Write Your CAREER is a small-group NSF CAREER coaching program for early-career faculty, facilitated by me — Dr. Lisa Anthony.
In eight structured sessions, you’ll move from research vision to a full draft proposal — with plenty of time before the July NSF deadline for final revisions.
Enrollment opens soon! Use the form below to join the interest list ↴
Jump to: Who & What | Why Choose This Program | Eligibility | Program Topics | Schedule & Dates | Pricing & Enrollment | Testimonials | FAQs & Policies
If you’re worried about…
- not having prior funding or experience?
- whether your idea is “innovative” enough?
- missing a critical requirement or formatting mistake?
- working without strong institutional support?
We can help!
- NSF CAREER itself is designed for early faculty, with or without prior grants.
- We’ll model how to highlight impact in ways reviewers value.
- We’ll follow a structured timeline and checklists so nothing slips through.
- We cover the process end-to-end and identify resources and support.
Who It’s For:
This program is tailored for:
- First-time applicants preparing their CAREER proposal
- Pre-tenure faculty in computer science or related CISE fields
- Interdisciplinary scholars whose work connects to CISE
- Returning applicants regrouping after a prior submission
What You’ll Get:
- Step-by-step structure so you never feel lost or miss key details
- Guidance and brainstorming to help your proposal stand out
- Practical tips on how to write for the NSF review panel
- Feedback from peers and from me
- Accountability from a supportive cohort
- Optional 1:1 add-on coaching support
This program was designed with you in mind. Seats are limited — sign up now to get notified when enrollment opens to secure your spot!
🧠Can’t wait? Check out the CAREER Concept Intensive — a focused starting point to develop, refine, and pressure-test your idea…
(returning soon!)
📢 Stay tuned for details and sign-ups for periodic future live info session webinars…
Why Should You Choose This Program?
Write Your CAREER is a small-group coaching program designed to help you shape your research vision, structure your proposal, and write with confidence—without the confusion, loneliness, doubt and overwhelm.
I’m Lisa, the program designer and facilitator. My own NSF CAREER proposal was funded on the first submission in 2015 (CISE #IIS-1552598, CAREER: Natural User Interfaces for Children), and since then I’ve coached more than a dozen junior scholars and peers on NSF proposals and served as a reviewer on multiple CAREER panels.
Understanding the specifics of the CAREER opportunity is essential to developing a strong proposal. I will share successful strategies to address them, and guide you to avoid the common pitfalls that can derail an otherwise strong proposal.
I built this program around what I’ve learned from all three perspectives—applicant, reviewer, and coach—to help you turn your research agenda into a coherent five-year plan, connect research and education, communicate significance without overselling, and manage the process without burning out.
Eligibility & Fit
While targeted for pre-tenure faculty submitting to the NSF Directorate of CISE, interdisciplinary scholars are welcome! Prior participants have been in computer science; human-centered computing; natural language processing; mobile and digital health; human-AI interaction; forensic computing; and more.
Equity & Access
You may not know that faculty at institutions with fewer research resources, such as PUIs, R2s, HBCUs, and HSIs, or those in EpScoR states, can win the NSF CAREER award. Through equity pricing and focused mentorship, this program is designed to support access for all scholars.
Topics We Will Cover
Here is the planned program schedule, module by module, meeting every other week:
1. Kick-Off and CAREER Demystified
make introductions, build trust, brainstorm from projects to proposal
2. Defining Your Research Agenda
identify the pillars of your research area → to specific aims/objectives
3. Designing the Research Plan
translate aims to a 5-year plan at the right level of detail
4. Education & Mentoring Plan
develop this thread to complement the research thread and impress reviewers
5. Broader Impacts, Cohesion, & Partnerships
integrate research and education threads and identify partners
6. Budget and Justification Basics
outline budget needs in each category and justify the requests
7. Supplemental Documents & Submission Logistics
review all required supplements and submission checklist
8. Reviewer Perspective & Wrap-Up
peer and expert review to finalize 1-page summary
By the end of the program, you will have (a) a fully bulleted or drafted proposal with material in every section, and (b) a solid 1-page summary to further build up your proposal.
👉 Have you already submitted proposals to NSF? We will focus the last few weeks polishing your text if you’ve got the administrivia down.
Schedule & Dates
Over 16 weeks, we will meet every other week (2 hours each), starting in March 2027. Exact dates and times will be finalized based on enrollees’ availability.
- Sep 15, 2026 → Waitlist opens
- Nov 1, 2026 → Enrollment opens
- Dec 15, 2026 → Early bird discount ends
- Feb 28, 2027 → Enrollment closes
- ~Mar 4, 2027 → Program begins
- ~Jun 12 2027 → Program ends
- Jul 28, 2027 → NSF deadline
“Write Your CAREER” ends about four weeks before the NSF deadline in 2027, giving you time for revisions, letters, and institutional approvals. You’ll leave with a full draft in hand and a clear plan for final polishing.
Pricing and Enrollment
Coming soon! Add yourself to the interest list to be notified.
Testimonials
Dr. Anthony was amazing to work with. I had already submitted the CAREER proposal twice before I asked for her help. We did some brainstorming on a whiteboard and by answering some simple questions, we were able to craft the narrative that eventually worked and I was awarded CAREER that year. She helped to show me how to shape my ideas and thoughts into the basis of a research plan that would later develop into my lab’s overall trajectory. I’m happy that she is now offering these services for others 🙂
— Dr. Kyla McMullen, University of Florida, Dept of CISE, NSF CAREER Awardee #1845324 (2019)
[The] cohort was motivated [to help] each other – it was nice. … [The program] did help me to gain confidence, it helped me to polish the vision. … it cleaned up my [research aims] and the way I looked at the structure. … I am so grateful to keep learning from you, excited to continue soon.
— anonymous 2026 cohort member
I feel very lucky to have the opportunity to work with Lisa, who is not only an excellent editor but also a highly achieved scholar. The coaching services not only helped me improve the writing but also allow me to develop a clear picture of the research design that I will pursue. Beyond coaching me on proposal writing, she mentored me on conducting research in the field of human-centered computing. Overall, the costs are quite low compared to the value that I received.
— Dr. Xiang (Jacob) Yan, University of Florida, Dept of Civil and Coastal Engineering, 2026 1:1 coaching client
FAQs & Key Policies to Know:
Here are the essentials you need to know before enrolling. For full details, please see our Policies & FAQ page.
Payment & Enrollment
Processed securely via Stripe. Enrollments are non-refundable due to small-group design.
Equity Rate
Pricing is about 25% lower for faculty at HBCUs, HSIs, R2s, EPSCoR states, PUIs, and/or under-resourced institutions. 👉 See full page for eligibility info.
Attendance
Live sessions every other week via Zoom; recordings provided if you can’t attend.
Confidentiality
Drafts, feedback, and details stay within the cohort; recordings are for participant use only.
Respect & Inclusion
Practice professional, kind communication; respect boundaries and peers’ self-identification.
Sign up for NSF CAREER Coaching — Enrollment Opens Soon!
Don’t miss it this year! Fill out the quick form below to join the interest list. You’ll be the first to know as soon as registration opens. PLUS get a free PDF copy of my funded proposal when you do!
I’m looking forward to working with you!
Want to learn more about the CAREER Concept Intensive?
Read more about the experience and contact me to get started. (coming back soon!)
Have questions or want to combine services?
Email me anytime to set up a time to chat about your needs.
— *Lisa
✒️🌱🔥🫶🪻
Related External Links & Resources:
- the NSF CAREER program solicitation
- the NSF Directorate of CISE, or Computer & Information Science & Engineering
- my NSF CAREER award: CISE IIS-1552598 Natural User Interfaces for Children
- the NSF list of current EPSCoR states