Skip to content Skip to main nav
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
  • Guests
Career Services
  • Jobs & Internships
  • Fairs & Events
    • Calendar of Upcoming Events
    • Students: Preparing for Career Fairs
  • Career Team
    • University Career Services
    • College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
    • College of Architecture
    • College of Arts & Sciences
    • College of Business
    • College of Education & Human Sciences
    • College of Engineering
    • College of Journalism & Mass Communications
    • Explore Center
    • Graduate Studies
    • Alumni Association
    • Military & Veteran Success Center
    • Undergraduate Research
    • International & National Fellowships
  • Career Resources
    • DIY Resources
    • Career Interest Communities
    • Career Coaching
  • Identity Resources
    • Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Resources
    • DACA and Undocumented Students
    • First Generation
    • International Students
    • LGBTQA+
    • Military & Veteran
    • Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
    • Students with Disabilities
    • Women’s Career Resources
  • Employers
    • Recruiting at UNL
    • Internship Toolkit
    • Attending Career Fairs & Events
    • Husker Circle
    • Handshake: Posting Jobs & Internships
    • Micro-Internship and Mentoring Program
    • HuskerWork: Campus Employment Option
    • DEI Resources
    • Education & Resources
    • Student Outcomes
    • UNL Job Offer Guidelines
    • Employers Overview

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship

Location: United States Experience Type: Fellowships / Graduate School Fellowship / Junior Fellowship / Research Fellowship / Senior/Recent Graduate Fellowship

  • Share This: Share National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship on TwitterShare National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship on LinkedinShare National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship on Facebook

Overview

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) funds graduate study within the United States leading to research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in specific STEM and social sciences disciplines, including Chemistry, Computer & Information Sciences and Engineering, Geosciences, Life Sciences, Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences, Physics & Astronomy, Psychology, Social Sciences, and STEM Education & Learning Research.

The GRFP provides up to three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research. The GRFP supports over 100 subfields.

The program goals are: 1) to select, recognize, and financially support early-career individuals with the demonstrated potential to be high achieving scientists and engineers, and 2) to broaden participation in science and engineering of women, persons who are members of groups historically underrepresented in STEM, persons with disabilities, and veterans. NSF actively encourages women, persons who are members of groups historically underrepresented in STEM, persons with disabilities, veterans, and undergraduate seniors to apply.

Recorded Information Session

View our recent NSF GRFP Information Session, co-hosted with the College of Engineering!

Eligibility

To be eligible for the NSF GRFP, you must:

  • be a US citizen, US national, or permanent resident
  • intend to pursue a research-based Master’s or Ph.D. program in a GRFP-supported field
  • be enrolled in an eligible program* at an accredited United States graduate institution, with a US campus, by fall following selection
  • be at an early stage in your graduate career
  • have completed no more than one academic year of full-time graduate study (or the equivalent)
  • Graduate students are limited to only one application to the GRFP (see Application Limit, below)

*Eligible Graduate Programs

If awarded, Fellows must enroll in a graduate degree program consistent with the Major Field of Study proposed in their application.

Only research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in STEM or STEM education are eligible for GRFP support. Professional degree programs and graduate programs that are primarily course-based with no thesis are ineligible for GRFP support.

Individuals are not eligible to apply if they will be enrolled in a practice-oriented professional degree program such as medical, dental, law, and public health degrees at any time during the fellowship. Ineligible degree programs include MBA, MPH, MSW, JD, MD, and DDS. Joint or combined professional degree-science programs (e.g., MD/PhD or JD/PhD) and dual professional degree-science programs are also ineligible.

Application Limit

  • Undergraduate seniors and bachelor’s degree holders who have never enrolled in a graduate degree program have no restrictions on the number of times they can apply before enrolling in a degree-granting graduate program.
  • Graduate students enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program are limited to only one application to the GRFP, submitted in the first year or beginning of the second year of their degree program.

Questions? See the Program Solicitation under “Eligibility: Number of Times Individuals May Apply.”

Prior Research Experience

At least 1 year of prior research experience is strongly recommended. Discuss graduate degree goals, potential subfields/specializations, and research topic interests with mentors prior to application. Advice from mentors as you develop your NSF statements is important for producing a competitive proposal.

Undergraduates with a close relationship with faculty mentors and/or with graduate and postdoctoral students in their own research group are significantly more likely to win funding. Our staff believe this is due to receiving multiple rounds of feedback on the research project plan. Fellowship advisor feedback is not a substitute for, but a complement to, feedback from experts in your own discipline.

Benefits

  • Five year fellowship period with three years of financial support
  • Annual stipend of $37,000
  • Cost-of-education allowance of $12,000 to the institution
  • No post-graduate study service requirement
  • Access to supplemental funding to sustain research while on medical deferral (e.g. family leave)

Learn More About the NSF GRFP

Get started with developing your application strategy by checking out NSF 101: The Graduate Research Fellowship Program and these bios of former NSF fellows who are conducting ground-breaking scientific research today. Where will the NSF GRFP take you?

Upcoming Events:

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2022

4:00 pm – 5:00 pm

NSF GRFP Information Session

in collaboration with the College of Engineering

(virtual, recording available)

Wednesday, October 12, 2022

3:00 – 4:30 pm

NSF GRFP Drop-In Hours

In-person at Nebraska Union 230

Thursday, October 13, 2022

11:00 am – 12:30 pm,

and 2:30 – 3:30 pm

NSF GRFP Drop-In Hours

In-person at Nebraska Union 230

Optional Advising Available

Graduating seniors and recent undergraduate alumni who will not be enrolled in graduate school in Fall 2022 may contact Courtney Santos, Director of National & International Fellowships, courtney.santos@unl.edu for access to our Canvas advising course resources and personalized application materials feedback. You can also book a National Fellowships advising appointment through MyPLAN.

Graduate students may request feedback on GRFP applications through the Office of Graduate Studies Consultation Services.  You can either request a 30-minute Friday morning consultation or submit your materials for a more in-depth review and appointment.  If you submit materials, use the form at the bottom of the page and mark “Grant and Proposal Writing”.  OGS can also review materials for other fellowships or grants as requested.

 

Experience Information

Apply By:Oct 17, 2022
Decision Date:Apr 30, 2023
Website:nsfgrfp.org

Career Services

225 Nebraska Union
Lincoln, NE 68588-0451
402-472-3145
careerservices@unl.edu

Related Links

  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)
  • Husker Hub
  • Office of the Registrar
  • Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid
  • Student Affairs
  • Undergraduate Admissions

Campus Links

  • Directory
  • Employment
  • Events
  • Libraries
  • Maps
  • News
  • Office of the Chancellor
  • Report an Incident

Policies & Reports

  • Emergency Planning and Preparedness
  • Institutional Equity and Compliance
  • Notice of Nondiscrimination
  • Security and Fire Safety Report
  • Student Information Disclosures
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service
University of Nebraska–Lincoln
Established 1869 · Copyright 2023
Powered by uConnect