about nsf grfp o the nsf graduate research fellowship program (grfp) is the largest and most...
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ABOUT NSF GRFPo The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
(GRFP) is the largest and most prestigious graduate fellowship program for the sciences in the USA.
o In 2008, National Science Foundation funded 913 Graduate Research Fellows out of 8146 eligible submitted applications (11%).
o Fellows Receive the Following:o $30,000 annual stipend for three yearso $10,500 cost-of-education allowanceo $1,000 one time travel allowanceo TeraGrid Supercomputer access!!!
o Due Date: November 6th, 2008
Note: This document was created primarily from information on NSF website and by Professor Pamela Norris
Sources of information
http://www.nsfgrfp.org/Unofficial program information, applicant assistance & resources, outreach-related issues, panelist registration & information, and applicant ratings sheet review
http://www.nsf.gov/grfpOfficial program announcement and information, information for awarded fellows, FAQ guides, and information for coordination officials
http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/Application submission & award announcements
CONTACTS
GRF Operations Center [email protected] (866) 673-4737
William J. Hahn [email protected] (703) 292-8545
To be eligible for the NSF GRFP, you must:
o Be a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident alien
o Be in a research-focused Master's or Ph.D. program in an NSF-supported field
o Have completed no more than twelve months of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent) by Aug 31st prior to the submission deadline
o The "no more than twelve months" limit applies to your entire post-baccalaureate career, not just your current program. If you have completed less than twelve months of your Ph.D. but have previously completed a Master's degree, you would be considered to have more than twelve months of graduate study.
There is no limit of times an applicant can re-apply for the GRFP, as long as they meet the eligibility guidelines.
We encourage applicants to apply to the GRFP as early in their graduate career as possible.
If you are a year graduate student, it is worth your while to apply so that you have two opportunities to receive the award.
PSYCHOLOGYPSYCHOLOGY 14125 Psychology, Cognitive 4120 Psychology, Cognitive Neuroscience 0006 Psychology, Computational Psychology 4150 Psychology, Experimental or Comparative 4155 Psychology, Neuropsychology 4165 Psychology, Perception and Psychophysics 4158 Psychology, Physiological 4162 Psychology, Quantitative
PSYCHOLOGY 24130 Psychology, Developmental 4189 Psychology, Industrial/Organizational 4170 Psychology, Personality and Individual Differences 0007 Psychology, Psycholinguistics 4190 Psychology, Social
Reviewerso A group of faculty from diverse backgrounds and with
diverse research expertise
o All assemble in Washington for 3 days for a panel review in February
o Examine all the materials available in the files
o Sit and just read for about 10 hours a day for 3 days straight! Think how happy they will be to see a figure! Or a clear, concise statement!
o Rate the applicants and place them in Quality Groups
Review CriteriaIn considering applications, reviewers will be instructed to address the two Merit Review Criteria:1. Intellectual Merit o Ability to plan and conduct research o Excellence when working both independently and in a
team o Aptitude in interpreting and communicating research
findings
Panelists will consider: The strength of the academic record, the proposed plan of research, the description of previous research experience, references, Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General and Subject Tests scores, and the appropriateness of the choice of institution relative to the proposed plan for graduate education and research.
2. Broader Impacts – Activities and projects that: o Effectively integrate research and education at all levels, infuse
learning with the excitement of discovery, and assure that the findings and methods of research are communicated in a broad context and to a large audience
o Encourage diversity, broaden opportunities, and enable the participation of all citizens-women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities-in science and research
o Enhance scientific and technical understanding
o Benefit society.
Applicants may provide characteristics of their background,including personal, professional, and educationalexperiences, to indicate their potential to fulfill the broaderimpacts criterion.
Application MaterialsThe following material is required from all applicants to the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program:
o Personal Statement Essay o Previous Research Experience Essay o Proposed Plan of Research Essay o 3 Reference Letterso Academic Transcripts o GRE scores - recommended, but NOT required
Personal StatementImportant questions to ask yourself before starting the essay:o Why are you fascinated by your research area?
o What examples of leadership skills and unique characteristics do you bring to your chosen field?
o What personal and individual strengths do you have that make you a qualified applicant?
o How will receiving the fellowship contribute to your career goals?
Personal StatementNSF Fellows are expected to become knowledge experts and leaders who can contribute significantly to research, education, and innovations in science and engineering. The purpose ofthis essay is to demonstrate your potential to satisfy this requirement. Your ideas and examples do not have to be confined necessarily to the discipline that you have chosen to pursue.
Describe any personal, professional, or educational experiences or situations that have prepared you or contributed to your desire to pursue advanced study in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.
Describe your competencies and evidence of leadership potential.
Discuss your career aspirations and how the NSF fellowship will enable you to achieve your goals. You MUST provide specific details in this essay that address BOTH NSF Merit Review Criteria.
Personal Statement o Demonstrate Broader Impacts
o Illustrate your passion for science
o Show, don’t tell
o Leave self-praise for the recommendation letters (don’t sound arrogant!)
o Never state you intend to stop at the MS
o State goals for the future (concerning career, research, teaching, and broader impacts)
The Panelist might ask:o What’s the applicant’s MOTIVATION for graduate study?
o Is there TANGIBLE EVIDENCE demonstrating sincerity of interest?
o How does applicant plan to GIVE BACK to society?
o Is there TANGIBLE EVIDENCE demonstrating sincerity of intent?
o Does the applicant display LEADERSHIP qualities?
Previous Research ExperienceImportant questions to ask yourself before starting the essay:
o What are all of your applicable experiences?
o For each experience, what were the key questions, methodology, findings, and conclusions?
o Did you work in a team and/or independently?
o How did you assist in the analysis of results?
Previous Research ExperienceDescribes any scientific research activities in which you have participated, such as experience in undergraduate research programs, or research experience gained through summer or part-time employment or in work-study programs, or other research activities, either academic or job-related.
Explain the purpose of the research and your specific role in the research, including the extent to which you worked independently and/or as part of a team, and what you learned from your research. In your statement,distinguish between undergrad and grad research experience.
At the end of your statement, list any publications and/or presentations made at national and/or regional professional meetings. You MUST provide specific details in this essay that address BOTH NSF Merit Criteria.
Previous Research ExperienceIf you have had no direct research experience, describe any activities that you believe haveprepared you to undertake a research-based graduate degree, including working on open-ended problems and developing plans to solve them.
Get creative!
You MUST provide specific details in this essay that address BOTH NSF Merit Review Criteria.
Previous Research ExperienceDocument your past research experiences, even those that seem do not relate to your proposedresearch (they demonstrate abilities)
Explain why each project was interesting and what you studied
Describe your role and responsibilities
Demonstrate what you learned, even if the project itself was not publishable
Mention special research skills like programming, data analysis, techniques, etc
Don’t forget Broader Impact!
A Panelist Might Ask:Does the applicant understand previous research hypothesis, purpose & goals?
Does the applicant cogently describe at least their portion of the research activities?
Does the applicant understand relevant research principles & techniques used?
Does the applicant demonstrate independent intellectual maturity & reasoning?
Does the applicant communicate their research findings & relevance?
Does the applicant understand the broader impact of the research?
Proposed Plan of ResearchImportant questions to ask yourself before starting the essay:
o What issues in the scientific community are you most passionate about?
o 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?
o Is this plan feasible for the allotted time and institutional resources?
o How will my research contribute to the "big picture" outside the academic context?
o How can I draft a plan using the specified research proposal format?
Proposed Plan of ResearchPresent your proposed plan of research essay that is a clear, concise, and original statement, presenting a complete plan for a research project that you may* pursue while onfellowship tenure and how you became interested in the topic.
Your statement should demonstrate your understanding of research design and methodology and explain the relationship to your previous research, if any.
You MUST provide specific details in this essay that address BOTH NSF Merit Review Criteria.
To address Broader Impact you may wish to talk about dissemination of results, or involvement of underrepresented minorities, or outreach to K-12, or just how the research will impact society.
Be creative.
Proposed Plan of ResearchFormat: Include the title, key words, hypothesis, research plan (strategy, methodology, and controls), anticipated results or findings, literature citations*, and a statement attesting to the originality of the research proposal.
If you have not formulated a research plan, your statement should include a description of a topic that interests you and how you would propose to conduct research on thattopic.
*Necessary references and/or citations should be included in your essays and will count towards the page limit.
Proposed Plan of Research
o Arguably the most important essay
o Choose one project and make a mini-grant proposal for it (be specific)
o Present a hypothesis. Cover background (short paragraph), methods, possible outcomes, the importance of your study, and possible follow-ups.
o Use headings and figures if possible.
o Use select references/citations to demonstrate your knowledge of the field
o Demonstrate how the study benefits society or otherwise fills the broader impacts criteria
o Mention why you have chosen the proper institution for carrying out this research
A Panelist Might Ask:Does the applicant develop a relevant research hypothesis?
Does the applicant develop a cogent, cohesive research plan?
Does the applicant understand relevant research principles & techniques?
Does the applicant communicate the impact & relevance of proposed research findings?
Is there a plan that addresses broader impact integrated into the research plan?
How will your research benefit society?
Reference LettersApplicants are required to submit three (minimum) reference letters.
The reference letter should provide details explaining the nature of the relationship to the applicant, comments on the applicant's potential and prior research experiences, statements about the applicant's academic potential and prior research experiences, statements about the applicant's proposed research, and any other information to enable review panels to evaluate the application according to the NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts.
Applicants can improve their chances of obtaining strong reference letters by doing the following:o Choose your references carefully; choose people that can speak to
your abilities and potential, rather than someone with a prominent title
o Provide referees sufficient time to write a strong letter o Discuss the application and share your essays with them o Inform them that reference letters should reflect both your
“intellectual merit” and “broader impacts” o Track submission of letters using your status page in the FastLane
application module - if necessary, remind referees about deadline.
The referee is asked to do the following:o Indicate his or her department and institution, and how long they have
known you, and in what capacity.
o On the basis of knowledge of your past and current research experience and activities, comment on your potential to do the following:o Succeed in graduate school,o Conduct original research,o Communicate effectively,o Work cooperatively with peers and supervisors, ando Make unique contributions to his/her chosen discipline and to society in
general.
o If he or she has known or supervised other NSF Graduate Research Fellows, compare you with them. Otherwise, compare you to other successful graduate students or senior undergraduates that he or she has known in their institution or through interactions with other institutions.
o Comment on the broader impacts of supporting you, including your leadership potential in the chosen field of graduate work and in general, as a member of the scientific and technical community.
ReferencesThree required, but four is even better!
Note that the more specific (as opposed to generic) a letter the referee can provide, the better it is for the candidate.
If the referee is your research supervisor (and one SHOULD be), the referee should comment on the originality of your proposal, and communicate what role he or she played in assisting you with the proposal.
It is to the applicant's advantage to submit References from faculty members who have current knowledge of the applicant's academic work and scholarly development. If that is not possible, as in the case of applicants who have been out of school for some time, letters from otherfaculty or employers would be appropriate.
NSF suggests that at least two of the three references be persons with whom you have worked in your present (or most recent) department, including your thesis adviser.
It is your job to prepare your referees to write a good letter. Make sure they have your most recent resume and copies of any papers you have published.
It is also best if they have copies of all your essays prior to writing their recommendation so that they can confirm information provided, expand on it, or provide additional details to strengthen the application.
It is also your job to follow-up and make sure the letters are submitted prior to the Dec. 1 deadline for electronic submission of references.
Academic TranscriptsAn academic transcript is required for every institution you have listed in the application module. Please be aware you are only required to list the institution from which you have completed your Baccalaureate degree, as well as any institutions from which you have completed any graduate coursework. If you are in your first semester of graduate school, you do not need to submit a transcript for your graduate institution.
Transcripts must be received by the field of study application deadline and submitted to the GRF Operations Center in hard copy via postal mail, express service, or courier to:
GRF Operations CenterSuite T-50,1818 N Street NWWashington, DC 20036Telephone: 866-673-4737
NOTE: You can view the status of your transcripts (Received/Not Received) by logging into your FastLane account and checking your application status.
GRE Scores (from NSF)
GRE General ExaminationWhile the submission of GRE scores is not a required component of the GRFP application, it is a recommended to create a strong application. It should be noted that applicants will NOT be evaluated positively or negatively based solely on their GRE performance.
However, with the significant number of applicants in each of the disciplines, presenting your GRE scores can be used as a means to differentiate your application from others.
GRE Subject ExaminationReporting one's GRE Subject score is not a requirement for submission of the GRFP application. However, as in the case of the General examination, reporting the score does serve as a good supplement to a strong application.
(from Pamela Norris)VERY FEW people submit Subject Test Scores (I would recommend against this---but this may vary by discipline)
I’d recommend submitting GRE scores ONLY if you perform VERY WELL.
FYI---in 2002, a score of 590 Verbal would put you in the 50th percentile of all those applying for NSF fellowships that year, and a score of 650 would put you in the 75th percentile, while a score of 650 Quantitative would put you in the 50th percentile while a score of 740 would put you in the 75th percentile.
Most Successful Applicants Haveo Strong --- but not necessarily perfect--academic records
o Extremely strong letters of recommendations---primarily from tenure track faculty with good knowledge of the applicants abilities
o Conducted---even planned--”independent” research
o Clear understanding of impact and relevance of past and planned research
o Clear visions of how a Ph.D. fits into their career plans
o Relevant research hypotheses & cogent cohesive research plans
o Demonstrated leadership in giving back to society
Why should you apply?If successful:o $$$ (and the time and freedom that comes with being independently wealthy)o VERY prestigiouso Tetragrid Supercomputer Access!!!
Regardless of success:o First opportunity to start honing critical (and generalizable) writing skills
o Develop ability to clearly describe your research and its impact and importance (papers, grants, professional talks, networking)
o Jumpstart your ideas for your FYP
o Opportunity to develop cohesive presentation of your professional experiences and achievements (useful for many awards)
o Continue/develop relationships with letter writers
o Train yourself to seek extramural funding and fellowships
o Even honorable mention provides a nice line on your CV
Tips for Applyingo Get started immediately (NOW)
o Revise, revise, revise
o Have multiple professors read your essays
o Remember to address all of the criteria (broadero impacts and intellectual merit) in each of youro Essays
o Inform your recommenders earlyo Give them copies of your essayso Tell them what to write (so they each cover somethingo different)o Have your current graduate school advisor write a Letter
NSF Proposals Workshops:http://www.delta.wisc.edu/events/Workshops/workshops.html
Writing NSF Broader Impact Statements for the Graduate Research Fellowship ProposalsDate: Thursday, October 2, 2008 - 9:00 - 11:00amLocation: Ebling Symposium Center, Room 1220 (1550 Linden Drive- Microbial Sciences Building)
At this workshop, participants were able to:o Discuss strategies for writing a successful broader impact plan for your NSF fellowship
proposal. o Hear from panelists about successful fellowship proposals. o Learn about resources on campus focused on effective integration of research and
education. o Have time to work on your proposal drafts. o NSF Fellowship Proposals are expected to include ways in which students plan to
integrate research and education, enhance scientific and technical understanding, and/or advance diversity in science. The Delta Program is a growing community of STEM and SBE faculty, post-docs, graduate students, and staff who by integrating their research and teaching are advancing effective teaching practices for diverse student audiences (www.delta.wisc.edu). As part of our effort, we are developing ways in which faculty and students can effectively design and implement successful broader impact initiatives.
Other resourcesUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison Jay K. Martin (P) [email protected] University of Wisconsin-Madison Christiane Wiese (P) [email protected]