NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

The Graduate Research Fellowship was first awarded in 1952, with the goal of encouraging basic scientific research and ensuring comprehensive, competitive research programs for U.S. students. Since 1952, the NSF has funded over 75,000 Graduate Research Fellowships. Many former graduate fellows have gone on to become Nobel laureates and members of the National Academy of Sciences.{{cite web|last=National Science Foundation|title=GRF History|url=http://www.nsfgrfp.org/about_the_program/history}} Some well known NSF GRFP alumni include Eric Cornell, Steven Chu, Jennifer Richeson, Sergey Brin, Amy Mainzer, Steven Levitt, Burton Richter, Amy Atwater and John C. Mather.

The NSF GRFP has struggled with an uneven distribution of the award to a select few graduate schools. In 2019, 31% of the grants were awarded to students of only 10 elite academic universities, with 14% of them awarded to just the top three: Berkeley, MIT, and Stanford.{{cite web |url=https://www.science.org/content/article/nsf-graduate-fellowships-disproportionately-go-students-few-top-schools | title=NSF graduate fellowships disproportionately go to students at a few top schools|accessdate=2019-12-04|publisher=Science Magazine}} This distribution has been suggested to perpetuate inequality in science, as graduate students at less elite academic universities often have a greater need for funding.{{cite web |url=https://massivesci.com/articles/grfp-disparity-nsf/|title=The NSF graduate research fellowship program favors elites again|date=11 April 2018 |accessdate=2019-12-04|publisher=Massive Sci}} In addition, elite universities, both graduate and undergraduate level, often have greater resources designed to help students submit successful applications. Awareness of the fellowship, resources to help apply, research opportunities in undergrad, financial freedom to work in a lab in college, and undergraduate support are also important factors considered contributors to an uneven distribution.{{cite web |url=https://smallpondscience.com/2015/04/01/nsf-graduate-fellowships-are-a-part-of-the-problem/|title=NSF Graduate Fellowships are a part of the problem|date=April 2015 |accessdate=2019-12-04|publisher=Small Pond Science}} Between 2019 and 2021, the distribution has favored the so-called "elite" institutions less, with the top ten's share dropping to 26% and the share of the top three dropping to 12%.{{cite web |title=National Science Foundation GRFP Login|url= https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do|website=research.gov |access-date=1 March 2022}}

An alternative explanation is that the students awarded the GRFP, who come from many different social and economic backgrounds, naturally gravitate towards the best nationwide institutions for research. The GRFP often vastly increases awardee's academic freedom to choose between labs and universities, since they are less reliant on departmental funding.{{Cite web |last=G. |first=Mark |title=You got NSF, now what? |url=https://gradadmissions.mit.edu/blog/you-got-nsf-now-what |website=MIT Grad Admissions Blog}}

Until 2016 the NSF GRFP allowed any number of applications before starting graduate school, and two applications once enrolled. In 2016 the NSF reduced the number of times an enrolled graduate student could apply to only once during their graduate career. This was announced as a way to improve the chances of undergraduate applicants who have not yet chosen a graduate program. These improved chances were to encourage more undergrads to apply. However, in 2018 the number of awards received by the top 10 universities was greater than any since 2011, and an even greater number of undergraduates awarded the fellowship came from the top 30 schools.{{cite web |url=https://telis.blog/2018/04/05/the-price-of-a-grfp-part-2/|title=The price of a GRFP, part 2|accessdate=2019-12-04|publisher=Natalie Telis}}

Between 2015 and 2021, Berkeley (504), MIT (440), and Cornell (271) were the top universities from which fellows received undergraduate degrees; the top three universities affiliated with graduate students receiving NSF-GRFP awards were Berkeley (758), Stanford (634), and MIT (531).

The competition is open to U.S. citizens and national and permanent residents who are enrolled or intend to be enrolled in full-time research-based graduate programs in an eligible STEM field.{{cite web |url=https://www.research.gov/grfp/checkGuidelines.do;jsessionid=6CD500E11E23CC9E122A4322003B3682?method=loadQuickLinkPage|title=2020 GRFP Application Guidelines |accessdate=2019-10-10 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=National Science Foundation}} Undergraduates seniors and bachelor degree holders may apply before enrolling in a degree granting graduate program, however once enrolled in a graduate program graduate students are limited to only one application submitted their first or beginning of their second year. Generally applicants cannot have a masters or professional degree when applying, unless returning after two or more years and not enrolled in a graduate program.{{cite web |url=https://www.nsfgrfp.org/applicants/application_components|title=2020 GRFP Application Components |accessdate=2019-10-10 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=National Science Foundation}}

In order to apply, the applicant must submit biographical information, undergraduate and graduate transcripts where applicable, three letters of recommendation, and two essays: a personal statement with relevant experience and a research proposal stating future goals.{{cite web|last=National Science Foundation|title=Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)|url=https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19590/nsf19590.htm}}

Applications are typically due in late October, with different deadlines for different scientific fields.{{cite web |url=https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2019/nsf19590/nsf19590.htm|title=Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Program Solicitation |accessdate=2019-10-10 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=National Science Foundation}} Letters of recommendation are typically due in early November. Fellows and students selected for Honorable Mention are usually notified in April of the year following their application. Together, the Fellows and Honorable Mention students make up about the top 30% of applicants with around 2,000 each.{{cite web |url=https://www.research.gov/grfp/AwardeeList.do?method=loadAwardeeList|title=Award Offers and Honorable Mentions List |accessdate=2019-10-10 |location=Chicago, IL |publisher=National Science Foundation}}

The grant is administered through the institution the student is attending. The fellowship is five years with three years of funding, and the funding can be postponed for up to two 12-month increments as long as the recipient continues to engage in work leading to the eligible graduate degree. When funding is not being drawn the student is on 'reserve', while funding is being drawn the student is 'tenured'. For instance, a recipient might postpone the grant's funding while working as a teaching assistant or research assistant. This is referred to as "reserve". On the third year of reserve, the recipient will automatically forfeit any remaining years of tenure.{{cite web|url=https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2013/nsf13084/nsf13084.jsp#reserve_leave|title=NSF FAQ-Reserve-Leave|website=www.nsfgrfp.org}}

In 2020, the NSF announced it will emphasize the fields of artificial intelligence, quantum information science, and computationally intensive research when awarding fellowships. This received criticism from the science community largely due to concerns that the new focus could further disadvantage under-represented groups.{{Cite web|date=2020-08-17|title=NSF Defends New Emphases in Graduate Research Fellowship Program|url=https://www.aip.org/fyi/2020/nsf-defends-new-emphases-graduate-research-fellowship-program|access-date=2021-02-02|website=www.aip.org|language=en}}{{Cite journal|last=Viglione|first=Giuliana|date=2020-08-06|title=NSF grant changes raise alarm about commitment to basic research|journal=Nature|language=en|volume=584|issue=7820|pages=177–178|doi=10.1038/d41586-020-02272-x|pmid=32764688|bibcode=2020Natur.584..177V |doi-access=free}}

• Hertz Fellowship
• Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
• NDSEG Fellowship

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201 Official website]

Category:1952 establishments in the United States

Category:Education finance in the United States

Category:National Science Foundation