National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP)
Masters Programs @Fellowships posted 4 months agoJob Description
Job Description: A prestigious research fellowship supporting U.S. students in STEM fields at the master’s or doctoral level. The NSF GRFP’s mission is to nurture the vitality and diversity of the U.S. scientific and engineering workforce. It provides financial awards to outstanding early-career graduate students pursuing full-time research-based graduate degrees (MS or PhD) in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, or STEM education.
Role Description: NSF Graduate Research Fellows carry out their research projects at their chosen accredited universities, supported by a generous stipend and tuition scholarship. Fellows have great flexibility – the fellowship is portable to any accredited U.S. institution and spans three years of support (which can be used over a five-year period). Fellows are expected to devote themselves to research and coursework that will lead to significant contributions in their field. There are no specific work obligations to NSF beyond annual progress reports, but Fellows often become future leaders in academia, industry, or government research. The award is a recognition of potential; Fellows must uphold high academic and ethical standards in their graduate programs.
Application Cycle: Annual (competition opens late summer, applications due in October, results announced the following March/April)
What You’ll Need:
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- U.S. citizenship, national, or permanent resident status (required)
- Early-career status in grad school: either applying as a graduating senior or first/second-year graduate student in an eligible STEM program (those with more than two years of grad study are ineligible)
- Strong academic record in STEM and demonstrated potential for significant research contributions (e.g. undergraduate research experience, publications, etc.)
- Personal, relevant background and future goals statement, and a detailed research proposal as part of the application
Preferred or Required Qualifications:
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- Required: Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field; plan to pursue research-based MS or PhD in an NSF-supported discipline (NSF lists eligible fields, excluding clinical studies and certain professional programs)
- Preferred: Demonstrated intellectual merit (excellent grades, research experience) and broader impacts (leadership, outreach, service in STEM)—these are NSF’s review criteria
- Commitment to full-time graduate study and to completing a research thesis/dissertation
Benefits and Perks:
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- Three years of financial support over a 5-year fellowship tenure includes an annual stipend of $37,000 to the Fellow and an educational allowance of $16,000 to the institution to cover tuition and fees
- Freedom to conduct research at any U.S. institution – the fellowship is portable, and Fellows can even change universities or programs if needed
- No service requirement (fellows have no work obligation to NSF or the government) – focus is on study and research
- Access to international research opportunities and supercomputing resources in some cases; status as an NSF Fellow often enhances one’s professional opportunities
Where and How You Can Apply:
Official Website: nsf.gov/GRFP – Application Portal – Applicants submit through NSF’s application system. The application includes personal essays, transcripts, and 3 letters of reference. Be sure to follow the field-specific deadline. Extensive guidelines are provided in the NSF GRFP Solicitation
