This page covers how to prepare and submit a letter of reference for an application to the U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP).
Important
Reference letters are due Friday, October 16 by 8:00 p.m. Eastern time. Applicants will be unable to submit applications without the required number of reference letters.
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Who can write a letter of reference
Anyone can serve as a reference writer for an NSF GRFP applicant, as long as they are not family members of the applicant.
The most effective reference writers are individuals who can provide detailed and specific information about how the applicant demonstrates the NSF Merit Review Criteria and their potential for success in their graduate education and beyond.
What to include in your letter
If you have been nominated to submit a reference letter for an applicant, NSF requests that you provide the following information in your letter:
- The name of your department and institution.
- How long you have known the applicant and in what capacity. If you are the candidate’s research supervisor, please comment on the originality of their research statement, and what role, if any, you played in assisting the student with the application.
- Comments on the applicant's potential for contributing to a globally engaged U.S. science and engineering workforce.
- Statements about the applicant's academic potential and prior research experiences.
- Statements about the applicant's proposed research.
- Any other information to enable review panels to evaluate the application according to the NSF Merit Review Criteria (be sure to address both the Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria of the applicant).
Note that the more specific (as opposed to generic) a letter you can provide, the better reviewers can evaluate the candidate.
Formatting requirements
Maximum length
- Two pages.
File format
- PDF only.
Fonts
- Use 11-point Times New Roman font.
Layout and margins
- Use standard 8.5" x 11" page size.
- Use 1-inch margins on all sides.
- Single-spaced using normal (100%) single-line spacing.
Additional requirements
- Letters should be signed.
- Letters must be on letterhead, if possible.
- File cannot be password protected.
- File cannot be empty.
How to upload your letter
Once an applicant provides your contact information to NSF GRFP, the NSF Reference Writer System (RLS) will send you an email invitation from Rgov-No-Reply@nsf.gov to upload your PDF reference letter. You will receive one invitation per applicant.
The email will outline the requirements for the letter and instructions for accessing RLS. You must submit your reference letter through the RLS system.
Frequently asked questions
View the most common questions asked by reference writers.
Helpful tips
Help reviewers understand how the applicant stands out from the crowd
Discuss the unique qualities of the applicant, including accomplishments or activities that the applicant may be too modest to mention. Reference writers have up to two pages to discuss the applicant.
Ask applicants to provide you with information that will help you write a good letter
Ask the applicant if there are any specific items that they would like you to address in your letter. Applicants should be prepared to show you copies of their statements, transcripts, and other relevant material (such as their list of awards, honors, publications, and presentations from their application, their CV, etc.).
Many compelling applications include components that work well together: the information is consistent without being repetitive, with each component offering different information about the applicant as a researcher and a person. For example, the information in your reference letter might provide details to support and elaborate upon information the applicant included in her or his statements.
Details are crucial
Letters that offer reviewers specific information are much more effective than generic ones. Applicants for the NSF GRFP are evaluated based on NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts. Compelling reference letters describe how an applicant's specific projects, their contributions, work ethic, teamwork, and other qualities and experiences demonstrate the NSF Merit Review Criteria.
It is helpful to compare the relative placement of the applicant among peers (but do not name other students, including NSF GRFP applicants and fellowship recipients).
Discuss your opinion of the applicant's potential for significant achievements and academic and intellectual success
All applicants are expected to have adequate preparation to begin graduate-level study and research by the start of their fellowship, so reviewers will appreciate information that speaks to an applicant's potential to succeed in graduate school. Point out the potential the applicant has demonstrated for significant achievements in science and engineering.
Keep in mind that the NSF GRFP application is not an NSF grant proposal
The NSF GRFP seeks to identify individuals with outstanding potential as future research leaders in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The most effective reference letters speak to the applicant's potential for future achievement in graduate school and beyond. Competitive NSF GRFP applicants demonstrate the ability to develop a strong research plan, succeed with their graduate study, and have broader impacts on society.