NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program www.nsfgrfp.org

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NSF Graduate Research Fellowship
Programwww.nsfgrfp.org
National Science Foundation
Graduate Research Fellowship Program Operations
Center
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GRFP Key Benefits

• 2000 Awards made annually
• Three years of support
• 32,000 Stipend per year
• 12,000 Institutional allowance
• May be used over 5 year period
• Opportunity to deepen UMD mentoring
  relationships
• Concrete grant writing experience
• You can apply 3 times as a senior, 1st and
  2nd year grad student

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2014 NSF Results Seniors and Recent UMD Alumni
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GRFP Eligibility

• U.S. citizens, nationals, and
• permanent residents
• Early-career students fewer than 2
  years of previous graduate study (unless more
  than 2 years ago)
• Pursuing research-oriented
• PhD (or MS) in NSF field
• Must be enrolled in accredited
• U.S. institution by Fall 2015

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2014 Application Deadlines
October 29, 2014 Engineering / Materials
Research / Computer and Information Sciences and
Engineering October 30, 2014 Mathematical
Sciences Chemistry Physics/Astronomy November
3, 2014 Social Sciences Psychology STEM
Education November 4, 2014 Life Sciences
Geosciences November 6, 2014 Reference letter
deadline All deadlines are at 800 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time.
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Complete Application

• NSF FastLane
• Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals
  Statement (3 pages)
• Graduate Research Statement (2 pages)
• Transcripts, uploaded into FastLane
• Three letters of reference required
• Additional information required for some
  candidates See Solicitation for eligibility
  requirements (available on www.nsfgrp.org)

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Review Criteria

• NSF Review Criteria for ALL NSF Funding Programs
• 1. Intellectual Merit
• Evidence of ability research transcript
  presentations
• Letters of recommendation
• Potential for future contributions to your field
• Your application essays
• 2. Broader Impacts
• Impact of your scientific work
• Your personal impacts service, outreach,
  leadership

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Broader Impacts
Panelists may consider the following with respect
to the Broader Impacts Criterion the potential
for future broader impacts as indicated by past
and present personal, professional, and
educational experiences including service,
leadership, and outreach.
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Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals
Statement (3 pages)

• Theme of the Statement
• 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?
• Convey your passion for your field of
  study/research.
• Portray your intentional preparation for a
  successful graduate career key aspects of
  your education and research background
• Discuss concisely your aims for graduate study.
• Address Broader Impacts criteria explicitly
  LABEL IT!!!
• Write clearly and engagingly for a scientific
  but non-expert reader

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Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals
Statement (3 pages)

• MOTIVATION AND EDUCATIONAL TRAJECTORY Describe
  clearly and specifically your personal,
  educational and/or professional experiences that
  motivate your decision to pursue advanced
  (graduate) study in science, technology,
  engineering or mathematics (STEM). (.75 to 1
  page)
• PREVIOUS RESEARCH Include specific examples of
  any research and/or professional activities in
  which you have participated. Present a) a
  concise description of the activities, b)
  highlight the results and c) discuss how these
  activities have prepared you to seek a graduate
  degree. Specify your role in the activity
  including the extent to which you worked
  independently and/or as part of a team. Note any
  presentations/publications. (1 to 1.5 pages)
• PERSONAL AND SCIENTIFIC BROADER IMPACTS Describe
  the potential contributions of your work to
  advancing knowledge as well as the expected
  broader societal impacts, and goals for grad
  study (.75 to 1 page)

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Graduate Research Plan (2 pages)

• Present an original research topic that you would
  like to pursue in graduate school. Second-year
  Grad students should be more focused.
• It is NOT expected you will carry out this
  research as described. The essay is intended to
  demonstrate that you know how to frame research
  project in your field. BASE YOUR PROPOSAL ON YOUR
  RECENT RESEARCH.
• Describe the a) research idea, b) your general
  approach, as well as c) any unique resources that
  may be needed for accomplishing the research goal
  (i.e., access to national facilities or
  collections, collaborations, overseas work, etc.)
  You may choose to include 5 important
  literature citations. 
• Address the potential of the research to a)
  advance knowledge and understanding within
  science as well as b) the potential for broader
  impacts on society.  The research discussed must
  be in a field listed in the Solicitation (Section
  X, Fields of Study).

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Recommenders

• Reference Letters
• Choose at least three appropriate reference
  writers
• Research mentors and advanced course instructors
  are best
• Rank recommenders in order of strength
• List up to 5 recommenders (only top 3 will be
  read)
• Give them ample time to prepare their letters
• They should know you as a scientist and
  personally
• Share your application materials and the merit
  review criteria (good letters address
  Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts)

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Evaluation of applications

• NSF Panelists spend approximately 20 minutes
  reviewing your application file from start to
  finish.
• You must aim to make it as easy as possible for
  panelists to see your strengths your essays
  MUST be
• Highly responsive to requirements
• Clearly written
• Excellently organized
• Strongly focused on explicitly demonstrating your
  intellectual merit and broader impacts
• YOU MUST HAVE ESSAYS REVIEWED BY OUTSIDE READERS

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Next Steps

• Brainstorm your NSF Graduate Research Plan
  statement with mentors and begin drafting
  promptly allow for several revisions with
  mentor feedback.
• Identify 3 recommenders and get them on board
  ask them also to give feedback on your research
  plan essay.
• Make a full inventory of your Broader Impacts
  and presentation activities and enhance them if
  possible.
• Start drafting your statements!
• Contact me at nsfgrfp_at_umd.edu for essay reviews

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Online Advice Sites and Appts.

• 1. http//grfpessayinsights.missouri.edu/
• Or search grfp essay insights
• 2. Contact me for individual appts.
• nsfgrfp_at_umd.edu
• 3. General Info www.nsfgrfp.org