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Find similar grantsMid-Career Advancement (MCA) is sponsored by NSF. The MCA program provides opportunities for scientists and engineers at the associate professor rank (or equivalent) to substantively enhance and advance their research program through synergistic partnerships.
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Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) | NSF - U.S. National Science Foundation Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) Important information for proposers and award recipients All proposals must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in the funding opportunity and in the Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and its supplements .
All NSF grants and cooperative agreements are subject to the applicable set of NSF award terms and conditions . NSF has updated its research security policies for NSF funded projects. Supports mid-career researchers, at the associate professor rank (or equivalent), to substantively enhance and advance their research program through synergistic partnerships.
Supports mid-career researchers, at the associate professor rank (or equivalent), to substantively enhance and advance their research program through synergistic partnerships. The MCA program offers an opportunity for scientists and engineers at the mid-career stage (see restrictions under Additional Eligibility Information) to substantively enhance and advance their research program and career trajectory.
Mid-career scientists are at a critical career transition stage where they need to advance their research programs to ensure long-term productivity and creativity but are often constrained by service, teaching, or other activities that limit the amount of time devoted to research.
The MCA program provides protected time, resources, and the means to gain new skills through synergistic and mutually beneficial partnerships, typically at an institution other than the candidate's home institution. Partners from outside the Principal Investigator's (PI) own subdiscipline or discipline are encouraged, but not required, to enhance interdisciplinary networking and convergence across science and engineering fields.
Research p rojects that envision new insights on existing problems or identify new problems made accessible with cutting-edge methodology or expertise from other fields are encouraged .
A key component of a successful MCA will be the demonstration that the PI's current research program could substantively benefit from the protected time, mentored partnership(s), and resources provided through this program, such that there is a substantial enhancement to the PI's research and career trajectory, enabling scientific and academic advancement not likely without this support.
The MCA is the only cross-directorate NSF program specifically aimed at providing protected time and resources to established scientists and engineers targeted at the mid-career stage. Participating programs in the Directorates for Biological Sciences (BIO), Geosciences (GEO), Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE), and Education and Human Resources (EHR) will accept MCA proposals.
To help identify the disciplinary program in which the MCA should be reviewed, PIs are urged to investigate the research areas supported by the different directorates and participating programs. PIs are strongly encouraged to discuss the suitability of their MCA proposal with a Program Officer from the appropriate directorate (see https://new. nsf.
gov/funding/opportunities/mca-mid-career-advancement/announcements/111199 ). PIs from EPSCoR jurisdictions are especially encouraged to apply. Updates and announcements Mid-Career Advancement Participating Programs A list of the participating programs is available at https://www.
nsf. gov/funding/opportunities/mca-mid-career-advancement/updates/111193 . Program specific MCA contacts are available at https://www.
nsf. gov/funding/opportunities/mca-mid-career-advancement/updates/111199 .
MCA Cognizant Program Officers January 8, 2025 - MCB Virtual Office Hour: Mid-Career Advancement Additional program resources Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) MCA Program November 2022 Webinar Recording Awards made through this program Browse projects funded by this program Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO) Division of Environmental Biology (BIO/DEB) Division of Molecular and Cellular Biosciences (BIO/MCB) Division of Biological Infrastructure (BIO/DBI) Division of Integrative Organismal Systems (BIO/IOS) Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences (GEO/AGS) Division of Earth Sciences (GEO/EAR) Division of Ocean Sciences (GEO/OCE) Office of Polar Programs (GEO/OPP) Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) SBE Office of Multidisciplinary Activities (SBE/SMA) Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (SBE/BCS) Division of Social and Economic Sciences (SBE/SES) Directorate for STEM Education (EDU) Division of Graduate Education (EDU/DGE) Division of Undergraduate Education (EDU/DUE) Division of Research on Learning in Formal and Informal Settings (EDU/DRL) Office of Integrative Activities (OD/OIA)
According to the current listing, eligibility includes: Scientists and engineers at the associate professor rank (or equivalent). Confirm the full requirements in the official notice before applying.
Mid-Career Advancement (MCA) is funded by NSF. Verify program details on the funder's official page before applying.
Yes — this listing is flagged as national in scope, so applicants across the U.S. may apply, subject to the sponsor's other eligibility criteria.
Applications go through the funder's official portal — the Apply Now link on this page goes there directly.
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