Getting an NSF CAREER Award and Beyond

The National Science Foundation (NSF), USA, CAREER program is a premier program that emphasims the importance the Foundation places on the early development of academic careers solely dedicated to stimulating the discovery process in which the excitement of research enriched by inspired teaching and enthusiastic learning. This paper presents the research and education experiences gained by the principal investigator - Venayagamoorthy and his research collaborators and students as a result of a NSF CAREER proposal been awarded by the Power, Control and Adaptive Networks (PCAN) program of the Electrical, Communications and Cyber Systems Division, effective June 1, 2004. The main emphasis of this paper is how and what a CAREER proposal awardee do to be a double winner in all aspects - research, education and outreach. In addition, suggestions on writing a winning NSF CAREER proposal are presented.