NSF GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM OVERVIEW August 2016

Quick Overview National Science Foundation

 Federal agency established by Congress in  Mission: To promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; and to secure the national defense.  Only federal agency whose mission includes support for all fields of fundamental science and engineering, except for medical sciences.  Annual budget of about $7.7 billion (FY 2016).  Approximately 24% of all federally supported basic research conducted by U.S. colleges and universities.  Major source of federal backing in many fields such as mathematics, computer science and the social sciences.

Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Purpose of Fellowship  To increase the Nation’s human capacity in science and engineering  To support the development of a diverse and globally engaged U.S. science and engineering workforce  To select, recognize, and financially support individuals early in their careers with the demonstrated potential to be high-achieving scientists and engineers

Early-Stage Graduate Study  Individuals are typically eligible to apply:  During the senior year of college  After graduating from college and prior to entering graduate school  During the first year of graduate school  You must self-certify in the application that you meet the GRFP eligibility criteria

Expectations of Fellows  To become knowledge experts and leaders who can contribute significantly to research, education, and innovations in science and engineering  The reputation of the GRFP follows recipients and often helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching

Fellowship Highlights  Oldest fellowship program in the US supporting graduate students in STEM fields (established 1952)  Intended for early-career graduate students  Awards are for maximum of 3 years and usable over 5 years  $34,000 per year for three years  Tuition allowance is $12,000 per year for three years  Access to international research opportunities and cyberinfrastructure resources  About 2,000 fellowships will be awarded  Honorable Mentions are awarded  Considered a significant national academic achievement

GRFP Unique Features  Flexible: Choice of project, program, and advisor  Unrestrictive: No service requirement  Portable: Any accredited US institution  Fellowships are highly prestigious and thus highly competitive  16,000+ applications reviewed in 2015  2,000 awards in 2015  12% success rate (approx.)

GRFP Successes  50,000 fellowships awarded since 1952  42 Nobel laureates  450 members of the National Academy of Sciences  Founders of corporations to authors of books  Higher PhD completion rates  Enhanced diversity

Eligibility

Eligible Fields of Study (See Section X “Appendix” in NSF GRFP solicitation) GRFP-Supported Disciplines ChemistryMathematical Sciences EngineeringPhysics and Astronomy GeosciencesPsychology Life SciencesSocial Sciences Materials ResearchComputer and Information Sciences and Engineering STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) Education and Learning (research-focused)

Ineligible Fields of Study  Business administration or management  Social work  Public health, medical, dental, or law programs  Joint science-professional degree programs (e.g., MD/PhD; JD/PhD)  Education – EXCEPT research-focused STEM education programs (See Section IV “Eligibility Information” and Section X “Appendix” in NSF GRFP solicitation)

Fellow Eligibility  Must be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident by the application deadline  Received a Bachelor’s degree in a science or engineering field by summer or fall 2016  Have NOT earned any graduate or professional degree by August 1, 2015  Some exceptions for joint BS/MS programs and special circumstances - see solicitation for details. 4-yr Joint: Apply in fourth year and after program completion 5-yr Joint: Apply in fourth and fifth years, and after program completion If you completed of any further graduate study outside of joint program, you are not eligible for fellowship.

Fellow Eligibility  If you are a graduate student:  Full-time: Completed no more than 12 months of full-time graduate study prior to August 1,  Part-time: Completed no more than 24 semester hours as of August 1, 2016 (may combine part-time and full-time study ).  All graduate, post-bachelor’s, and professional study is counted toward the allowed 12 months of completed graduate study.

Unsure? Contact NSF Directly!  Only NSF can answer your eligibility questions!  Determine/confirm if you are an eligible student  Determine/confirm if your field of study is eligible   Call  NSF will answer ALL your questions about  GRFP program benefits  Application process  Required narrative statements  Application system  Review process

Application and Review Process

GFRP Application Deadlines  October 24, 5:00pm Central Standard Time  Geosciences  Life Sciences  October 25, 5:00pm Central Standard Time  Computer and Information Science and Engineering  Engineering  Materials Research  October 27, 5:00pm Central Standard Time  Psychology  Social Sciences  STEM Education and Learning  October 28, 5:00pm Central Standard Time  Chemistry  Mathematical Sciences  Physics and Astronomy  Awardees Notified: Early April 2017

Application Components  Online via NSF FastLane submission system  General information sections  Three letters of reference (start gathering now!)  Transcripts  Must provide two well-developed, compelling, and convincing statements: Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement (three pages) Graduate Research Plan Statement (two pages)

First-Level Review  Applications must be complete  Statements MUST follow ALL format requirements  Font type and size  Margins and line spacing  Graphics, tables, charts (color, size); URLs  Page length  Failure to comply = rejected without review  Strict format requirements are a way to WEED YOU OUT (i.e., students who can’t follow directions)

Content Review  Reviewers: Online virtual panels of scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and other experts in graduate education  Applications are placed in panels based on your field of study and the discipline represented  e.g., materials research (field of study) in Engineering (discipline)  Panelists review the applications holistically based on:  Demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering  NSF's Merit Review Criteria  NSF determines the successful applicants from Panelists’ recommendations

Merit Review  All applications are reviewed according to the two merit review criteria:  Intellectual Merit: The potential to advance knowledge  Broader Impact: The potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes  Proposals will be rejected without review if these are missing in your narrative statements

Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement Graduate Research Plan Statement Developing Narrative Statements

Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement  Three-page limit  Describe your personal, educational and/or professional experiences that motivate your decision to pursue advanced study.  Include examples of research and/or professional activities in which you have participated.  Present a concise description of the activities, highlight the results and discuss how these activities have prepared you to seek a graduate degree.

Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement  Specify your role in the activity, including the extent to which you worked independently and/or as part of a team.  Describe the contributions of your activity to advancing knowledge in STEM fields as well as the potential for broader societal impacts (See Solicitation, Section VI, for more information about Broader Impacts).

What NSF is Looking For  How you decided your educational, research, and career goals  How you became interested in your field  What are your career goals? How will the fellowship help you get there?  Hands-on research or professional activities  Leadership/volunteering/mentoring experiences  Experiences working alone and/or part of a team  Intellectual Merit and Broader Impact statements

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Writing the Statement  Why are you fascinated by your research area?  What examples of leadership skills and unique characteristics do you bring to your chosen field?  What personal and individual strengths do you have that make you a qualified applicant?  How will receiving the fellowship contribute to your career goals?  What are all of your applicable experiences?

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Writing the Statement  For each experience, what were the key questions, methodology, findings, and conclusions?  Did you work in a team and/or independently?  How did you assist in the analysis of results?  How did your activities address the Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria?

Graduate Research Plan Statement  Two-page limit  Present an original research topic that you would like to pursue in graduate school.  Describe the research idea, your general approach.  Address the potential of the research to advance knowledge and understanding within science as well as the potential for broader impacts on society.  TIP: Seek a research mentor (e.g., faculty member, advisor) to coach you on this section. You need someone who is knowledgeable in your field who knows the values and styles of the field.

What NSF is Looking For  Concise and original statement that presents a complete plan for a research topic that you will pursue as a Fellow  Demonstrated understanding of research design and methodology  Include hypothesis, research strategy, methodology and controls, anticipated results, literature citations  Include unique resources needed, if any  Intellectual Merit and Broader Impact statements

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Writing the Statement  What issues in the scientific community are you most passionate about?  Do you possess the technical knowledge and skills necessary for conducting this work, or will you have sufficient mentoring and training to complete the study?  Is this plan feasible for the allotted time and institutional resources

Questions to Ask Yourself Before Writing the Statement  How will your research contribute to the "big picture" outside the academic context?  How can you draft a plan using the guidelines presented in the essay instructions?  How does your proposed research address the Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria?

NSF GRFP Application Resources

NSF GRFP Resources  NSF GRFP Web Site: Solicitation, FAQs, guide links  NSF FastLane: Online application, user guides  Facebook:   Phone and  (866-NSF-GRFP) 

Unsure? Contact NSF Directly!  Only NSF can answer your eligibility questions!  Determine/confirm if you are an eligible student  Determine/confirm if your field of study is eligible   Call  NSF will answer ALL your questions about  GRFP program benefits  Application process  Required narrative statements  Application system  Review process