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.
Basic Research Focus
Basic research is primarily experimental or theoretical work (Moris, "Definitions of Research and Development," 2018.)
- The proposed work should be novel, creative, uncertain in its outcome, systematic, transferable, and/or reproducible.
- Emphasize discovery of new knowledge and techniques and contributions to the scholarly literature of the field.
- De-emphasize potential applications by placing them near the end, in the Broader Impacts section.
Consult a faculty member or research mentor for guidance on research topics and methods, and selection of Major Fields of Study and subfields.
Funding Priorities
NSF funds outstanding graduate research fellowship applications in all areas of science and engineering supported by the agency.
NSF Focus Areas NSF’s 10 Big Ideas
Ineligible Areas of Study
- Health-focused and patient-oriented research
- Clinical, counseling, or social work research
- Interventions for disease or disorder prevention, diagnosis, therapy or treatment (except biomedical engineering projects)
- Agricultural plant production or impacts on food safety
Merit Review Criteria
Intellectual Merit
The potential for the project and the researcher to advance basic research knowledge, deepening understanding of broad theoretical frameworks.
Graduate Research Statement: Use the introduction to ground the project in a literature review and identify a knowledge gap in the field. In a subsection entitled Intellectual Merit, articulate how your project advances creative, original and potentially transformative concepts in your field.
Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement: In a subsection entitled Intellectual Merit, narrate the development of your unique perspective and skills as a scientist, providing specific evidence of talent, expertise, and competency (including but not limited to research achievements, presentations and publications).
Broader Impacts
The potential for the project and the researcher to benefit society through expanding public awareness of science and contributing to social, educational, economic, infrastructural, or technological improvements.
Graduate Research Statement: In a subsection entitled Broader Impacts, briefly summarize the applications of your project to real-world problems.
Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement: In a subsection entitled Broader Impacts, describe your plans to promote scientific literacy and participation in the scientific community, whether through outreach, mentoring and training, diversity initiatives, or public engagement.
Need some examples? Check out the Office of Research and Economic Development's guide for Broader Impacts (designed for faculty but useful to students). They even have a Partner Database to help researchers establish Broader Impacts connections on campus or in the community.
Past Winning Applications
Analyze NSF applications in your field to understand genre conventions and gain strategic insight. Ask yourself:
How did the applicant interpret the two merit review criteria, Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts?
What motivates the applicant to move forward in a particular direction? Can you identify a driving question or theme? A desire for a specific impact on the field?
How does the Graduate Research Statement fit with what I already know about the scientific method and genre conventions for a research proposal?
In the Personal, Relevant Background, and Future Goals Statement, what is the linkage between the applicant's experiences, current work, and future goals?
Please note: Alex Lang's archive of past winning applications is an external, volunteer-run website. The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, the Office of Undergraduate Research & Fellowships, and the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program do not take responsibility for its content.
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University of Nebraska-Lincoln students shine in the Graduate Research Fellowship competition. In 2023, we had 5 graduating senior recipients.
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Read stories from "NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program: Launching science and engineering careers since 1952."
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Applications are accepted each year from mid-July to mid-October.
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