GRFP Program Announcement

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Fellowship Applications and Award Forms

GRFP Program Announcement

OMB: 3145-0023

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Graduate Research Fellowship Program

(GRFP)

Program Solicitation
NSF 07-576
Replaces Document(s):
NSF 06-592

National Science Foundation
Directorate for Education & Human Resources
Division of Graduate Education

Application Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):
November 01, 2007
Interdisciplinary Fields of Study
November 02, 2007
Mathematical Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering
November 06, 2007
Social Sciences; Psychology; Geosciences
November 07, 2007
Life Sciences
November 08, 2007
Engineering
November 09, 2007
Chemistry; Physics and Astronomy

REVISION NOTES
1. Application deadlines have changed.
2. Applicants are required to use 12-point, Times New Roman font and may be single spaced.
3. The description of eligibility requirements was clarified with respect to previous graduate education, work experience,
and change in field of study.
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4. A statement was introduced to indicate that acceptance of a Graduate Research Fellowship is a commitment to be
enrolled in an approved program of graduate study by the following Fall term.
5. Guidelines for the use of Reserve status and descriptions of allowable alternate activities were provided.
6. A description of cyberinfrastructure resources available to Fellows and recipients of Honorable Mention was provided.
7. The descriptions of eligibility and application procedures for Interdisciplinary Fields of Study were reorganized and
clarified to aid the applicant in routing their application.

SUMMARY OF PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
General Information
Program Title:
Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Synopsis of Program:
The National Science Foundation aims to ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics in the United States and to reinforce its diversity by offering
approximately 1,100 graduate fellowships in this competition. The Graduate Research Fellowship provides
three years of support for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees and is
intended for students who are in the early stages of their graduate study. The Graduate Research
Fellowship Program (GRFP) invests in graduate education for a cadre of diverse individuals who
demonstrate their potential to successfully complete graduate degree programs in disciplines relevant to the
mission of the National Science Foundation.
Cognizant Program Officer(s):
●

GRF Operations Center, telephone: 866-673-4737, email: help@nsfgradfellows.org

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):
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47.076 --- Education and Human Resources

Award Information
Anticipated Type of Award: Fellowship Grant
Estimated Number of Awards:

1,100

Anticipated Funding Amount: $44,550,000 for new fellowships in FY 2008 pending the availability of funds.

Eligibility Information
Organization Limit: Fellowship applications must be submitted by the prospective Fellow. Applicants must register with
Fastlane (https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/) prior to submitting an application and must affiliate with an accredited United States
university, college, or non-profit academic institution or appropriate international institution of higher education offering
advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics prior to activating the Fellowship award.
Applicant Eligibility:

Refer to Section IV. Eligibility Information.
Limit on Number of Applications per PI: 1
- Applicants are limited to only one application in this competition.

Applicant Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Application Preparation Instructions
●

●

Letters of Intent: Not Applicable
Application Instructions: This solicitation contains information that deviates from the standard Grant Proposal
Guide (GPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

B. Budgetary Information
●

Cost Sharing Requirements: Cost Sharing is not required by NSF.

●

Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:
No indirect costs are allowed.

●

Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for
further information.

C. Due Dates
●

Application Review Information Criteria
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Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved criteria apply.

Award Administration Information
Award Conditions: Standard NSF award conditions apply
Reporting Requirements: See reporting requirements in full text of solicitation.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Summary of Program Requirements
I. Introduction
II. Program Description
III. Award Information
IV. Eligibility Information
V. Proposal Preparation and Submission Instructions
A. Proposal Preparation Instructions
B. Budgetary Information
C. Due Dates
D. FastLane Requirements
VI. NSF Proposal Processing and Review Procedures
A. NSF Merit Review Criteria
B. Review and Selection Process
VII. Award Administration Information
A. Notification of the Award
B. Award Conditions
C. Reporting Requirements
VIII. Agency Contacts
IX. Other Information
X. Appendix

I. INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to ensure the vitality of the scientific and technological
workforce in the United States and to reinforce its diversity. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate
students in the relevant science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines who are pursuing researchbased master’s and doctoral degrees. NSF Fellows are expected to become knowledge experts who can contribute
significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals will be crucial to
maintaining and advancing the nation’s technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the
economic well being of society at large.
The Graduate Research Fellowship Program is designed to provide opportunities for advanced education that prepares
students for a broad range of disciplinary and cross-disciplinary careers through its strategic investments in intellectual
capital. Applicants, therefore, are urged to visit the NSF web page at http://www.nsf.gov for more information and guidance
about current and emerging themes for the NSF directorates.
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II. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
The Graduate Research Fellowship Program awards fellowships for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or
doctoral degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) relevant to the mission of the
National Science Foundation (See NSF-Supported Fields of Study).
NSF Graduate Research Fellowships are intended for individuals in the early stages of their graduate study. All applicants
are expected to have adequate preparation to begin graduate level study and research by Summer or Fall of 2008. In most
cases, this will be demonstrated by a bachelor’s degree earned prior to Fall 2008.
Applicants may pursue graduate study at an institution in the United States or affiliate with a foreign institution. Prospective
Fellows are responsible for all logistical arrangements required for affiliation with the foreign institution, including handling
living arrangements and securing any necessary passports or visas.
The Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports a comprehensive holistic plan for graduate education and takes into
account the individual interests and competencies of the Fellows. Thus, an applicant must provide a detailed profile of his or
her relevant educational and research experiences and plans for graduate education in such a way as to demonstrate the
potential to become an emerging knowledge expert in STEM disciplines.
Prospective applicants are advised that submission of an application implies a commitment to the pursuit of graduate study in
a research-based program in any of the STEM fields supported by NSF (See NSF-Supported Fields of Study). Acceptance of
a fellowship award is an explicit acceptance of this commitment and assurance that the Fellow will be duly enrolled in an
acceptable graduate degree program by the beginning of the following academic year.

III. AWARD INFORMATION
The NSF expects to award 1,100 Graduate Research Fellowships under this program solicitation. The affiliated institution
receives a $40,500 award for the costs described below. Fellows Abroad receive direct NSF grant awards up to the same
amount.
The Graduate Research Fellowship stipend currently is $30,000 for a 12-month tenure period, prorated monthly at $2,500 for
shorter periods as approved by NSF.
The cost of education allowance currently is $10,500 per tenure year. For Fellows Abroad, all tuition and assessed fees will
be reimbursed to the Fellow up to a maximum of $10,500 per tenure year. Refer to the Information for Graduate Fellows
document for restrictions on the use of the cost-of-education allowance.
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.
Fellows and applicants receiving Honorable Mention are provided enhanced access to cyberinfrastructure resources,
including supercomputing time, through the TeraGrid. Please refer to http://www.teragrid.org for more information on
cyberinfrastructure resources.
All awards will be for a maximum of three years usable over a five-year period. The anticipated award date is late March
2008.
Honorable Mention
The NSF accords Honorable Mention to meritorious applicants who do not receive fellowship awards. This is considered a
significant academic achievement nationwide and provides access to cyberinfrastructure resources through the TeraGrid for
a period of one year following notification of the Honorable Mention.

IV. ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION
Organization Limit: Fellowship applications must be submitted by the prospective Fellow. Applicants must register with
Fastlane (https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/) prior to submitting an application and must affiliate with an accredited United States
university, college, or non-profit academic institution or appropriate international institution of higher education offering
advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics prior to activating the Fellowship award.
Applicant Eligibility:
Refer to Section IV. Eligibility Information.
Limit on Number of Applications per PI: 1
- Applicants are limited to only one application in this competition.
Additional Eligibility Info:
The three eligibility requirements for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program -- citizenship, degree
requirements, and field of study -- are described below. Applicants are advised to read the entire program
solicitation carefully to be sure that the requirements are interpreted properly. Applicants must exercise
judgment in assessing eligibility.
Eligibility will be determined only by review of a complete, submitted application.
Citizenship
Applicants must be United States citizens or nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States.
The term "national" designates a native resident of a commonwealth or territory of the United States, such
as American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands. It does not
refer to a citizen of another country who has applied for U.S. citizenship.
Degree Requirements
Fellowships are intended for individuals in the early stages of their graduate study. Below are general
guidelines for determining eligibility according to the degree requirements criterion.
●

●

Applicants are expected to have adequate preparation to begin graduate study and research by
summer or fall 2008. In most cases, this will be demonstrated by receipt of a bachelor's degree
earned prior to Fall 2008.
Individuals are typically eligible to apply during the senior year of college, after graduating from
college but prior to entering graduate school, during the first year of graduate school, or prior to
completing the first term of the second year of graduate school..
Applicants must have completed no more than twelve months of full-time graduate study or its
equivalent by the August 31st prior to the program submission deadline.
All post-baccalaureate, graduate-level study in an NSF-supported field counts toward the allowed
twelve months of completed graduate study. This includes all Masters's and Ph.D. programs in
these disciplines.
Applicants who have completed part-time graduate study must have completed no more than
twenty-four (24) semester hours or its equivalent by August 31st prior to the program submission
deadline.
Research-oriented work experience in an academic or similar environment that is closely related to
the current or proposed program of graduate study may be considered as equivalent to graduate
coursework for eligibility purposes. A combination of relevant work experience and coursework may
render an applicant ineligible.
Applicants in joint BS/MS programs are typically eligible to apply prior to the completion of any
further graduate study.
❍ In four-year joint programs, applicants may apply in the fourth year and after the completion
of the program. Completion of any further graduate study outside the joint program will
disqualify an applicant.
❍ In five-year joint programs, applicants may apply in the fourth and fifth years of the program
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and after the completion of the program. Completion of any further graduate study outside
the joint program will disqualify an applicant.
In some cases, applicants may be considered eligible based on extenuating circumstances, such as
a significant change of field (including change from a professional to a research-oriented graduate
program), interruption in graduate study for financial reasons, or career interruption due to family or
medical reasons. The interruption must be for a period of more than two years prior to November
2007.
Categories of applicants that are always ineligible:
❍ Those who earned a Ph.D. in science, mathematics, or engineering or any medical degree,
such as an M.D., D.D.S. or D.V.M. after October 1, 2002.
❍ Those who have already received and held tenure as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow
(previously known as an NSF Pre-Doctoral Fellow).

Field of Study
Fellowships are awarded for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees in the
fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics supported by the National Science Foundation
(See NSF-Supported Fields of Study).The guidelines below should be used to assess eligibility according to
the field of study criterion.
●

●

Applications for interdisciplinary programs of study and research are eligible for the GRFP, provided
the applicant meets all other eligibility guidelines and requirements.
Research in bioengineering with diagnosis or treatment-related goals may be eligible for support if it
applies engineering principles to problems in biology and medicine while advancing engineering
knowledge. Bioengineering research to aid persons with disabilities may also be eligible.
Applications emphasizing biology should be submitted under life sciences on November 7, 2007
while those emphasizing engineering should be submitted under engineering on November 8, 2007.
Research in a policy science is eligible only if applicants are pursuing research oriented master's or
Ph.D. degrees.
Categories of study that are always ineligible:
❍ Clinical, counseling, business, or management fields, social work, education (except in
science education Ph.D.), or history (except in history of science).
❍ Practice-oriented professional degree programs, joint science-professional degree
programs (MD/PhD and JD/PhD), and medical, dental, law, or public health programs.
❍ Medical sciences or research with disease-related goals, including work on the etiology,
diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality or malfunction in human
beings or animals, animal models of such conditions, or the development or testing of drugs
or other procedures for their treatment .

The Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center is responsible for processing applications
and responding to questions about the program. For questions concerning these guidelines, contact
the Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center, 866-673-4737, international 202-331-3542, or
help@nsfgradfellows.org. However, eligibility will be determined only on the basis of a completed
submitted application.
Women in Engineering and Computer and Information Science Awards
The Women in Engineering and Computer and Information Science awards are for women who intend to
pursue graduate research degrees in Engineering or Computer and Information Science and Engineering.
Additional funding for these awards is provided by the Directorate for Computer and Information Science
and the Directorate for Engineering. Eligibility and review criteria are the same as for applicants in other
fields.

V. APPLICATION PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS
A. Application Preparation Instructions
Fellowship applications must be submitted electronically using the NSF FastLane Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Application Module at http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/ according to the field of study deadline. Thus, applicants must first
register as a FastLane user at that web site. The official transcript(s) is (are) due by the relevant field of study deadline and
must be submitted to the GRF Operations Center at the address shown in this section. See the Applicant User Guide for
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instructions on completing and submitting an application.
The FastLane Application Module includes the following information: Personal Profile, Education and Work Experience,
Planned Graduate Program, Personal Statement, Previous Research Experience, Proposed Plan of Research, and
References. Do not send other extraneous information or materials such as CDs, manuscripts, resumes, medical reports, or
news clippings. These items will not be reviewed with your application. Images may be included but will be produced only in
black and white.
Applicants must follow the instructions in the user guide and applicant module for completing each section of the
application and adhere to the 12-point, Times New Roman font, 1" margin, and page limitation for all essays. The
essays must be written using the standard 8.5" x 11" page size, and may be single spaced. Failure to comply with
these requirements could eliminate the application from consideration by review panels. Applicants are advised to
submit applications early to avoid possible FastLane system delays on the deadline dates.
Supplemental Application Materials are described below.
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Official Academic Transcripts (Must be received by field of study deadline)

Academic transcripts are required for all institutions listed in the applicant module, excluding Fall 2007. Required transcripts
include academic transcripts from the baccalaureate institution and transcripts for all completed graduate work. Transcripts
must be received by the field of study application deadline and submitted to the GRF Operations Center in hard copy via
postal mail, express service, or courier to:
GRF Operations Center
Suite T-50,
1818 N Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Telephone: 866-673-4737
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Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Test Scores (Optional -- Due November 30, 2007)

It is recommended that applicants have both the GRE General and Subject Test scores reported. Only GRE scores from
tests taken between October 1, 2002 and November 30, 2007 submitted by ETS will be accepted for the 2008 NSF Graduate
Research Fellowship competition. GRE scores may be reported only by using the application module. Applicants should
NOT submit scores themselves directly.
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Three Reference Letters (Due December 1, 2007)

Applicants are required to submit three reference letters. Reference writers should use letterhead, if possible, and include the
following information: Name and Title of reference writer, Department, and Institution or Organization. The reference letter
should provide details explaining the nature of the relationship to the applicant, comments on the applicant's potential and
prior research experiences, statements about the applicant's academic potential and prior research experiences, statements
about the applicant's proposed research, and any other information to enable review panels to evaluate the application
according to the NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts.
Graduate Record Examination Registration
NSF will pay Subject Test registration fees for applicants who register for the November 3, 2007 administration under two
conditions: (1) the NSF Fellowship application is the primary purpose, and (2) the GRE registration form for the November
test is received at ETS no later than September 28, 2007.
The following condition is imposed on the reporting of the November 3, 2007 GRE Subject Test scores when NSF pays the
test fee. Prior to May 1, 2008 these scores will be reported only for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, to the
fellowship applicant, and to the applicant’s undergraduate institution.
Mail the Request for Payment of GRE Subject Test Fee form along with the GRE Subject Test registration form to:
ETS - GRE
Box 382013
Pittsburgh, PA 15251-8013

No online registration is available.
Application Completion Status
The FastLane GRFP Application module will display the completion status of the fellowship application. The status function
will indicate whether the application and the supplemental information, such as transcripts, reference letters, and GRE scores
have been received. Applicants are strongly encouraged to make use of this feature and the Manage Reference feature to
ensure all application materials have been received. Applicants must use the FastLane user ID and password to access this
information.
Interdisciplinary Applications
NSF welcomes applications for interdisciplinary programs of study and research. To accommodate the special review needs
of interdisciplinary applications, applicants must indicate the relative effort for each field of study represented in their
application. Truly interdisciplinary applications in which no one field of study predominates should be classified as
“Interdisciplinary Fields of Study” and submitted by the Interdisciplinary Fields of Study deadline of November 1, 2007. For
applications in which one discipline predominates, applicants are instructed to identify that as the primary field of study in the
FastLane Application Module along with all other fields of study represented in their application, and to submit their
application by the deadline for the primary field of study. Proper response to these instructions will help insure that
applications are evaluated by the most appropriate panel of reviewers.

B. Budgetary Information
Cost Sharing: Cost sharing is not required by NSF in proposals submitted to the National Science Foundation.
Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:
No indirect costs are allowed.
Other Budgetary Limitations:
NSF awards $40,500 each year to the affiliated institution to cover the GRF stipend and cost of education allowance for each
Graduate Research Fellow on Tenure at that institution. Fellows Abroad receive direct grant awards for up to the same
amount.
The Graduate Research Fellowship Program fellowship stipend currently is $30,000 for a 12-month tenure period, prorated
monthly at $2,500 for shorter periods as approved by NSF.
The cost-of-education allowance currently is $10,500 per tenure year per fellow. For Fellows Abroad, all tuition and assessed
fees are reimbursed to the Fellow up to a maximum of $10,500 per tenure year.
Fellows are eligible for a one-time $1,000 International Research Travel Allowance.

C. Due Dates
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Social Sciences; Psychology; Geosciences
November 07, 2007
Life Sciences
November 08, 2007
Engineering
November 09, 2007
Chemistry; Physics and Astronomy

D. Fastlane Requirements
Applicants are required to prepare and submit all applications for this program solicitation through the FastLane system.
Detailed instructions for application preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/
newstan.htm. For FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail fastlane@nsf.gov. The
FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system. Specific questions
related to this program solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this
solicitation.

VI. APPLICATION REVIEW INFORMATION
The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is designed to provide opportunities for pre-doctoral education that
prepares students for a broad range of disciplinary and cross-disciplinary careers through its investment in intellectual capital.
Applicants are expected to propose a holistic plan for graduate education that demonstrates the potential to successfully
complete a research-based graduate degree and the potential to become an emerging knowledge expert in science,
technology, engineering, and mathematics.
A. NSF Application Review Process
Applications will be reviewed by panels of disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists, mathematicians, and engineers and
other professional experts in graduate education. Applications will be assigned to panels based on the applicants chosen field
(s) of study and the discipline(s) represented. Thus, applicants are advised to select the fields of study in the FastLane
applicant module that are most closely aligned to the proposed graduate program of study and research plan. Applications to
interdisciplinary fields of study are reviewed by both disciplinary and interdisciplinary panelists based on the disciplines
indicated by the applicant and review of the application by the GRFP staff.
Each application, therefore, will be reviewed independently on the basis of merit using all available information in the
completed application. In considering applications, reviewers will be instructed to address the two Merit Review Criteria as
approved by the National Science Board on March 28, 1997 INTELLECTUAL MERIT and BROADER IMPACTS. Applicants,
therefore, must address each criterion in their written statements to provide reviewers with the information necessary to
respond fully to both. The following guidance is provided to interpret these requirements in the context of the Graduate
Research Fellowship Program.
Intellectual Merit
The intellectual merit criterion includes demonstrated intellectual ability and other accepted requisites for scholarly scientific
study, such as the ability (1) to plan and conduct research; (2) to work as a member of a team as well as independently; and
(3) to interpret and communicate research findings. Panelists will consider: the strength of the academic record, the proposed
plan of research, the description of previous research experience, references, Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)
General and Subject Tests scores, and the appropriateness of the choice of institution relative to the proposed plan for
graduate education and research.
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Broader Impacts
The broader impacts criterion includes contributions that (1) effectively integrate research and education at all levels, infuse
learning with the excitement of discovery, and assure that the findings and methods of research are communicated in a broad
context and to a large audience; (2) encourage diversity, broaden opportunities, and enable the participation of all citizenswomen and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities-in science and research; (3) enhance scientific
and technical understanding; and (4) benefit society. Applicants may provide characteristics of their background, including
personal, professional, and educational experiences, to indicate their potential to fulfill the broader impacts criterion.

B. Application Review and Selection Process
Applications submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Panel Review.
Please see Section A. above for a description of the review process.

VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION INFORMATION
A. Notification of the Award
Notification of the fellowship award is made to the applicant by the Division of Graduate Education. Applicants whose
applications are not selected for fellowship award will be advised as promptly as possible.

B. Award Conditions
An NSF Fellowship award consists of the award letter that includes the applicable terms and conditions and fellowship
management instructions. All Fellowship awards are made subject to the provisions (and any subsequent amendments)
contained in the document Information for Graduate Research Fellows.
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program applicants will be notified in late March 2008 of their selection. The applicant
must accept or decline the Fellowship within 30 days of notification by logging into the Graduate Research Fellowship
Program link at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/ with the applicant User ID and password. Failure to comply with the
deadline may result in revocation of the fellowship offer.
Other Opportunities for Fellowship Awardees and Honorable Mention Recipients
Fellows and Honorable Mention recipients may request cyberinfrastructure resources through the TeraGrid. Details on
resources available are described at: http://www.teragrid.org. Requests must be for cyberinfrastructure resources in support
of research undertaken toward completion of the graduate program of study.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or
equipment to enable persons with disabilities (students and faculty) to work on NSF-supported projects. Fellowship awardees
and Honorable Mention recipients with disabilities may apply for assistance by contacting grfp@nsf.gov.
Research Involving Human Subjects
Projects involving research with human subjects must ensure that subjects are protected from research risks in conformance
with the relevant federal policy known as the Common Rule (Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, 45 CFR
690). All projects involving human subjects must either (1) have approval from the organizations Institutional Review Board
(IRB) before fellowship award or (2) must affirm that the IRB or an appropriate knowledgeable authority previously
designated by the organization (not the Applicant) has declared the research exempt from IRB review, in accordance with the
applicable subsection, as established in section 101(b) of the Common Rule. Applicants and Fellows are required to comply
with this policy and adhere to the organizations protocol for managing research involving human subjects.
Proposals Involving Vertebrate Animals
Any project proposing use of vertebrate animals for research or education shall comply with the Animal Welfare Act [7 U.S.C.
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2131 et seq.] and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the Secretary of Agriculture [9 CFR 1.1-4.11] pertaining to the
humane care, handling, and treatment of vertebrate animals held or used for research, teaching or other activities supported
by Federal awards. In accordance with these requirements, proposed projects involving use of any vertebrate animal for
research or education must be approved by the submitting organization's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee
(IACUC) before an award can be made. For this approval to be accepted by NSF, the organization must have a current
Public Health Service (PHS) Approved Assurance.
Projects involving the care or use of vertebrate animals at a foreign organization or foreign field site also require approval of
research protocols by the U.S. grantees IACUC. If the project is to be funded through an award to a foreign organization or
through an individual fellowship award that will support activities at a foreign organization, NSF will require a statement of
compliance that the activities will be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws in the foreign country and that the
International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals (see http://www.cioms.ch/) will be followed.
Legal Rights to Intellectual Property
The National Science Foundation claims no rights to any inventions or writings that might result from its fellowship or
traineeship grants. However, fellows and trainees should be aware that the NSF, another Federal agency, or some private
party may acquire such rights through other support for particular research. Also, fellows and trainees should note their
obligation to include an Acknowledgment and Disclaimer in any publication.

C. Reporting Requirements
Annual Activity Report
Fellows are required to submit an Activity Report annually, regardless to tenure status, using NSFs FastLane electronic
fellowship management and reporting system. The system permits electronic submission and updating of activity reports,
including information on research accomplishments and findings, presentations, publications, teaching and research
assistantships, awards and recognitions, and other scholarly accomplishments.
Annual Tenure Declaration
Fellows must declare their intent to affiliate with an institution and to utilize the fellowship for the following year annually using
the NSF FastLane fellowship management and reporting system. Failure to declare intent by the deadline established
violates the terms and conditions for NSF fellowship awards.
Fellows Abroad
Starting Certificate: Fellows Abroad must submit the Fellowship Starting Certificate to initiate stipend payments and annually
thereafter. The Starting Certificate must indicate the contact information for the Science Advisor at the affiliated institution.
ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form: Fellows Abroad must submit the ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous
Payment Enrollment Form (SF 3881) to the Division of Financial Management at NSF in order for the U.S. Treasury
Department to transmit payment data electronically to the Fellows U.S. bank account.
Program Evaluation
The Division of Graduate Education (DGE) may conduct an on-going evaluation to determine how effectively the GRF
program is achieving its goal to respond to the nations need for a globally prepared diverse science and engineering
workforce. Additionally, it is highly desirable to have a structured means of tracking Fellows beyond graduation to gauge the
extent to which they follow a career path consistent with the intent of the program and to assess the impact the NSF
fellowship has had on their graduate education experience. Accordingly, Fellows may be contacted during and after the
completion of this award for updates on various aspects of their employment history, professional activities and
accomplishments, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the program. Fellows and affiliated institutions
should be prepared to cooperate in program-level evaluations conducted by the NSF and/or contracted evaluators.

VIII. AGENCY CONTACTS
General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:
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GRF Operations Center, telephone: 866-673-4737, email: help@nsfgradfellows.org

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:
●

FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail: fastlane@nsf.gov.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center is responsible for processing applications and responding to requests
for information. General inquiries regarding the Graduate Research Fellowship Program should be made to:
●

Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center, telephone: 866-NSF-GRFP, 866-673-4737 (toll-free from the US
and Canada) or 202-331-3542 (international). email: help@nsfgradfellows.org

IX. OTHER INFORMATION
The NSF Website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates (including contact
information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this Website by potential proposers is strongly encouraged. In
addition, MyNSF (formerly the Custom News Service)is an information-delivery system designed to keep potential proposers
and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and publications, important changes in proposal and
award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Regional Grants Conferences. Subscribers are informed through e-mail
or the user's Web browser each time new publications are issued that match their identified interests. MyNSF also is
available on NSF's Website at http://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/.
Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF
funding opportunities may be accessed via this new mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may be obtained at http://
www.grants.gov.
Many NSF programs offer announcements or solicitations concerning specific proposal requirements. To
obtain additional information about these requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices. Any
changes in NSF's fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to Programs will be
announced in the NSF E-Bulletin, which is updated daily on the NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov/home/
ebulletin, and in individual program announcements/solicitations. Subscribers can also sign up for MyNSF,
formerly the Custom News Service, at (http://www.nsf.gov/home/cns/start.htm) to be notified of new funding
opportunities that become available.
International Research Fellowship Program (NSF 06-582)
Alliances for Broadening Participation in STEM (ABEP) (NSF 07-566)
Discovery Corps Fellowships (NSF 07-516)
CEDAR, GEM, and SHINE Postdoctoral Research (NSF 06-584)
Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) (NSF 07-540)
Research Experience for Undergraduates (NSF 07-569)
Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowships and Supporting Activities (NSF 06-586)
Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education (GK-12) (NSF 07-555)

ABOUT THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
13

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency created by the National Science Foundation Act
of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress of science; [and]
to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and
engineering."
NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative
agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and
other research organizations throughout the US. The Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to
academic institutions for basic research.
NSF receives approximately 40,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects, of which
approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for graduate and
postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research Centers, user
facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research
between universities and industry, US participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and educational
activities at every academic level.
Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities provide funding for special assistance or equipment to
enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II, Section D.2 for
instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.
The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS)
capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation about NSF programs,
employment or general information. TDD may be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.
The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703) 292-5111.
The National Science Foundation promotes and advances scientific progress in the United States by competitively
awarding grants and cooperative agreements for research and education in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
To get the latest information about program deadlines, to download copies of NSF publications, and to access abstracts
of awards, visit the NSF Website at http://www.nsf.gov
●

Location:

4201 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22230

●

For General Information
(NSF Information Center):

(703) 292-5111

●

TDD (for the hearing-impaired):

(703) 292-5090

●

To Order Publications or Forms:

●

Send an e-mail to:

pubs@nsf.gov

or telephone:

(703) 292-7827

To Locate NSF Employees:

(703) 292-5111

PRIVACY ACT AND PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENTS
The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science
Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of
qualified proposals; and project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the
Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants
14

as part of the proposal review process; to proposer institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal
review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and
researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies or other entities needing
information regarding applicants or nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in order to coordinate programs
or policy; and to another Federal agency, court, or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a
party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to
serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50, "Principal Investigator/Proposal
File and Associated Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and NSF-51, "Reviewer/Proposal File and
Associated Records, " 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to
provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it
displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is
3145-0023. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 12 hours per response, including
the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of
information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:
Suzanne H. Plimpton
Reports Clearance Officer
Division of Administrative Services
National Science Foundation
Arlington, VA 22230

X. APPENDIX
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS
NSF-Supported Fields of Study
CHEMISTRY
5230 Analytical
5250 Bio-inorganic
5240 Bio-organic
5260 Biophysical
9994 Environmental
5290 Inorganic
5330 Organic
5350 Physical
5331 Polymer
5370 Theoretical
0001 Chemistry, other (specify)
COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (CISE)
0006 Artificial Intelligence (including Robotics, Computer Vision, and Human Language Processing)
7210 Computer Science - Languages and Systems
0007 Computer Science - Theoretical Foundations
7270 Computer Systems Design (including Signal Processing)
0008 Databases, Information Retrieval, and Web Search
0009 Graphics and Visualization
7260 Human Computer Interaction
7250 Information Technology and Organizations
7290 Networks and Communications
0010 Scientific Computing and Informatics
7220 Software Engineering
0012 Computer Architecture and Grids
0020 Information Security and Assurance
0001 CISE, other (specify)
0011 Operating Systems and Middleware

ENGINEERING
6210 Aeronautical and Aerospace
6240 Agricultural
6250 Bioengineering and Biomedical
6330 Chemical Engineering
6350 Civil Engineering
6388 Computer Engineering
6390 Electrical and Electronic
6741 Energy
6470 Engineering Mechanics
6532 Engineering Science
9996 Environmental
6580 Industrial Engineering
6476 Materials
6620 Mechanical
6660 Metallurgical
6740 Nuclear
6245 Ocean
6716 Petroleum
6480 Polymer
6585 Systems Engineering
0001 Engineering, other (specify)
GEOSCIENCES
5710 Aeronomy
5720 Atmospheric Chemistry
5750 Chemical Oceanography
5770 Climate Dynamics
5740 Geochemistry
5780 Geology
5800 Geophysics
5810 Hydrologic Sciences
5820 Large-scale Dynamics Meteorology
5830 Magnetospheric Physics
5840 Marine Geology and Geophysics
5850 Mesoscale Dynamic Meteorology
5870 Paleoclimate
5860 Paleontology
5880 Physical Meteorology
7799 Physical Oceanography
5890 Solar - Terrestrial
0001 Geosciences, other (specify)
LIFE SCIENCES
0399 Agriculture
0140 Agronomy
4510 Anatomy
4530 Animal Behavior
4531 Animal Science
0999 Biochemistry
1870 Biological Oceanography
1299 Biophysics
1599 Botany (including Plant Physiology)
1820 Cell Biology
1860 Computational Biology
1840 Developmental Biology
1830 Ecology
4570 Entomology
9992 Environmental Sciences
1850 Evolutionary Biology
4590 Fish and Wildlife
0250 Forestry
2499 Genetics
16

0300 Horticulture
3293 Immunology
1874 Marine Biology
3299 Microbiology
1880 Molecular Biology
1829 Neurosciences
1890 Nutrition
2970 Pharmacology
3899 Physiology
1545 Plant Pathology
4540 Soil Science
1822 Structural Biology
3290 Virology
4699 Zoology
0001 Life Sciences, other (specify)
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES
7010 Algebra or Number Theory
7030 Analysis
7050 Applications of Mathematics (including Biometrics and Biostatistics)
7110 Geometry
7130 Logic or Foundations of Mathematics
7140 Operations Research
7150 Probability and Statistics
7170 Topology
0001 Mathematics, other (specify)
PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY
4999 Astronomy
4930 Astrophysics
8040 Atomic and Molecular
8050 Condensed Matter Physics
8160 Nuclear
8180 Optics
8110 Particle Physics
8200 Physics of Fluids
8210 Plasma
8220 Solid State
8260 Theoretical Physics
0001 Physics, other (specify)
PSYCHOLOGY
4125 Cognitive
4120 Cognitive Neuroscience
0006 Computational Psychology
4130 Developmental
4150 Experimental or Comparative
4189 Industrial/Organizational
4155 Neuropsychology
4165 Perception and Psychophysics
4170 Personality and Individual Differences
0007 Psycholinguistics
4158 Physiological
4162 Quantitative
4190 Social
0001 Psychology, other (specify)
SOCIAL SCIENCES
0695 Cultural Anthropology
0694 Linguistic Anthropology
0696 Medical Anthropology
17

0697 Physical Anthropology
0610 Archaeology
0011 Cleometric History
0010 Communications
0006 Decision Making
9818 Demography
0009 Econometrics
0013 Economics (except Business Administration)
8799 Geography
9099 History of Science
9499 International Relations
0008 Law and Social Science
9299 Linguistics
9098 Philosophy of Science
9399 Political Science
9799 Public Policy
0007 Risk Analysis
0012 Science Policy
0014 Sociology (except Social Work)
9699 Urban and Regional Planning
0001 Social Sciences, other (specify)
0002 Anthropology, other (specify)
●

●

Warning: Individuals pursuing research in a policy science are eligible for funding only if they are pursuing research
oriented Master’s or Ph.D. degrees.
Warning: Research with disease-related goals is not eligible for support by NSF. Applicants in this field will be judged
ineligible if their Proposed Plan of Research has disease-related goals and/or is insufficiently focused on basic
research questions.
Warning: Clinical and counseling psychology are generally not supported in this program; applicants in this field will
be judged ineligible if their Proposed Plan of Research focuses on mental disease, abnormality or malfunction.

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File Type	application/pdf
File Title	Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) nsf07576
Author	ewright
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File Created	2007-07-30