expected structure, with consistent detail, and thorough planning, will set your proposal ahead of those with disorganized thoughts, unclear research plans, and missing information. It will also make the writing easier, because you’ll have a clear map for what goes where. Reviewers see dozens of proposals in a cycle, and strong signposting helps them follow your ideas without getting lost.

If you don’t already have a practice of starting with an outline, that is my #1 tip—for the CAREER and really, any big writing project. Use a “top-down” approach to your document: outline ➙ bullets ➙ paragraphs ➙ sections. Plan what will go in each section, as well as a rough estimate of length. (This last step will save you agonizing hours of cutting later.)

I’m sharing here the outline I recommend—the same one I use myself—with notes on what reviewers expect in each section. You can copy the outline to get started in your own writing! 🤫 Scroll to the end for a special treat.

NSF CAREER Proposal Outline (with Notes)

I. Introduction A. Research Questions (RQs) B. Intellectual Merit (IM) C. Broader Impacts (BI)	> Start with your key PROBLEM. > Motivate your proposed SOLUTION. > Present your RQs and OBJECTIVES. > Preview how you plan to ACHIEVE them and EVALUATE your results. > Follow NSF’s specific formats for IM & BI.
II. Background A…. [organize by main sub-areas]	> Define a Venn diagram of your research areas—these are your sub-subsections. > Provide enough context for reviewers to grasp key concepts. > Be selective—don’t try to cite everything.
III. Prior Work	> Summarize YOUR prior relevant contributions and results.
IV. Research Plan A…. [organize by RQ or by year]	> Include one subsection for each RQ. > Use the same sub-subsections: RQ & hypothesis, methods & analyses, measures & expected outcomes, and evaluation plans. > Insert a TIMELINE figure for all 5 years.
V. Integration of Research & Teaching	> Connect your scholarship to lifelong learning and broader societal impact. > Think bigger than classroom activities and student mentoring. > Use your unique context to stand out.
VI. Risks & Mitigation	> Consider cascading effects if RQ1 does not yield results necessary for RQ2, etc.
VII. Dissemination Plan A. Research Dissemination B. Products and Resources C. Public Dissemination	> Discuss ways to share your work. > Target both academic and public venues. > Identify the permanent products and/or resources that will result.
VIII. Prior NSF Support [use NSF’s specific required format]	> Include this section if you’ve had NSF support in the last 5 years. > Follow the required NSF format exactly. (NSF no longer requires the “No prior funding…” statement to be included.)

Final Tips

• Like all writing tips, this outline is adaptable—don’t treat it as rigid. You may find a different flow works better, for example, if you have significant prior work to report.
• Use subheadings liberally for skimmability. SO MANY proposals skip the subheading formatting and line spacing to cram every last word into their 15 pages, but this makes the document too hard to read ➙ reviewer gives up.
• You don’t need to write every section in order. Draft with placeholders and fill in detail later. (But keep those page limits you set in mind!)

Writing proposals in this structure both makes review easier and helps you stay organized. Have you tried using an outline? If you use this outline and it works for you, I’d love to know in the comments!

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📢 NOW OPEN! The inaugural cohort of my “Write Your (NSF) CAREER” coaching program is here. 👉 Join the interest list now to learn more and get a treat: a full copy of my funded CAREER proposal from 2015.

If you find yourself in need of an editor or coach to get your proposal, paper, or other manuscript across the finish line, contact me to chat about my services. 🙂

Glass structure photo by orlando s. under CC.