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Office of National Scholarship Advisement
University of Mississippi

About NSF GRFP. Open to: graduate students who are or will be pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in eligible fields of study. Eligible for major fields of study: chemistry, life sciences, psychology, computer and information sciences and engineering, materials research, social sciences, engineering, mathematical sciences, STEM education and learning research, geosciences, and physics and astronomy. $34,000 annual stipend, $12,000 most of education allowance.

 

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Open to:

Rising seniors and graduates 

 

Application Deadlines

  • UM Deadline: None
  • National Deadline: October
  • Endorsement: Not required.

Description:

The NSF GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported STEM disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited US institutions. The five-year fellowship includes three years of financial support including an annual stipend of $34,000 and a cost of education allowance of $12,000 to the institution.

 

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board approved merit review criteria.

  • Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and
  • Broader Impacts: The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

Applicants should address:

  1. What is the potential for the proposed activity to: 
    1. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and
    2. Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?
  2. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?
  3. Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?
  4. How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?
  5. Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

 

Application Procedure:

  • Applicants must submit the following information through the GRFP portal. 
  • Material required: Personal Information; Education, Work and Other Experience; Electronic Transcripts; Proposed Field(s) of Study; Proposed Graduate Study and Graduate School Information; the names and email addresses of at least three reference letter writers; Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement; and Graduate Research Plan Statement. 

 

Requirements: 

  • 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
  • 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, submitted either in the first year or in the second year of graduate school

 

Videos and Workshops:

GRFP 2021 Application Tutorial

Goldwater Scholar NSF-GRFP Webinar 

 

Website:

https://www.nsfgrfp.org/ 

 

View more about the NSF GRFP on the Graduate School’s website at https://gradschool.olemiss.edu/nsf-grfp/ 

 

 

Want to Apply?

 

There are many things you can do to become competitive for such awards. It all starts with becoming engaged with your classes, your professors, and your community–starting your freshman year!

The key to a strong application is…START EARLY! Follow these steps to schedule your appointment!

STEP 1: Look through the Handbook or Website to identify potential awards.

  • Each award description in the handbook or website includes eligibility, a description, application procedures, and links to videos/webinars.
  • Some awards identify “institutional endorsement required” or “institutional endorsement recommended”. In order to be endorsed by ONSA and the university of Mississippi you must have a complete application by the campus deadline.

STEP 2: Complete the Fellowship Interest Form (required)

STEP 3: Make an appointment with a Fellowship Advisor (strongly recommended)

STEP 4: If you apply for a national fellowship, you will need to complete the Nomination Permission Form and Waiver (required)