Tuesday, October 8, 2013

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program information sessions

The Graduate School Office of Fellowships and Awards will offer the following information sessions this week:

Webinar:   Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2013 from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. Register at: https://www3.gotomeeting.com/register/434776046
In person:  Thursday, Oct. 10, 2013, 10:30-11:30 a.m., Undergraduate Scholarship Fair Fair, Mary Gates Hall room 171E
In person:  Friday, Oct. 11, 2013, 3:30-4:30 p.m., Loew Hall room 101

NSF’s GRFP is one of the premier opportunities to fund your graduate study.  It provides 3 years of funding that you can use in a 5 year time frame.  This includes a $30,000 annual stipend and full cost of tuition/fees covered.  For UW graduate students, GAIP health insurance is also covered.

While there may be an assumption this funding would be only for the “usual suspects” (e.g., life sciences, engineering, math, etc.), there are a surprising number of social science disciplines included in the eligibility list, including STEM education, Political Science, Public Policy, Communication, Anthropology, History, and Sociology.    We encourage students who have a scientific focus in their research to look into this fellowship.

Seniors who are planning to attend graduate school can apply now and take the funding with them to whatever school they attend.

The information session will cover the application process, strategies for successful applications and more details regarding how the fellowship operates.  Application deadlines range from November 4-8, 2013.  Students should start their applications now.

Basic eligibility criteria:

  • research in an eligible NSF research area (includes several of the social sciences)
  • US citizens or permanent residents by the application deadline
  • students in their first year of graduate study or at the beginning of their second year of graduate study (with some limitations)
  • students who have not earned a previous graduate degree
  • graduating senior undergraduates who plan to apply to and begin graduate student by next fall

Full eligibility information is detailed in the program solicitation.

Due the federal government shutdown, the NSF websites are not currently available.  A copy of the current solicitation for applications can be requested from the Office of Fellowships and Awards at gradappt@uw.edu