NSF 26-526: NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Program Solicitation
Document Information
Document History
- Posted: August 25, 2026
- Replaces: NSF 25-547
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Program Solicitation NSF 26-526
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U.S. National Science Foundation
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Application Deadline(s) (received by 8 p.m. Eastern Time):
October 19, 2026
Life Sciences
October 20, 2026
Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Materials Research; Psychology; Social Sciences
October 22, 2026
Engineering
October 23, 2026
Chemistry; Geosciences; Mathematical Sciences; Physics and Astronomy
Important Information and Revision Notes
- This solicitation covers the Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 competition.
- Applications must be prepared and submitted through Research.gov (Research.gov - Graduate Research Fellowship Program). Only materials submitted through Research.gov/GRFP will be accepted. Review revised application preparation instructions (Section V) and Detailed Eligibility Requirements (Section IV) on Ineligible Degree Programs, Ineligible Areas of Study, and Ineligible Proposed Research thoroughly.
- Applications are due by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET) on the deadline date for the selected field of study in the applications. Applications will not be accepted after 8:00 p.m. ET
- Applicants must submit transcripts with their most recent academic status. Official undergraduate academic transcripts are required. Graduate transcripts may be unofficial if the institution of higher education (IHE) does not provide official transcripts for first year, first academic term graduate students.
- While Fellowships will be supported in all NSF-eligible fields as listed in the Appendix, NSF will continue to emphasize high priority research areas aligned with Administration priorities as stated in the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request to Congress.
- Reference letters are due Friday, October 16 by 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Reference letters must be submitted through the NSF Reference Letter System in Research.gov and will not be accepted after 8:00 p.m. ET.
- Applicants and reference letter writers requiring accessibility accommodation are asked to notify the GRF Operations Center at least three weeks before the relevant deadline to coordinate assistance for submitting the application or reference letter.
Summary of Program Requirements
General Information
Program Title:
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Synopsis of Program:
The purpose of the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and strength of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. Since 1952, the program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. GRFP was established to recruit and support individuals who demonstrate the potential to make significant contributions in STEM. NSF encourages applications from all eligible candidates in the U.S.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.
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If you require assistance with the GRFP module, please contact the NSF Service Desk.
Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
- 47.076 - STEM Education
- 47.074 - Biological Sciences
- 47.070 - Computer and Information Science and Engineering
- 47.041 - Engineering
- 47.050 - Geosciences
- 47.049 - Mathematical and Physical Sciences
- 47.084 - NSF Technology, Innovation and Partnerships
- 47.083 - Office of Integrative Activities (OIA)
- 47.079 - Office of International Science and Engineering
Award Information
Anticipated Type of Award: Fellowship
Estimated Number of Awards: 1,500
NSF will support new Graduate Research Fellowships under this program solicitation pending availability of funds.
Anticipated Funding Amount: $159,000
Per award (Fellowship), pending the availability of funds.
Each Fellowship provides three years of support over a five-year Fellowship period. For each of the three years of support, NSF provides a $37,000 stipend and a $16,000 Cost of Education allowance provided to the institution of higher education (IHE) in lieu of all tuition and mandatory fees for each Fellow using the support in a Fellowship year. While the Fellowship is offered to the individual, the Fellowship funds are awarded to the IHE at which a Fellow is enrolled, and the IHE is responsible for disbursement of the stipend to the Fellow. The Fellowship is portable and can be transferred to a different IHE. Fellows can transfer to another institution after completion of the first Fellowship year.
Application Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Application Preparation Instructions
- Letters of Intent: Not applicable
- Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not applicable
- Application Instructions: This solicitation contains information that deviates from the standard NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
B. Budgetary Information
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Cost Sharing Requirements:
Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.
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Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:
No indirect costs are allowed.
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Other Budgetary Limitations:
Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.
C. Due Dates
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Application Deadline(s) (received by 8 p.m. Eastern Time):
October 19, 2026
Life Sciences
October 20, 2026
Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Materials Research; Psychology; Social Sciences
October 22, 2026
Engineering
October 23, 2026
Chemistry; Geosciences; Mathematical Sciences; Physics and Astronomy
Application Review Information Criteria
Merit Review Criteria:
National Science Board approved Merit Review Criteria (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts) apply. Additional Solicitation-Specific Review Criteria also apply (see Section VI.A below).
Award Administration Information
Award Conditions:
NSF GRFP awards are made to the institution of higher education at which a Fellow is or will be enrolled. The awardee institution is responsible for financial management of the award and disbursement of Fellowship funds to the individual Fellow. The institution will administer the awards, including any amendments, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials. All Fellowships are subject to the provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials.
Reporting Requirements:
See reporting requirements in full text of solicitation and the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials. Fellows are required to submit annual activity reports and to declare fellowship status by the deadline specified in the notification sent by email each year. Additional reporting requirements are presented in Section VII.C of this solicitation.
I. Introduction
The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is a U.S. National Science Foundation-wide program managed in the Directorate for STEM Education that provides Fellowships to individuals selected early in their graduate careers based on their demonstrated potential for significant research achievements in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM).
GRFP is a critical program in NSF's overall strategy to develop the globally competitive workforce necessary to ensure the Nation's leadership in advancing science and engineering research and innovation. See NSF FY2026-2030 Strategic Plan p. 8. Awards made by the program advance measures of success related to STEM Education and Workforce by increasing the number of graduate students supported. NSF has supported more than 70,000 Fellows who have made fundamental contributions to U.S. leadership in science and engineering throughout their careers. NSF Graduate Research Fellows have made transformative breakthrough discoveries, become leaders in their fields, and been honored as Nobel laureates.
II. Program Description
The purpose of GRFP is to recruit talented individuals into science and engineering and provide support for graduate education and training to allow Fellows freedom to pursue their own research ideas. This ability to explore and pursue new ideas has made GRFP a globally recognized program for STEM workforce development. Fellows have transformed science, engineering, and society through their creativity, discovery, and innovation.
NSF will continue in its original statutory and programmatic intent to affect students at the beginning of their graduate training and award Fellowships "to the applicants in such a manner as will tend to result in a wide distribution of scholarships and fellowships throughout the United States." 42 USC §1869(a). NSF will focus on recruitment and support of individuals who demonstrate outstanding potential in STEM graduate study.
The program goals are: (1) to identify, select, recognize, and financially support early-career individuals with the demonstrated potential to be high achieving scientists and engineers; and (2) to increase participation in science and engineering of all eligible candidates in the U.S.
GRFP awards Fellowships for graduate study leading to research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM. GRFP supports individuals who propose a comprehensive plan for graduate education incorporating individual interests and competencies and describes academic achievements, accomplishments, and experiences that illustrate the applicant's demonstrated potential for significant research achievements and contributions to the field. Applicants provide a detailed profile of their relevant education, research experience, and plans for graduate education to demonstrate their potential.
In keeping with goals to develop a robust domestic STEM workforce, applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. To recruit and advance talented individuals early in their careers, applicants are limited to senior undergraduates, bachelor's degree-holders with no graduate study, and beginning graduate students. Joint bachelor's-master's degree students in the final undergraduate or first graduate year of the joint degree program and first year graduate students in their first graduate degree program are eligible.
By submitting an application, individuals indicate their intent to pursue graduate study in a research-based program in STEM at an accredited, non-profit institution having a campus located in the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. All applicants are expected to have adequate preparation to enroll in a research-based master's or doctoral program by fall of the year the Fellowship is accepted. From the date of Fellowship Start through Completion or Termination of the Fellowship, applicants accepting the award (Fellows) must be enrolled in an accredited non-profit graduate degree-granting IHE having a campus located in the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Applications are reviewed and selected using the NSF Merit Review criteria. NSF takes into consideration applicants' academic level and geographic distribution of the awards. Three years of support are provided over a five-year fellowship period.
NSF will continue to fund Graduate Research Fellowships in all areas of science and engineering supported by NSF while emphasizing high-priority research areas in alignment with Administration priorities described in the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget Request to Congress. The high-priority research areas are listed under the Major Fields of Study in the Appendix.
While the Fellowship is designated for the student, NSF funds are awarded to the institution where the Fellow is enrolled for financial management and disbursement. There is no cost to the Fellow, no service or payback requirement. The Fellowship awards no indirect costs to the awardee institution.
42 USC §1869(a)
III. Award Information
NSF will support new Graduate Research Fellowships under this program solicitation pending availability of funds.
Fellowships will provide a maximum of three years of financial support (in 12-month allocations starting in the fall of the award year) usable over a five-year Fellowship period. The anticipated announcement for the Fellowship awards is early April each year.
The Fellowship is portable and can be transferred to a different IHE if a Fellow chooses to transfer after completion of the first Fellowship year. While the Fellowship is offered to the individual, the Fellowship funds are awarded to the institution at which a Fellow is enrolled and is considered the official NSF awardee institution. The awardee institution receives up to a $53,000 award per Fellow who uses the support in a Fellowship year. The awardee institution is responsible for disbursement of Fellowship funds to the Fellow. The Graduate Research Fellowship stipend is $37,000 for a 12-month tenure period, disbursed according to the awardee institution's disbursement schedule. The Cost of Education allowance provides $16,000 to the institution in lieu of all tuition and mandatory fees.
During receipt of the Fellowship support, the institution is required to exempt Fellows from paying tuition and fees normally charged to students of similar academic standing, unless such charges are optional or are refundable. The awardee institution is responsible for tuition and required fees in excess of the Cost of Education allowance. Acceptance of Fellowship funds by the awardee institution indicates acceptance of and adherence to all terms and conditions of the NSF GRFP award as indicated in the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials.
GRFP awards are eligible for two types of supplemental funding as described in Chapter VI of the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG).
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects as described in Chapter II.F of the PAPPG. Fellows with disabilities may apply for assistance after consulting the instructions in the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials.
Career-Life Balance Supplemental Funding Requests (as described in the PAPPG) can be requested by the awardee institution to provide additional personnel (e.g., technician) to sustain the research of Fellows on approved medical leave due to family leave situations as indicated in Chapter II.F of the PAPPG.
Honorable Mention
The NSF accords Honorable Mention to meritorious applicants who do not receive Fellowship offers. This is considered a significant national academic achievement.
IV. Eligibility Information
Who May Submit Applications:
The NSF GRFP is awarded to individuals, and applications are submitted directly by the individual to NSF. Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria at the time of application, and at the time of acceptance if offered a Fellowship. Confirmation of acceptance in an eligible graduate degree program in STEM is required at the time of Fellowship acceptance, no later than the deadline indicated in the Fellowship offer letter. Fellows must enroll in a non-profit university, college, or institution of higher education (IHE) that is accredited in, and has a campus located in, the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. The IHE must offer advanced degrees in STEM and enrollment must begin no later than the fall academic term of the calendar year the Fellowship is accepted. From the date the Fellowship starts through its Completion or Termination, all Fellows must be enrolled full-time in a graduate degree-granting non-profit IHE accredited in, and having a campus located in, the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Limit on Number of Applications per Applicant: 1
An eligible applicant may submit only one application per annual competition.
Applicant Eligibility:
Applicants should carefully and thoroughly review all the Eligibility information below.
Only individuals who meet the following criteria both at time of application and acceptance if offered a fellowship are eligible to apply for and receive GRFP support:
Citizenship
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents ("green card" holders) by the application deadline, and if offered a fellowship, at the time of acceptance.
The term "national" designates a native resident of a commonwealth or territory of the United States. It does not refer to a citizen of another country who has applied for U.S. citizenship and who has not received U.S. citizenship by the application deadline, nor does it refer to an individual present in the U.S. on any type of visa.
Academic Requirements
Applicants must intend to enroll or be enrolled in an eligible research-based (with thesis) master's or doctoral degree program in an eligible field of study in STEM (See Appendix and Section IV.3 for eligible Fields of study) by fall of the award year, and currently in one of academic levels:
Level 1: Undergraduate
- current undergraduate seniors (final year of bachelor's degree)
- bachelor's degree holders with no prior graduate degree enrollment
Undergraduate students on track to receive a bachelor's degree before fall of the year following the application (e.g., senior or final year of a bachelor's degree program) and bachelor's degree holders who have never enrolled in a graduate degree program can apply unlimited times before enrolling in a graduate degree program. They must be prepared to enroll full-time in an eligible graduate degree program by the fall term of the calendar year during which they are offered an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship.
Level 2: Graduate
current joint bachelor's-master's degree students in final undergraduate or first graduate year of joint degree program
Joint bachelor's-master's degree students are considered graduate students and can apply only once in the final undergraduate OR first graduate year of the joint program.
current first-year graduate students in their first graduate degree program with less than one academic year completed according to the institution's academic calendar.
Graduate students in the first year of their first graduate degree program with less than one academic year of graduate study as indicated in the Registrar-issued academic transcript of the enrolled institution, at the application deadline.
- Graduate status is determined by the Registrar-issued transcript
- Summer research activities that are part of the graduate degree program (e.g., research credits) will be counted as graduate activities
- Graduate coursework taken without being enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program is not counted in this limit.
Second-year graduate students are not eligible to apply.
Field of Study, Degree Programs, and Proposed Research
Fellowships are awarded for graduate study leading to eligible research-based master's and doctoral degrees in the following science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) Major Fields of Study:
- Chemistry
- Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering
- Engineering
- Geosciences
- Life Sciences
- Materials Research
- Mathematical Sciences
- Physics & Astronomy
- Psychology
- Social Sciences
The eligible Major Fields of Study and their associated subfields, which include the high-priority research areas, are listed in the Appendix. Only the Major Fields of Study and the listed subfields are eligible. Applicants should first select the Major Field of Study, then a subfield to align their proposed graduate program and research. If awarded, Fellows must enroll in a graduate degree program that corresponds most closely with the proposed graduate program of study and research plan proposed in their application.
Only eligible research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM that include a thesis will be supported by GRFP. Professional degree programs and graduate programs that are primarily course-based without a thesis are ineligible for GRFP support.
Within eligible fields of study, there are ineligible degree programs, ineligible areas of study, and ineligible areas of proposed research, as detailed below.
Ineligible degree programs
Ineligible degree programs include, but are not limited to:
- Professional degree programs,
- Business Administration, Public Health, Social Work, Law, Medicine, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine, Dentistry, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Psychology,
- Practice-oriented, clinical, counseling, patient-oriented degree programs that include professional training requirements.
Joint or combined professional degree-science programs (e.g., MD/PhD or JD/PhD) and dual professional degree-science programs are ineligible. Individuals enrolled in a graduate degree program while on leave of absence from a professional degree program or professional degree-graduate degree joint program are also ineligible.
Ineligible areas of study
Ineligible areas of graduate study include public health, global health, clinical practice, counseling, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, social work, patient-oriented research, epidemiological and medical behavioral studies, outcomes research (interventions, treatment, or therapies), health services research, pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and behavioral interventions for physical or mental disease or disorder, prophylaxis, diagnosis, therapy or treatment, drug and pharmaceutical development and testing. Graduate study to provide evidence leading to a scientific basis for consideration of a change in health policy or standard of care is also ineligible.
Ineligible proposed research
- Research for which the goals are directly human disease- or health-related, including the etiology and diagnosis of and treatment and/or interventions for physical or mental disease or disorder is not eligible for support. Research activities using animal models of disease for developing or testing of drugs, procedures, or interventions for treatment of physical or mental disease or disorder are ineligible. Research on drug and pharmaceutical development and testing are also ineligible. Population-based research including medical intervention trials is also ineligible.
- Research focused on basic questions in plant pathology are eligible, however, applied studies focused on maximizing production in agricultural plants or impacts on food safety are not eligible.
- Research with implications that inform STEM policy is eligible. Research with the expressed intent to influence, advocate for, or effect specific policies and outcomes is not eligible.
- Research on conservation practice or implementation, wildlife and/or natural resource management, planning or decision support (e.g., habitat restoration, species recovery actions, management interventions) is not eligible for support.
Limited exceptions to ineligible proposed research
- Certain areas of bioengineering and biomedical engineering research directed at medical use are eligible. These include research projects in bioengineering to aid persons with disabilities, or to diagnose or treat human disease or disorder, provided they apply engineering principles to problems in medicine while primarily advancing engineering knowledge. Applicants planning to study and conduct research in these areas of bioengineering should select Engineering as the Major Field of Study, and Bioengineering or Biomedical Engineering as the subfield. These exceptions apply solely to applications that indicate Engineering as the Major Field of Study.
- Certain areas of materials research directed at development of materials for use in biological or biomedical systems are eligible, provided they are focused on furthering fundamental materials research.
- Certain areas of research with etiology-, diagnosis-, or treatment-related goals that advance fundamental knowledge in engineering, mathematical, physical, computer, or information sciences are eligible for support.
Applicants are advised to consult a faculty member, academic advisor, mentor, or other knowledgeable source for guidance on preparation of their research plans, selection of Major Fields of Study, and identification of subfields to ensure they are consistent with those included in the Appendix.
- Never previously accepted a Graduate Research Fellowship;
- Declined any previously offered Graduate Research Fellowship by the declination deadline (if applicable);
- Not be a current NSF employee.
By signing and submitting the application, the applicant certifies meeting the GRFP eligibility criteria. Willful provision of false information in this request and its supporting documents or in reports required under an ensuing award is a criminal offense (U.S. Code, Title 18, Section 1001).
Number of Times an Individual May Apply
- Undergraduate seniors in bachelor's degree programs and bachelor's degree holders with no prior enrollment in a graduate degree program can apply unlimited times before enrolling in a graduate degree program.
- Joint bachelor's-master's degree students are considered graduate students and can apply only once in the final undergraduate or first graduate year of the joint degree program.
- Graduate students can apply only once, in the first year of their first graduate program.
Limit on Number of Applications per Applicant: 1
An eligible applicant may submit only one application per annual competition.
V. Application Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Application Preparation Instructions
All applications must be submitted through https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do.
Applications must be received by 8:00 pm Eastern Time (ET) on the deadline date for the Major Field of Study indicated on the application. Applications are not accepted after 8:00 pm ET. Use the "Application Completion Status" feature of the submission system to ensure all application materials have been received by NSF before the deadlines. If you require assistance with the GRFP module, please contact the NSF Service Desk.
Applications submitted to a Major Field of Study deadline that is not aligned with the proposed research plan and degree program will be deemed ineligible and returned without review.
Detailed instructions for preparing and submitting an application are available in the GRFP Application Module Research.gov - Graduate Research Fellowship Program. Applications must include the following information:
- Personal Information;
- Education, Work and Other Experience;
- Transcript PDFs;
- Proposed Field of Study;
- Proposed Graduate Study and Graduate School Information;
- Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement PDF; and
- Graduate Research Plan Statement PDF;
- Names and email addresses of at least three reference letter writers (reference letters provided separately by writers).
Applicants must list their undergraduate institution(s) and include transcripts indicating their most recent academic status. Official undergraduate transcripts are required. Graduate transcripts may be unofficial if the institution does not provide official transcripts for first year, first academic term graduate students.
Upload only unencrypted, not password-protected transcript PDFs in the Application Module. Redact personally identifiable information (date of birth, Social Security Number, personal financial information, home addresses, home telephone numbers and personal email addresses) from transcripts before uploading.
All sections of the proposal must follow these formatting guidelines:
- Standard 8.5" x 11" page size;
- Arial (not Arial Narrow), Courier New or Palatino Linotype, 10-point or larger font; Times New Roman or Computer Modern family, 11-point or larger font
- Smaller than 10-point fonts are accepted for mathematical formulas, equations, figures, tables, or diagram captions; Symbol or Cambria Math fonts are accepted for Greek letters or special characters. Descriptive alternative text should be provided for all images, graphs, and charts, including sufficient color contrast for text and graphics, in machine readable/accessible electronic format (e.g., HTML) to ensure legibility and readability for individuals with visual impairments;
- Maximum six lines of text per vertical inch, using 12-point line spacing for 10- or 11-point fonts
- 1" blank margins on all sides;
- PDF;
- References: abbreviated journal or publication titles ONLY, no URLs or DOIs;
- Address NSF's Merit Review Criteria (Section VI) of "Intellectual Merit" and "Broader Impacts" under separate individual headings in both Personal and Research Plan statements. Do not include other terms. Do not combine the headings or the sections. Insert line breaks between the "Intellectual Merit" and the "Broader Impacts" sections of each Statement.
The Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement maximum is three (3) pages (PDF); the Graduate Research Plan Statement maximum is two (2) pages (PDF). Include all references, citations, charts, figures, images, and lists of publications and presentations in the page limits.
Applicants must certify that the two statements (Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement, and Graduate Research Plan Statement) are their own original work. Per the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG):
"NSF expects strict adherence to the rules of proper scholarship and attribution. The responsibility for proper scholarship and attribution rests with the authors of a proposal; all parts of the proposal should be prepared with equal care for this concern. Authors other than the PI (or any co-PI) should be named and acknowledged. Serious failure to adhere to such standards can result in findings of research misconduct. NSF policies and rules on research misconduct are discussed in the PAPPG, as well as 45 CFR Part 689."
Reference Letters
Reference writers cannot be family members of the applicant. Applicants must provide name and contact information for three (3) reference writers; up to five (5) can be provided.
The list of reference writers cannot be changed after submission. Check the accuracy of email addresses for reference writers before submitting.
Reference letters must be received in the NSF Reference Letter System by 8:00 pm Eastern Time (ET) of the letter submission deadline date. Letter writers will receive a confirmation email after successful upload.
Applicants may request up to five (5) reference letters; The top three letters of the applicant's preference will be included in the application. Reference writers will receive an email request to submit a letter of reference on behalf of an applicant; they will not be informed of the preferred order.
If you require assistance with the GRFP module, please contact the NSF Service Desk.
Reference letter requirements include:
- Institutional or professional letterhead, if available;
- SIGNED by the reference writer, including the name, professional title, department, and institution;
- Two (2) page limit in PDF format;
- Standard 8.5" x 11" page size;
- 11-point or higher Times New Roman font, and;
- Single-spaced using normal (100%) single-line spacing.
Reference letters should
- address the NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts,
- provide details explaining the nature of the letter-writer's relationship to the applicant (including research advisor role),
- comment on the applicant's potential for contributing to a globally-engaged United States science and engineering workforce,
- include statements about the applicant's
- academic potential,
- prior research experiences,
- proposed research, and
- provide any other information that will aid review panels in evaluating the application according to the NSF Merit Review Criteria.
Interdisciplinary Applications
NSF welcomes applications for interdisciplinary programs of study and research; however, data on interdisciplinary study is collected for informational purposes only. Applications must be received by the deadline for the first Major Field of Study designated in the application and will be reviewed by experts in the first Major Field of Study and selected subfield. Applicants are advised to select the Major Field of Study and associated subfield in the GRFP Application Module (see Appendix) most closely aligned with the proposed graduate program of study and research plan. If awarded, Fellows will be required to enroll in a degree program most closely aligned with the proposed graduate program of study and research plan in the application.
Withdrawal of a GRFP application
The Withdrawal option in the GRFP Application Module is available for applicants who wish to withdraw an application.
B. Budgetary Information
Cost Sharing:
Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.
Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:
No indirect costs are allowed.
Other Budgetary Limitations:
NSF awards $53,000 each year to the GRFP institution to cover the Fellow stipend and Cost of Education allowance, which is payment in lieu of all tuition and mandatory fees, for each NSF Graduate Research Fellow "on tenure" at the institution.
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Fellowship stipend is $37,000 for a 12-month tenure period, prorated in monthly increments of $3,083, disbursed according to the awardee institution's disbursement schedule. The institutional Cost of Education allowance is $16,000 per tenure year per Fellow.
C. Application Submission Requirements
Applicants are required to prepare and submit all applications for this program solicitation through the GRFP Application Module. Detailed instructions for application preparation and submission are available at: https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do. If you require assistance with the GRFP module, please contact the NSF Service Desk. The NSF Service Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the system. Specific questions related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this solicitation.
VI. Application Review Information
A. Merit Review Principles and Criteria
Applications are reviewed by disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists and engineers and other professional graduate education experts. Reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with oversight of the review process. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the applicants. Applications are reviewed in broad areas of related disciplines based on the applicant's selection of a Field of Study (see Fields of Study in Appendix). Selection of a Major Field of Study determines the application deadline and the broad disciplinary expertise of the reviewers. Applicants are advised to select the Major Field of Study and associated subfield in the GRFP Application Module (see Fields of Study and associated subfields in Appendix) most closely aligned with the proposed graduate program of study and research plan.
Each application will be reviewed independently in accordance with the NSF Merit Review Criteria using all available information in the completed application. In considering applications, reviewers are instructed to address the two Merit Review Criteria as approved by the National Science Board - Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts. Applicants must include separate sections, under individual separate headings, on "Intellectual Merit" and "Broader Impacts" in each of their Personal and Research Plan statements in order to provide reviewers with the information necessary to evaluate the application with respect to both Criteria as detailed below. Both the Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria are to be given full consideration during the review and decision-making processes; each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is sufficient. Therefore, applicants must fully address both criteria.
- Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and
- Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.
Factors reviewers will consider in assessing the potential Intellectual Merit of the application and the applicant's potential to advance knowledge and understanding in one or more fields may include (but are not limited to):
The applicant's ability to:
- Plan and conduct research
- Work independently
- Work as a part of a team
- Interpret and communicate research (e.g., through publications, or presentations)
- Take initiative
- Think creatively
- Solve problems
- Persist and overcome challenges
- The applicant's demonstrated intellectual ability (as indicated by grades, coursework, awards, etc.)
Factors reviewers will consider in assessing the potential Broader Impacts of the application and the applicant's potential to benefit society and achieve specific, desired societal outcomes may include (but are not limited to) the likelihood that the applicant's activities will:
- Increase participation in STEM
- Improve STEM education in schools through outreach and mentoring
- Increase public scientific literacy and public engagement with STEM through community outreach
- Increase collaboration among academia, industry, and other types of organizations
- Improve education and educator development – at any level – in STEM
- Improve the well-being of individuals in society
- Develop a globally competitive STEM workforce
- Improve national security
- Increase the economic competitiveness of the U.S.
- Enhance infrastructure for research and education
B. Application Review and Selection Process
Applications submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed online by Panel Review.
The application evaluation involves the review and rating of applications by disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists and engineers, and other professional graduate education experts.
Applicants are reviewed on their demonstrated potential to advance knowledge and to make significant research achievements and contributions to their fields throughout their careers. Reviewers are asked to assess applications using a comprehensive approach, giving balanced consideration to all components of the application. These include the educational and research record, leadership, outreach, service activities, and future plans. Individual competencies, experiences, and attributes such as creativity and initiative are also considered. The aim is to recruit and retain a strong cohort of early-career individuals with high potential for future achievements, contributions, and broader impacts in STEM.
The primary responsibilities of each reviewer are to evaluate eligible GRFP applications by applying the Merit Review Criteria described in Section VI.A, and document their assessment of the applications. Reviewers are instructed to review the applications comprehensively, applying the Merit Review Criteria and noting GRFP's emphasis on demonstrated potential for significant research achievements in STEM. Using these assessments and other factors, NSF selects applicants for Fellowships or Honorable Mention in line with NSF's mission and program goals.
VII. Award Administration Information
A. Notification of the Award
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program applicants will be notified of the outcomes of their applications by early April of the competition year. The NSF publishes lists of Fellowship and Honorable Mention recipients on the GRFP Module at https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do in early April.
B. Award Conditions
NSF GRFP awards are made to the institution of higher education at which a Fellow is or will be enrolled. The awardee institution is responsible for financial management of the award and disbursement of Fellowship funds to the Fellow. The NSF GRFP award consists of the award notification letter that includes the applicable terms and conditions and Fellowship management instructions. All Fellowships are made subject to the provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials.
NSF GRFP awards provide funds for NSF Fellows who have "on tenure" status. The institution will administer the awards, including any amendments, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials.
The applicant must accept or decline the Fellowship by the deadline indicated in the award notification letter by logging into the GRFP Module at https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do with the applicant User ID and password. Failure to comply with the deadline and acceptance of Fellowship Terms and Conditions by the deadline will result in revocation of the Fellowship offer and render applicants ineligible to re-apply.
Terms and Conditions
Awardees must formally accept and agree to the terms and conditions of the Fellowship award. Acceptance of the Fellowship constitutes a commitment to pursue a graduate degree in an eligible science or engineering field. Acceptance of a Fellowship award is an explicit acceptance of this commitment and assurance that the Fellow will be duly enrolled in a graduate degree program consistent with the field of study indicated in their application by the beginning of the following academic year. Major changes in scope later in the graduate career require NSF approval. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials includes the terms and conditions that apply to the Fellowship and subsequent institutional award, in addition to the eligibility requirements (U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident, degree requirements, and field of study) and Certifications in the application. Each institution, in accepting the funds, also certifies that the Fellows are eligible to receive the Fellowship under these terms and conditions. Fellows are expected to make satisfactory academic progress towards completion of their graduate degrees, as defined and certified by the Fellow's GRFP institution. In cases where Fellows have misrepresented their eligibility, or have failed to comply with the Fellowship Terms and Conditions, the Fellowship will be revoked, and the case may be referred to the Office of the Inspector General for investigation. This action may result in requiring the Fellow to repay Fellowship funds to the National Science Foundation.
An individual may not accept the Graduate Research Fellowship if the individual accepts or is supported by another federal graduate fellowship.
Responsible Conduct of Research
It is the responsibility of the Fellow, in conjunction with the GRFP institution, to ensure that all academic and research activities carried out in or outside the US comply with the laws or regulations of the US and/or of the foreign country in which the academic and/or research activities are conducted. These include appropriate human subject, animal welfare, copyright and intellectual property protection, and other regulations or laws, as appropriate. All academic and research activities should be coordinated with the appropriate US and foreign government authorities, and necessary licenses, permits, or approvals must be obtained prior to undertaking the proposed activities.
In response to the America COMPETES Act, all Fellows supported by NSF to conduct research are required to receive appropriate training and oversight in the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research.
Research Involving Human Subjects
Projects involving research with human subjects must ensure that subjects are protected from research risks in conformance with the relevant Federal policy known as the Common Rule (Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, 45 CFR 690). All projects involving human subjects must either (1) have approval from an Institutional Review Board (IRB) before issuance of an NSF award; or, (2) must affirm that the IRB has declared the research exempt from IRB review, in accordance with the applicable subsection, as established in 45 CFR § 690.104(d) of the Common Rule. Fellows are required to comply with this policy and adhere to the organization's protocol for managing research involving human subjects.
Research Involving Vertebrate Animals
Any project proposing use of vertebrate animals for research or education shall comply with the Animal Welfare Act [7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.] and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the Secretary of Agriculture [9 CFR 1.1-4.11] pertaining to the humane care, handling, and treatment of vertebrate animals held or used for research, teaching or other activities supported by Federal awards. In accordance with these requirements, proposed projects involving use of any vertebrate animal for research or education must be approved by the submitting organization's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before an award can be made. For this approval to be accepted by NSF, the organization must have a current Public Health Service (PHS) Approved Assurance.
Projects involving the care or use of vertebrate animals at an international organization or international field site also require approval of research protocols by the US grantee's IACUC. If the project is to be funded through an award to an international organization or through an individual fellowship award that will support activities at an international organization, NSF will require a statement from the international organization explicitly listing the proposer's name and referencing the title of the award to confirm that the activities will be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws in the international country and that the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals (see: https://cioms.ch/) will be followed.
Legal Rights to Intellectual Property
The National Science Foundation claims no rights to any inventions or writings that might result from its fellowship or traineeship grants. However, fellows and trainees should be aware that the NSF, another Federal agency, or some private party may acquire such rights through other support for particular research. Also, fellows and trainees should note their obligation to include an Acknowledgment and Disclaimer in any publication.
C. Reporting Requirements
Acknowledgment of Support and Disclaimer
All publications, presentations, and creative works based on activities conducted during the Fellowship must acknowledge NSF GRFP Support and provide a disclaimer by including the following statement in the Acknowledgements or other appropriate section:
"This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant No. (NSF grant number). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation."
Annual Activities Report and Annual Fellowship Status Declaration
Fellows are required to submit an Annual Activities Report and to complete Fellowship Status Declaration by the deadline date each year (deadline notification sent by email), using NSF's GRFP Module. The GRFP Module permits online submission and updating of activity reports, including information on research accomplishments and activities related to broader impacts, presentations, publications, teaching and research assistantships, awards and recognitions, and other scholarly and service accomplishments. These reports must be reviewed and satisfactory progress verified by the faculty advisor or designated graduate program administrator prior to submission to NSF.
Fellows must declare their intent to utilize the Fellowship for the following year using the NSF GRFP Module. Failure to declare Fellowship status by the established deadline violates the terms and conditions for NSF Fellowship awards, and results in termination of the Fellowship.
Program Evaluation
The Division of Graduate Education (DGE) conducts evaluations to provide evidence on the impact of the GRFP on individuals' educational decisions, career preparations, aspirations and progress, as well as professional productivity; and provide an understanding of the program policies in achieving the program goals. Additionally, it is highly desirable to have a structured means of tracking Fellows beyond graduation to gauge the extent to which they choose a career path consistent with the intent of the program and to assess the impact the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship has had on their graduate education experience. Accordingly, Fellows and Honorable Mention recipients may be contacted for updates on various aspects of their employment history, professional activities and accomplishments, participation in international research collaborations, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the program. Fellows and their institutions agree to cooperate in program-level evaluations conducted by the NSF and/or contracted evaluators. The 2014 GRFP evaluation is posted on the "Evaluation Reports" Web page for NSF's Directorate for STEM Education.
GRFP institutions are required to submit the GRFP Completion Report annually. The Completion Report allows GRFP institutions to certify the current status of all GRFP Fellows at the institution. The current status will identify a Fellow as: In Progress, Graduated, Transferred, or Withdrawn. For Fellows who have graduated, the graduation date is a required reporting element.
VIII. Agency Contacts
Please note that the program contact information is current at the time of publishing. See program website (https://www.nsf.gov/grfp) for any updates to the points of contact.
If you require assistance with the GRFP module or have any questions about processing applications please contact the NSF Service Desk.
IX. Other Information
For information on NSF directorates, programs and funding opportunities, go to NSF.gov.
About the National Science Foundation
The U.S. National Science Foundation is an independent federal agency created by the "National Science Foundation Act of 1950." More information about NSF can be found on NSF.gov.
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Privacy Act and Public Burden Statements
The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the "National Science Foundation Act of 1950," as amended. More information can be found on the Privacy Act and Public Burden Statements page on NSF.gov.
X. Appendix
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships
Major Fields of Study
Note: Applications are reviewed based on the selection of a Major Field of Study. As an example, Chemistry is a Major Field of Study, and Chemical Catalysis is a subfield under Chemistry. A Fellowship can be accepted in the field of study that most closely corresponds to the proposed graduate program of study and research plan in the application.
Selection of a Major Field of Study determines the application deadline, the broad disciplinary expertise of the reviewers who will review the application, and the discipline of the graduate program if the Fellowship is accepted. The subfield category designates specific expertise of the reviewers. Applications will be reviewed according to the Major Field of Study and subfield indicated in the application.
Chemistry
- Artificial Intelligence
- Chemical Catalysis
- Chemical Measurement and Imaging
- Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism
- Chemical Synthesis
- Chemical Theory, Models and Computational Methods
- Chemistry of Life Processes
- Computationally Intensive Research
- Environmental Chemical Systems
- Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry
- Quantum Information Science
Computer and Information Sciences & Engineering
- Accessibility
- Algorithms and Theoretical Foundations
- Artificial Intelligence
- Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality, Graphics, and Visualization
- Bioinformatics and Bio-inspired Computing
- Biotechnology
- Communication and Information Theory
- Computationally Intensive Research
- Computer Architecture
- Computer Security and Privacy
- Computer Systems
- Computer Vision
- Cyber-Physical Systems and Embedded Systems
- Cybersecurity
- Data Science, Data Mining, Information Retrieval and Databases
- Electronic Design Automation and Design of Micro and Nano Computing Systems
- Formal Methods, Verification, and Programming Languages
- Human Computer Interaction
- Information Science
- Machine Learning
- Natural Language Processing
- Parallel, Distributed, and Cloud Computing
- Quantum Information Science
- Robotics
- Scientific Computing
- Social Computing
- Software Engineering
- Wired and Wireless Networking
Engineering
- Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
- Agricultural Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence
- Bioengineering
- Biomedical Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computationally Intensive Research
- Computer Engineering (including Networking)
- Cybersecurity
- Data Science
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- Energy and Power Engineering
- Environmental and/or Ecological Engineering
- Industrial Engineering & Operations Research
- Machine Learning
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Materials Science & Engineering (including Polymers, Ceramics, Semiconductors)
- Mechanical Engineering
- Microwave Electromagnetics Engineering
- Nuclear Engineering
- Ocean Maritime Engineering
- Optical Engineering
- Quantum Engineering
- Quantum Information Engineering
- Quantum Information Science
- Robotics, Control, Automation
- Systems Engineering
- Wireless Engineering
Geosciences
- Aeronomy
- Artificial Intelligence
- Arctic-Antarctic
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Biogeochemistry
- Biological Oceanography
- Chemical Oceanography
- Climate and Large-Scale Atmospheric Dynamics
- Coastal Marine Science
- Coastal Studies
- Computationally Intensive Research
- Earth System Science
- Environmental Science
- Geobiology
- Geochemistry
- Geochronology
- Geodynamics
- Geoinformatics
- Geology
- Geomorphology
- Geophysics
- Glaciology
- Heliospheric Physics
- Hydrology
- Ionospheric Physics
- Magnetospheric Physics
- Marine Biology
- Marine Ecology
- Marine Geology and Geophysics
- Ocean Technology (ROVs, AUVs, sensors)
- Paleoclimate
- Paleooceanography
- Paleontology and Paleobiology
- Petrology
- Physical and Dynamic Meteorology
- Physical Oceanography
- Quantum Information Science
- Remote Sensing
- Sea Ice
- Sedimentary Geology
- Solar Physics
- Space Weather
- Tectonics
- Volcanology
Life Sciences
- Artificial Intelligence
- Biochemistry
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Biophysics
- Biotechnology
- Cell Biology
- Computationally Intensive Research
- Developmental Biology
- Ecology
- Environmental Biology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Genetics
- Genomics
- Microbial Biology
- Neurosciences
- Organismal Biology
- Physiology
- Proteomics
- Quantum Information Science
- Structural Biology
- Systematics and Biodiversity
- Systems and Molecular Biology
Materials Research
- Artificial Intelligence
- Biomaterials
- Ceramics
- Chemistry of Materials
- Computationally Intensive Research
- Electronic Materials
- Materials Theory
- Metallic Materials
- Photonic Materials
- Physics of Materials
- Polymers
- Quantum Information Science
Mathematical Sciences
- Algebra, Number Theory, and Combinatorics
- Analysis
- Applied Mathematics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Biostatistics
- Computational and Data-enabled Science
- Computational Mathematics
- Computational Statistics
- Computationally Intensive Research
- Geometric Analysis
- Logic or Foundations of Mathematics
- Mathematical Biology
- Probability
- Quantum Information Science
- Statistics
- Topology
Physics & Astronomy
- Artificial Intelligence
- Astronomy and Astrophysics
- Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
- Computationally Intensive Research
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Nuclear Physics
- Particle Physics
- Physics of Living Systems
- Plasma Physics
- Quantum Information Science
- Solid State Physics
- Theoretical Physics
Psychology
- Artificial Intelligence
- Cognitive Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Comparative Psychology
- Computational Psychology
- Computationally Intensive Research
- Developmental Psychology
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Perception and Psychophysics
- Personality and Individual Differences
- Psycholinguistics
- Quantum Information Science
- Social Psychology
Social Sciences
- Anthropology
- Archaeology
- Artificial Intelligence
- Biological Anthropology
- Computationally Intensive Research
- Cybersecurity
- Decision Making and Risk Analysis
- Economics
- Geography
- Linguistic Anthropology
- Linguistics
- Medical Anthropology
- Quantum Information Science
- Science and Technology Studies
- Sociology
- Urban and Regional Planning
