Division of Research & Innovation
2026 NSF CAREER Cohort Now Open for Enrollment
Division of Research and Innovation launches faculty development program to strengthen NSF funding success
The University of Memphis Division of Research & Innovation is preparing to launch
the 2026 National Science Foundation (NSF) Faculty Early Career Development Program
(CAREER) cohort, with sign-up now available through April 3 on the UofM InfoReady
site (UofM login required).
The NSF CAREER Program is one of the foundation’s most prestigious awards, supporting early-career faculty who demonstrate the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education. At the University of Memphis, the CAREER Cohort initiative is designed to strengthen junior faculty members’ competitiveness for this significant funding opportunity.
The program is open to tenure-track, untenured Assistant Professors who are planning either a first-time submission or a resubmission. Participants will receive structured support that includes targeted training sessions, proposal development workshops, one-on-one consultations, and professional editing and review services. The Division of Research & Innovation prioritizes CAREER awards as they provide a strong foundation for sustained external funding and long-term research success.
The 2026 Cohort Kick-off meeting—serving both first-time submitters and those resubmitting proposals—will be held virtually on April 9 from 1–2 p.m. Following the kick-off, workshops and individualized meetings will be scheduled in the months leading up to the NSF CAREER submission deadline of July 22, 2026. A detailed program schedule will be shared with participants after registration closes on April 3.
Faculty members planning to participate are encouraged to complete the application through the InfoReady website before the deadline. The official NSF CAREER solicitation is also available for review to assist applicants in preparing their proposals.
For additional information or questions about the CAREER cohort, please contact the Division of Research & Innovation at researchdev@memphis.edu.