ABOUT NSF GRFP The NSF Graduate Research Fellwship Prgram (GRFP) is the largest and mst prestigius graduate fellwship prgram fr the sciences in the USA. In 2008, Natinal Science Fundatin funded 913 Graduate Research Fellws ut f 8146 eligible submitted applicatins (11%). Fellws Receive the Fllwing: $30,000 annual stipend fr three years $10,500 cst-f-educatin allwance $1,000 ne time travel allwance TeraGrid Supercmputer access!!! Due Date: Nvember 6 th, 2008 Nte: This dcument was created primarily frm infrmatin n NSF website and by Prfessr Pamela Nrris
Surces f infrmatin http://www.nsfgrfp.rg/ Unfficial prgram infrmatin, applicant assistance & resurces, utreach-related issues, panelist registratin & infrmatin, and applicant ratings sheet review http://www.nsf.gv/grfp Official prgram annuncement and infrmatin, infrmatin fr awarded fellws, FAQ guides, and infrmatin fr crdinatin fficials http://www.fastlane.nsf.gv/grfp/ Applicatin submissin & award annuncements
CONTACTS GRF Operatins Center help@nsfgrfp.rg (866) 673-4737 William J. Hahn whahn@nsf.gv (703) 292-8545
T be eligible fr the NSF GRFP, yu must: Be a US citizen, US natinal, r permanent resident alien Be in a research-fcused Master's r Ph.D. prgram in an NSF-supprted field Have cmpleted n mre than twelve mnths f full-time graduate study (r the equivalent) by Aug 31 st prir t the submissin deadline The "n mre than twelve mnths" limit applies t yur entire pst-baccalaureate career, nt just yur current prgram. If yu have cmpleted less than twelve mnths f yur Ph.D. but have previusly cmpleted a Master's degree, yu wuld be cnsidered t have mre than twelve mnths f graduate study.
There is n limit f times an applicant can re-apply fr the GRFP, as lng as they meet the eligibility guidelines. We encurage applicants t apply t the GRFP as early in their graduate career as pssible. If yu are a year graduate student, it is wrth yur while t apply s that yu have tw pprtunities t receive the award.
PSYCHOLOGY PSYCHOLOGY 1 4125 Psychlgy, Cgnitive 4120 Psychlgy, Cgnitive Neurscience 0006 Psychlgy, Cmputatinal Psychlgy 4150 Psychlgy, Experimental r Cmparative 4155 Psychlgy, Neurpsychlgy 4165 Psychlgy, Perceptin and Psychphysics 4158 Psychlgy, Physilgical 4162 Psychlgy, Quantitative PSYCHOLOGY 2 4130 Psychlgy, Develpmental 4189 Psychlgy, Industrial/Organizatinal 4170 Psychlgy, Persnality and Individual Differences 0007 Psychlgy, Psychlinguistics 4190 Psychlgy, Scial
Reviewers A grup f faculty frm diverse backgrunds and with diverse research expertise All assemble in Washingtn fr 3 days fr a panel review in February Examine all the materials available in the files Sit and just read fr abut 10 hurs a day fr 3 days straight! Think hw happy they will be t see a figure! Or a clear, cncise statement! Rate the applicants and place them in Quality Grups
Review Criteria In cnsidering applicatins, reviewers will be instructed t address the tw Merit Review Criteria: 1. Intellectual Merit Ability t plan and cnduct research Excellence when wrking bth independently and in a team Aptitude in interpreting and cmmunicating research findings Panelists will cnsider: The strength f the academic recrd, the prpsed plan f research, the descriptin f previus research experience, references, Graduate Recrd Examinatins (GRE) General and Subject Tests scres, and the apprpriateness f the chice f institutin relative t the prpsed plan fr graduate educatin and research.
2. Brader Impacts Activities and prjects that: Effectively integrate research and educatin at all levels, infuse learning with the excitement f discvery, and assure that the findings and methds f research are cmmunicated in a brad cntext and t a large audience Encurage diversity, braden pprtunities, and enable the participatin f all citizens-wmen and men, underrepresented minrities, and persns with disabilities-in science and research Enhance scientific and technical understanding Benefit sciety. Applicants may prvide characteristics f their backgrund, including persnal, prfessinal, and educatinal experiences, t indicate their ptential t fulfill the brader impacts criterin.
Applicatin Materials The fllwing material is required frm all applicants t the NSF Graduate Research Fellwship Prgram: Persnal Statement Essay Previus Research Experience Essay Prpsed Plan f Research Essay 3 Reference Letters Academic Transcripts GRE scres - recmmended, but NOT required
Persnal Statement Imprtant questins t ask yurself befre starting the essay: Why are yu fascinated by yur research area? What examples f leadership skills and unique characteristics d yu bring t yur chsen field? What persnal and individual strengths d yu have that make yu a qualified applicant? Hw will receiving the fellwship cntribute t yur career gals?
Persnal Statement NSF Fellws are expected t becme knwledge experts and leaders wh can cntribute significantly t research, educatin, and innvatins in science and engineering. The purpse f this essay is t demnstrate yur ptential t satisfy this requirement. Yur ideas and examples d nt have t be cnfined necessarily t the discipline that yu have chsen t pursue. Describe any persnal, prfessinal, r educatinal experiences r situatins that have prepared yu r cntributed t yur desire t pursue advanced study in science, technlgy, engineering, r mathematics. Describe yur cmpetencies and evidence f leadership ptential. Discuss yur career aspiratins and hw the NSF fellwship will enable yu t achieve yur gals. Yu MUST prvide specific details in this essay that address BOTH NSF Merit Review Criteria.
Persnal Statement Demnstrate Brader Impacts Illustrate yur passin fr science Shw, dn t tell Leave self-praise fr the recmmendatin letters (dn t sund arrgant!) Never state yu intend t stp at the MS State gals fr the future (cncerning career, research, teaching, and brader impacts)
The Panelist might ask: What s the applicant s MOTIVATION fr graduate study? Is there TANGIBLE EVIDENCE demnstrating sincerity f interest? Hw des applicant plan t GIVE BACK t sciety? Is there TANGIBLE EVIDENCE demnstrating sincerity f intent? Des the applicant display LEADERSHIP qualities?
Previus Research Experience Imprtant questins t ask yurself befre starting the essay: What are all f yur applicable experiences? Fr each experience, what were the key questins, methdlgy, findings, and cnclusins? Did yu wrk in a team and/r independently? Hw did yu assist in the analysis f results?
Previus Research Experience Describes any scientific research activities in which yu have participated, such as experience in undergraduate research prgrams, r research experience gained thrugh summer r part-time emplyment r in wrk-study prgrams, r ther research activities, either academic r jb-related. Explain the purpse f the research and yur specific rle in the research, including the extent t which yu wrked independently and/r as part f a team, and what yu learned frm yur research. In yur statement, distinguish between undergrad and grad research experience. At the end f yur statement, list any publicatins and/r presentatins made at natinal and/r reginal prfessinal meetings. Yu MUST prvide specific details in this essay that address BOTH NSF Merit Criteria.
Previus Research Experience If yu have had n direct research experience, describe any activities that yu believe have prepared yu t undertake a research-based graduate degree, including wrking n pen-ended prblems and develping plans t slve them. Get creative! Yu MUST prvide specific details in this essay that address BOTH NSF Merit Review Criteria.
Previus Research Experience Dcument yur past research experiences, even thse that seem d nt relate t yur prpsed research (they demnstrate abilities) Explain why each prject was interesting and what yu studied Describe yur rle and respnsibilities Demnstrate what yu learned, even if the prject itself was nt publishable Mentin special research skills like prgramming, data analysis, techniques, etc Dn t frget Brader Impact!
A Panelist Might Ask: Des the applicant understand previus research hypthesis, purpse & gals? Des the applicant cgently describe at least their prtin f the research activities? Des the applicant understand relevant research principles & techniques used? Des the applicant demnstrate independent intellectual maturity & reasning? Des the applicant cmmunicate their research findings & relevance? Des the applicant understand the brader impact f the research?
Prpsed Plan f Research Imprtant questins t ask yurself befre starting the essay: What issues in the scientific cmmunity are yu mst passinate abut? D yu pssess the technical knwledge and skills necessary fr cnducting this wrk, r will yu have sufficient mentring and training t cmplete the study? Is this plan feasible fr the alltted time and institutinal resurces? Hw will my research cntribute t the "big picture" utside the academic cntext? Hw can I draft a plan using the specified research prpsal frmat?
Prpsed Plan f Research Present yur prpsed plan f research essay that is a clear, cncise, and riginal statement, presenting a cmplete plan fr a research prject that yu may* pursue while n fellwship tenure and hw yu became interested in the tpic. Yur statement shuld demnstrate yur understanding f research design and methdlgy and explain the relatinship t yur previus research, if any. Yu MUST prvide specific details in this essay that address BOTH NSF Merit Review Criteria. T address Brader Impact yu may wish t talk abut disseminatin f results, r invlvement f underrepresented minrities, r utreach t K-12, r just hw the research will impact sciety. Be creative.
Prpsed Plan f Research Frmat: Include the title, key wrds, hypthesis, research plan (strategy, methdlgy, and cntrls), anticipated results r findings, literature citatins*, and a statement attesting t the riginality f the research prpsal. If yu have nt frmulated a research plan, yur statement shuld include a descriptin f a tpic that interests yu and hw yu wuld prpse t cnduct research n that tpic. *Necessary references and/r citatins shuld be included in yur essays and will cunt twards the page limit.
Prpsed Plan f Research Arguably the mst imprtant essay Chse ne prject and make a mini-grant prpsal fr it (be specific) Present a hypthesis. Cver backgrund (shrt paragraph), methds, pssible utcmes, the imprtance f yur study, and pssible fllw-ups. Use headings and figures if pssible. Use select references/citatins t demnstrate yur knwledge f the field Demnstrate hw the study benefits sciety r therwise fills the brader impacts criteria Mentin why yu have chsen the prper institutin fr carrying ut this research
A Panelist Might Ask: Des the applicant develp a relevant research hypthesis? Des the applicant develp a cgent, chesive research plan? Des the applicant understand relevant research principles & techniques? Des the applicant cmmunicate the impact & relevance f prpsed research findings? Is there a plan that addresses brader impact integrated int the research plan? Hw will yur research benefit sciety?
Reference Letters Applicants are required t submit three (minimum) reference letters. The reference letter shuld prvide details explaining the nature f the relatinship t the applicant, cmments n the applicant's ptential and prir research experiences, statements abut the applicant's academic ptential and prir research experiences, statements abut the applicant's prpsed research, and any ther infrmatin t enable review panels t evaluate the applicatin accrding t the NSF Merit Review Criteria f Intellectual Merit and Brader Impacts. Applicants can imprve their chances f btaining strng reference letters by ding the fllwing: Chse yur references carefully; chse peple that can speak t yur abilities and ptential, rather than smene with a prminent title Prvide referees sufficient time t write a strng letter Discuss the applicatin and share yur essays with them Infrm them that reference letters shuld reflect bth yur intellectual merit and brader impacts Track submissin f letters using yur status page in the FastLane applicatin mdule - if necessary, remind referees abut deadline.
The referee is asked t d the fllwing: Indicate his r her department and institutin, and hw lng they have knwn yu, and in what capacity. On the basis f knwledge f yur past and current research experience and activities, cmment n yur ptential t d the fllwing: Succeed in graduate schl, Cnduct riginal research, Cmmunicate effectively, Wrk cperatively with peers and supervisrs, and Make unique cntributins t his/her chsen discipline and t sciety in general. If he r she has knwn r supervised ther NSF Graduate Research Fellws, cmpare yu with them. Otherwise, cmpare yu t ther successful graduate students r senir undergraduates that he r she has knwn in their institutin r thrugh interactins with ther institutins. Cmment n the brader impacts f supprting yu, including yur leadership ptential in the chsen field f graduate wrk and in general, as a member f the scientific and technical cmmunity.
References Three required, but fur is even better! Nte that the mre specific (as ppsed t generic) a letter the referee can prvide, the better it is fr the candidate. If the referee is yur research supervisr (and ne SHOULD be), the referee shuld cmment n the riginality f yur prpsal, and cmmunicate what rle he r she played in assisting yu with the prpsal. It is t the applicant's advantage t submit References frm faculty members wh have current knwledge f the applicant's academic wrk and schlarly develpment. If that is nt pssible, as in the case f applicants wh have been ut f schl fr sme time, letters frm ther faculty r emplyers wuld be apprpriate. NSF suggests that at least tw f the three references be persns with whm yu have wrked in yur present (r mst recent) department, including yur thesis adviser.
It is yur jb t prepare yur referees t write a gd letter. Make sure they have yur mst recent resume and cpies f any papers yu have published. It is als best if they have cpies f all yur essays prir t writing their recmmendatin s that they can cnfirm infrmatin prvided, expand n it, r prvide additinal details t strengthen the applicatin. It is als yur jb t fllw-up and make sure the letters are submitted prir t the Dec. 1 deadline fr electrnic submissin f references.
NOTE: Yu can view the status f yur transcripts (Received/Nt Received) by lgging int yur FastLane accunt and checking yur applicatin status. Academic Transcripts An academic transcript is required fr every institutin yu have listed in the applicatin mdule. Please be aware yu are nly required t list the institutin frm which yu have cmpleted yur Baccalaureate degree, as well as any institutins frm which yu have cmpleted any graduate cursewrk. If yu are in yur first semester f graduate schl, yu d nt need t submit a transcript fr yur graduate institutin. Transcripts must be received by the field f study applicatin deadline and submitted t the GRF Operatins Center in hard cpy via pstal mail, express service, r curier t: GRF Operatins Center Suite T-50, 1818 N Street NW Washingtn, DC 20036 Telephne: 866-673-4737
GRE Scres (frm NSF) GRE General Examinatin While the submissin f GRE scres is nt a required cmpnent f the GRFP applicatin, it is a recmmended t create a strng applicatin. It shuld be nted that applicants will NOT be evaluated psitively r negatively based slely n their GRE perfrmance. Hwever, with the significant number f applicants in each f the disciplines, presenting yur GRE scres can be used as a means t differentiate yur applicatin frm thers. GRE Subject Examinatin Reprting ne's GRE Subject scre is nt a requirement fr submissin f the GRFP applicatin. Hwever, as in the case f the General examinatin, reprting the scre des serve as a gd supplement t a strng applicatin.
(frm Pamela Nrris) VERY FEW peple submit Subject Test Scres (I wuld recmmend against this---but this may vary by discipline) I d recmmend submitting GRE scres ONLY if yu perfrm VERY WELL. FYI---in 2002, a scre f 590 Verbal wuld put yu in the 50th percentile f all thse applying fr NSF fellwships that year, and a scre f 650 wuld put yu in the 75 th percentile, while a scre f 650 Quantitative wuld put yu in the 50th percentile while a scre f 740 wuld put yu in the 75th percentile.
Mst Successful Applicants Have Strng --- but nt necessarily perfect--academic recrds Extremely strng letters f recmmendatins---primarily frm tenure track faculty with gd knwledge f the applicants abilities Cnducted---even planned-- independent research Clear understanding f impact and relevance f past and planned research Clear visins f hw a Ph.D. fits int their career plans Relevant research hyptheses & cgent chesive research plans Demnstrated leadership in giving back t sciety
Why shuld yu apply? If successful: $$$ (and the time and freedm that cmes with being independently wealthy) VERY prestigius Tetragrid Supercmputer Access!!! Regardless f success: First pprtunity t start hning critical (and generalizable) writing skills Develp ability t clearly describe yur research and its impact and imprtance (papers, grants, prfessinal talks, netwrking) Jumpstart yur ideas fr yur FYP Opprtunity t develp chesive presentatin f yur prfessinal experiences and achievements (useful fr many awards) Cntinue/develp relatinships with letter writers Train yurself t seek extramural funding and fellwships Even hnrable mentin prvides a nice line n yur CV
Tips fr Applying Get started immediately (NOW) Revise, revise, revise Have multiple prfessrs read yur essays Remember t address all f the criteria (brader impacts and intellectual merit) in each f yur Essays Infrm yur recmmenders early Give them cpies f yur essays Tell them what t write (s they each cver smething different) Have yur current graduate schl advisr write a Letter
NSF Prpsals Wrkshps: http://www.delta.wisc.edu/events/wrkshps/wrkshps.html Writing NSF Brader Impact Statements fr the Graduate Research Fellwship Prpsals Date: Thursday, Octber 2, 2008 9:00 11:00am Lcatin: Ebling Sympsium Center, Rm 1220 (1550 Linden Drive Micrbial Sciences Building) At this wrkshp, participants were able t: Discuss strategies fr writing a successful brader impact plan fr yur NSF fellwship prpsal. Hear frm panelists abut successful fellwship prpsals. Learn abut resurces n campus fcused n effective integratin f research and educatin. Have time t wrk n yur prpsal drafts. NSF Fellwship Prpsals are expected t include ways in which students plan t integrate research and educatin, enhance scientific and technical understanding, and/r advance diversity in science. The Delta Prgram is a grwing cmmunity f STEM and SBE faculty, pst dcs, graduate students, and staff wh by integrating their research and teaching are advancing effective teaching practices fr diverse student audiences (www.delta.wisc.edu). As part f ur effrt, we are develping ways in which faculty and students can effectively design and implement successful brader impact initiatives.
Other resurces University f Wiscnsin Madisn Jay K. Martin (P) martin@engr.wisc.edu University f Wiscnsin Madisn Christiane Wiese (P) wiese@bichem.wisc.edu