1. Shop Talk: NSF Fellowship Part I Dr. Andrea Hilkovitz
The Graduate College

2. Introduction Andrea Hilkovitz, Ph.D. External Fellowships Officer
Role: to help graduate students identify potential sources of funding, search for external funding opportunities, and apply for fellowships, grants, scholarships, and awards.
Texas State’s Coordinating Official (CO) for NSF GRFP
advise Fellows on GRFP policies and procedures
manage awards – stipend and tuition payments
certify satisfactory academic progress
submit reports to NSF (status, completion, financial)
Ask panelists to briefly introduce themselves if there

3. Overview Program and Award Details Eligibility
New Rule: Number of Applications
Supported Fields of Study
Application Instructions and Deadlines
Next Steps
Resources
Panel: Previous Recipients

4. Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is to help ensure the vitality of the science workforce of the United States and to reinforce its diversity. The program supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated potential for significant research achievements in STEM, STEM education, and some social science fields. NSF especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, persons with disabilities, veterans, and undergraduate seniors to apply.

5. Award Information Estimated Number of Awards: 2,000
Applicants for 2016 Competition: 17,000
Awardees included 1,077 women, 424 underrepresented minorities, 62 persons with disabilities, 35 veterans, and 627 undergraduates.
Anticipated Funding Amount: $138,000
Stipend: $34,000 / year
Cost-of-education allowance: $12,000 / year
Total $46,000 / year
x 3 years of support = $138,000

6. Eligibility There are three eligibility requirements: Citizenship
Degree
Field of Study
*We will pause for questions after each requirement.

7. Citizenship Requirement
You must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States.
Foreign nationals who are in the U.S. on a student visa (international students) are not eligible to apply.
Eligibility with respect to citizenship must be certified at the time of application.

8. Degree Requirement You are eligible to apply:
before beginning graduate school
as an undergraduate senior
as a post-baccalaureate student
You are applying to graduate school for fall 2017, and you have no prior graduate school enrollment.
after enrollment in graduate school
as a first-year graduate student
as a second-year graduate student
You are currently enrolled in graduate school, and you plan to remain enrolled in fall 2017 (and beyond).

9. Undergraduate / Post-bac Students
Undergraduate students apply in the fall of the academic year in which they anticipate receiving a bachelor’s degree.
You are a senior undergraduate student, or you are in your final year of undergraduate study (3rd-year or 5th-year senior).
You are on track to receive a bachelor’s degree before fall 2017 (December 2016, May 2017, August 2017).
You are a bachelor’s degree holder (post-bac student).
You are applying to graduate school for fall 2017.
You plan to be accepted to a graduate program before May 1.

10. Graduate Students
Graduate students apply EITHER in the first year OR in the second year of graduate school.
You are currently enrolled in an eligible graduate program, pursuing a research-based master’s or doctoral degree.
You have not completed more than 12 months of full-time graduate study as of August 1, 2016.
You are a part-time student, and you have not completed more than 24 semester credit hours of graduate study.
You have not earned a previous graduate degree (MA/MS), or you have had an interruption of at least 2 consecutive years.

11. Field of Study Requirement
The following programs and areas of study are ineligible:
practice-oriented professional degree programs, such as medical, law, business, physical therapy, and social work (MD, DDS, JD, MBA, DPT, MSW, MPH; also MD/PhD)
clinical practice or patient-oriented degree programs, such as nursing, counseling, and health services research
biomedical research and research using animal models of disease (etiology, pharmacology, epidemiology)
Exception: biomedical engineering

12. New Rule: Number of Applications
Effective as of the 2017 competition (Fall 2016 deadlines), graduate students are limited to only one application.
Rule does not affect undergraduates students. You may still apply as an undergraduate and/or post-bac student and apply again as a graduate student if you are not awarded a GRFP.
The purpose is to recruit diverse cohorts; the undergraduate population in STEM is more diverse than graduate population.
Undergraduate applications have fallen from 41% to 25% of the applicant pool since 2001.
Graduate students should consult with their advisors about the timing of their applications to determine in which year to apply.

13. Supported Fields of Study
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Chemistry
Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering
Engineering
Geosciences
Life Sciences (Biology, Biochemistry, Ecology)
Materials Research
Mathematical Sciences
Physics and Astronomy
Psychology
STEM Education
Science Education
Mathematics Education

14. Supported Fields of Study
Social Sciences
Anthropology
Archaeology
Communications
Economics
Geography
History/Philosophy of Science (not History or Philosophy)
International Relations
Linguistics
Political Science
Public Policy
Sociology
Education is not supported, except for STEM education

15. Application Components
Application form (online):
Personal Information
Education and Work Experience
Academic Honors, Publications, and Presentations
Proposed Field of Study and Graduate School
Electronic transcripts – undergraduate and graduate transcripts
References (3) – due Thursday, November 3 by 5 p.m. EST
Names and addresses of letter writers
Two statements:
Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals (3 pages)
Graduate Research Plan (2 pages)

16. Required Statements
Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals (3 pages):
Please outline your educational and professional development plans and career goals. How do you envision graduate school preparing you for a career that allows you to contribute to expanding scientific understanding as well as broadly benefit society? Describe your personal, educational, and/or professional experiences that motivate your decision to pursue advanced study. Include specific examples…Present a concise description of the activities, highlight the results…Specify your role (independent, team, etc.).
Graduate Research Plan (2 pages):
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.

17. Application Instructions
Applications (including references) must be submitted electronically using the NSF FastLane GRFP Module:
Guidelines for two statements:
Page size: 8.5” x 11”
Margins: 1 inch on all sides
Spacing: single
Font: 12-point, Times New Roman
(10-point for references, footnotes, figures)
Format: PDF
Guidelines for letters of reference:
Letterhead, name, title, department, institution, signed
2 pages, 12-point Times New Roman

18. Application Deadlines
All applications must be received by 5 p.m. CST
Deadlines are determined by primary field of study:
Monday, October 24
Life Sciences, Geosciences
Tuesday, October 25
Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Engineering, Materials Research
Thursday, October 27
Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education and Learning
Friday, October 28
Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy

19. Next Steps Determine if / when you will apply
Talk to your advisor
Request letters of reference
Register on FastLane Module
Draft your statements
Attend Part II of the Shop Talk – W 10/5, 4-6 p.m.
This Shop Talk is for prospective applicants to the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Learn about the NSF Merit Review Criteria, find out how to craft the statements, and get tips to share with your faculty advisor and reference writers. 

20. Resources NSF GRFP website: https://www.nsfgrfp.org/ Tips for Applying
Screenshots
FAQs
Information for Reference Writers
NSF program page:
Research Areas
Solicitation (handout)
FAQ
Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center

21. How to Make an Appointment
Andrea Hilkovitz, Ph.D.
Research Coordinator – External Fellowships Officer
The Graduate College
JCK 280
Phone: (512)
Appointment Request: