National Science Foundation (NSF)
Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Application deadline is early November, scheduled by field of study: National Science Foundation

Terms
NSF Graduate Fellowships offer three years of support for advanced study in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, and behavioral and social sciences, including the history of science and the philosophy of science, and to research-based Ph.D. degrees in science education.

Awards carry a $30,000 stipend for 12-month tenures plus a cost-of-education allowance of $10,500 per tenure year. Approximately 1,165 awards will be offered pending the availability of funds. 

Fellows are allowed an additional one-time $1,000 International Research Travel Allowance upon submission of an approved travel request. The planned travel must extend for a continuous 90-day period.

All awards will be for a maximum of three years usable over a five-year period. The anticipated award announcement is late March 2010.

Eligibility
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. Those eligible to apply are college seniors, first-year graduate students, and others who have completed a limited amount of graduate study in science, mathematics, or engineering. Women who intend to pursue graduate degrees in engineering (WENGS) or in computer and information science and engineering (WICS), and who meet the eligibility requirements above, may be considered for these additional awards. 

Selection
Each applicant's qualifications are reviewed by disciplinary panels of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers convened by NSF by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU). Applications are assigned to panels based on the applicant's chosen field(s) of study. Selection of awardees, made by the NSF, is done in merit order. Secondary criteria such as geographical regions, gender, discipline, or other factors determined to be consistent with policy and legislative intent are used to select among applications of substantially equal merit. 

Complete applications include:

1. Information that must be submitted electronically using NSF’s FastLane Graduate Research Fellowship Program application module
2. Official Academic Transcripts submitted in hard copy to the GRF Operations Center (must be received by the field of study deadline)
   
3. Three letters of reference submitted electronically using NSF's FastLane Reference Letter submission. (Recommenders select the "Submit Reference Letter" link on the FastLane website.) 

Note that GRE Subject and General Test scores are optional but recommended.  If you decide to take the tests, be sure to do so by late November 2008.

Merit ranking is based on the following criteria:

• Academic merit, including official transcripts, GPA, and class rank (due by deadline for field of study).
  
• Three letters of recommendation (due early December 2008): Scientists or faculty members who have current knowledge of your academic and/or professional experience are asked to rank your ability in the following areas: knowledge in chosen field, motivation and perseverance toward educational goals, ability to work independently, ability to work as a member of a research team, ability to plan and conduct research,  imagination and creativity, and overall scientific ability.
• Proposed plan of study or research: A two-page description of your proposed plan of study or research for the period covered by the fellowship. The plan should present a clear hypothesis and questions to be asked by the research. The general problems that interest you, and how you expect your program of study to further your educational objectives, should also be addressed.
• Personal statement: A two-page description of 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. Publications or presentations made at professional meetings can be listed. NOTE: Provide specific details in the personal statement that address BOTH the NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts in order for your application to be competitive. Refer to the Program Announcement for further information on the NSF Merit Review Criteria.

Resources

• Complete information on the NSF Fellowship, including directions on how to apply, is available at the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program Web site. For additional assistance, contact NSF at 866/673-4737 or info@nsfgradfellows.org.
• Cornell Career Services Library, 103 Barnes Hall.