Carefully select key studies that lead to your hypotheses, support the rationale for your methods, and underscore the importance of this work.
Copyright Robin G. Go to the Proposed Plan of Research section to find specific instructions on this essay. Now study the two official scoring criteria - intellectual merit and broader impacts.
You will have to address both criteria essay explicitly. Review several articles from the top-tier journals in your field of study. This will help you learn how to write in a scholarly fashion, as well as cue you into the terms and tone used by scholars in your discipline. Create a research plan outline. Meet with your mentor to discuss the feasibility of your concept and the proposed methods. Verify that your intended graduate program has the resources space, equipment, and supplies to support your research activities.
Confirm that your intellectual merit and broader merit are realistic for the scope of your proposed project. Tip: Ask about a reference letter too! You must include all of the required sections in this essay, and adhere to page limits, margins and font sizes! Commence writing from your outline. Begin by writing about the findings from the literature or previous studies.
Build a strong case for your research hypothesis or question. Then write about specific methods and anticipated results.
Next, address intellectual merit and broader impacts. Finally, write your introductory paragraph. It is far easier to do this last, because the details of your plan are complete. Your introductory paragraph must be powerful and compel the reviewers to read more about your research.
Tip: Write freely for now — you can pare it down to the 2 page limit later. When you are finished, re-read the entire plan. Ask yourself: Does it sound scholarly? Are the methods clear? Did I follow the directions exactly and include all of the required sections? Have I been selective with my citations? Analyze your writing. Take the draft plan to your mentor and statistician, if appropriate. Ask: Is the writing clear? Are my methods sound and appropriate to the hypothesis or research question?
Do I sound definitive? How can I improve the plan? Tip: Allow plenty of turn-around time for your mentor or statistician to review the plan and provide feedback usually weeks. Based on the feedback you receive, make revisions.
Strive for a high degree of clarity and conviction in your writing style. Be specific and succinct! The reviewer must conclude that you are fully prepared to conduct this research, and that your future mentor and graduate institution have resources to support you. Tip: Avoid repetition with your Personal Statement and Previous Research essays, but make certain that they effectively work together to demonstrate your intellectual merit and broader impacts.
For example, in your research plan, you can note that your research is based on your previous work and that you are properly trained to perform XYZ procedure or use XZY equipment. Rather than repeat details, use a parenthetical cross reference such as: see Previous Research Experience. NSF priorities and strategic plan. NSF paper on broader impacts. NSF page on transformative research. US graduate students should have the opportunity to take advantage of expertise, facilities, data, and field sites located abroad; to develop an international network of collaborators early in their career; to address problems of a global nature that require international cooperation; and to be prepared to operate successfully in international teams as they join the US science and engineering workforce.
Therefore, applicants must address explicitly each criterion in their written statements in order to provide reviewers with the information necessary to evaluate the application with respect to both Criteria as detailed below.
How well qualified is the proposer individual or team to conduct the project? If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of prior work. To what extent does What is the the proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?
Is there sufficient access to resources? How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups e. To what extent will it enhance the What are the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological broader understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society? In powerful sentences, state the nature of the specific, researchable problem you intend to address include your overarching aim and specific research questions or hypothesis.
If your work is part of a team, interdisciplinary or international effort, summarize your specific role in sentences. Preparedness: In one sentence, summarize how your previous experiences have prepared you with the necessary knowledge and skills to undertake this study.
Your Previous Research essay will provide the details. Literature Review: List key findings from the literature that demonstrate the scope of the problem you intend to address. If your research is interdisciplinary, include references from more than one discipline. If possible, use nationally known researchers in the area s of study. Preliminary Work. State your specific role in previous work, especially for collaborative, team, interdisciplinary or international work.
Include your findings, even if preliminary or inconclusive. Citations from related previous or preliminary work. Tip: If you have published or presented on research that is related to this plan, or if you have related publications under development, you should include them.
If the citation s for your own work are in the Previous Research essay, be sure to remind the reader of that point. Walker, PhD - updated Hypotheses or Research Questions. In the first column of the table below, list hypotheses or specific research questions you intend to address.
Each should be one sentence long. Research Plan IV A. Next, for each hypothesis or question, list how you will collect and analyze data. Note if your future program has the lab space, equipment and supplies e. Be sure that your methods are appropriate for the corresponding hypothesis or research questions! Hypotheses or IV A. Research Plan -- continued. Answer each of the following questions: IV. How long will it take you to conduct this study and analyze the findings?
Knowing that every study has potential barriers or limitations, what is your contingency plan if things go wrong unexpected results midway in the study?
Anticipated Results or Findings. In sentences, specifically state what you expect to find. Intellectual Merit In sentences, restate the magnitude of the problem and why this research is necessary. In one sentence, explain how your research findings will fill a gap in the literature or advance discovery. Is this research potentially transformative? Broader Impacts. In sentences, describe the potential outcomes of this research. Who will benefit -- and how?
How will you assure that the public has access and can understand your findings? Summarize how you will communicate your research findings to the scientific community within and across disciplines. If your work will help lead to enhanced the infrastructure for research and education e.
How will you pursue this research strand as part of your long range career goals? Where might this research lead — including interdisciplinary study? Key Words: Similar to what you have seen in journal articles, NSF wants you to list several descriptors that best describe or categorize your study. Think about it this way: In the future, if someone uses a search engine to find your study, what words should they enter?
Keyword are added to the top of your essay. For questions concerning these guidelines, contact the Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center, , international , or info nsfgrfp. Applications must be received by 8 p. Eastern Standard Time. Applications received after the Field of Study deadline date and time will be returned without review. Applicants must first register as a FastLane user at that web site. Three reference letters must be submitted electronically by the reference writers through the FastLane GRFP Application Module and must be received by the reference letter deadline of November 6, , by 8 p.
If three reference letters are not received by the reference letter deadline and time, the application will be returned without review. Applicants should not send extraneous information or materials such as CDs, manuscripts, resumes, medical reports, or news clippings.
These items will not be reviewed with an application. No additional information may be provided by links to web pages within the application, except as part of citations in the References Cited section. Images may be included in the page limits. Review of the application and reference letters is based solely on materials received by the application and reference letter deadlines. Applicants must follow the instructions in the FastLane GRFP Application Module, including the instructions found at the "Applicant Help" link in the Module, for completing each section of the application.
The statements must be written using the following guidelines:. The maximum length of the Graduate Research Plan Statement is two pages. These page limits include all references, citations, charts, figures, images, and lists of publications and presentations. The Eligibility Statement for applicants who have completed more than 12 months of graduate study and meet the extenuating circumstance requirement is limited to one page.
Required transcripts include academic transcripts from the baccalaureate institution and transcripts for all graduate work with a start date prior to the Fall term. Applicants are encouraged to redact personally identifiable information date of birth, social security number from the transcripts before uploading. For current institutions with a Fall start date, applicants should upload an unofficial transcript, enrollment verification form, course schedule or similar document, showing in-progress courses.
If the transcript does not document the joint program, applicants must upload a letter from the registrar of the institution certifying enrollment in a joint program, appended to the transcript for that institution.
Failure to provide clear documentation of a joint program may result in an application being returned without review. Failure to comply fully with these requirements will result in the application being returned without review. Eastern Standard Time on the Field of Study application deadline will be returned without review. Applicants are advised to submit applications early to avoid unanticipated delays on the deadline dates.
Note that applications must be received by 8 p. Eastern Standard Time on the Field of Study application deadline dates. Three Reference Letters must be received by November 6 by 8 p. Eastern Time. Applications must include three reference letters from non-family members, received by November 6, by 8 p. Eastern Time, to be eligible for review. Applications must have three reference letters by the reference letter deadline in order to be complete and eligible for review.
Reference writers should use letterhead and include the following information: name and title of reference writer, department, and institution or organization. It should include details explaining the nature of the relationship to the applicant, comments on the applicant's potential for contributing to a globally- engaged United States science and engineering workforce, 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.
Applicants should ask reference writers well in advance of the reference writer deadline, and it is recommended they provide copies of their application materials to the writers. The status function indicates whether the application and reference letters have been received.
Applicants are strongly encouraged to make use of this feature to ensure all application materials, including three reference letters, have been received before the deadlines. Applicants must use the FastLane user ID and password to access this information.
NSF welcomes applications for interdisciplinary programs of study and research. Facilitating interdisciplinary research. National Academies. Washington: National Academy Press, p. Applicants must indicate the relative effort for each field of study represented in their application.
Applications must be received by the deadline for the primary field of study designated on the application. Fastlane Requirements Applicants are required to prepare and submit all applications for this program solicitation through 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.
Applications will be reviewed online by virtual panels of disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists and engineers and other professional graduate education experts. Panels will review applications from broad areas of related disciplines. Applicants are reviewed in panels based on their selection of a primary Field of Study see Fields of Study in Appendix.
Selection of a primary Field of Study determines the application deadline and the panel that will review the application. Thus, applicants are advised to select the Field of Study in the FastLane GRFP Application module see Fields of Study in Appendix that is most closely aligned with the proposed graduate program of study and research plan.
Each application will be reviewed independently in accordance with the NSF Merit Review Criteria using all available information in the completed application. Therefore, applicants must include separate statements on Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts in their written statements in order to provide reviewers with the information necessary to evaluate the application with respect to both Criteria as detailed below. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities.
The two merit review criteria are listed below. Both criteria are to be given full consideration during the review and decision-making processes; each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is sufficient. Therefore, proposers must fully address both criteria.
When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will be asked to consider what the proposers want to do, why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits could accrue if the project is successful. These issues apply both to the technical aspects of the proposal and the way in which the project may make broader contributions.
To that end, reviewers will be asked to evaluate all proposals against two criteria:. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields Intellectual Merit ; and. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts? 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?
How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities? Are there adequate resources available to the PI either at the home organization or through collaborations to carry out the proposed activities? Broader impacts may be accomplished through the research itself, through the activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project.
NSF values the advancement of scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to achievement of societally relevant outcomes. Such outcomes include, but are not limited to: full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics STEM ; improved STEM education and educator development at any level; increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology; improved well-being of individuals in society; development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce; increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others; improved national security; increased economic competitiveness of the US; and enhanced infrastructure for research and education.
Panelists may consider the following with respect to the Broader Impacts Criterion : the potential of the applicant for future broader impacts as indicated by personal experiences, professional experiences, educational experiences and future plans. A below. The awardee institution is responsible for financial management of the award and disbursement of Fellowship funds to the individual Fellow.
The institution will administer the awards, including any amendments, in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and provisions and any subsequent amendments contained in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials. Fellows are required to submit annual activity reports and to declare fellowship status by the deadline specified in the notification sent by email each year.
Additional reporting requirements are presented in Section VII. C of this solicitation. 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 underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans.
GRFP is a critical program in NSF's overall strategy to develop the globally-engaged workforce necessary to ensure the Nation's leadership in advancing science and engineering research and innovation. The ranks of NSF Fellows include numerous individuals who have made transformative breakthrough discoveries in science and engineering, become leaders in their chosen careers, and been honored as Nobel laureates.
GRFP supports individuals proposing a comprehensive plan for graduate education that takes individual interests and competencies into consideration. The plan describes the academic achievements, attributes, and experiences that illustrate the applicant's demonstrated potential for significant research achievements.
The applicant must provide a detailed profile of their relevant education, research experience, and plans for graduate education that demonstrates this potential. Prospective applicants are advised that submission of an application implies their intent to pursue graduate study in a research-based program in STEM or STEM education at an accredited, non-profit institution of higher education having a campus located in the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
All applicants are expected to either have adequate preparation to enroll in a research-based master's or doctoral program, or be enrolled in such a program by fall of the year the Fellowship is accepted. From the date of the Fellowship Start through Completion or Termination of the Fellowship, applicants accepting the award Fellows must be enrolled in an accredited graduate degree-granting institution of higher education having a campus located in the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.
Fellowship funding will be for a maximum of three years of financial support in month allocations, starting in summer or fall usable over a five-year fellowship period.
The anticipated announcement date for the Fellowship awards is early April each year. The awardee institution is responsible for disbursement of fellowship funds to the Fellow. During receipt of the fellowship support, the institution is required to exempt Fellows from paying tuition and fees normally charged to students of similar academic standing, unless such charges are optional or are refundable i.
This is considered a significant national academic achievement. Described in detail below are the eligibility requirements for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program: 1 citizenship, 2 degree requirements, and 3 field of study, degree programs, and proposed research. Applicants are strongly advised to read the entire program solicitation carefully to ensure that they understand all the requirements. Applicants must self-certify that they intend to pursue or are pursuing a research-based graduate degree in an eligible field of study and that they meet all eligibility criteria.
Applicants must be United States citizens, nationals, or permanent residents of the United States by the application deadline. The term "national" designates a native resident of a commonwealth or territory of the United States, such as American Samoa.
It does not refer to a citizen of another country who has applied for United States citizenship and who has not received U. Applicants are eligible to apply: 1 as undergraduates or bachelor's degree holders who have never enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program, and who will be prepared to attend graduate school in fall of the award year; or 2 as graduate students who have not completed more than one academic year of a graduate program in an eligible field of study see Appendix.
Fellowships are awarded for graduate study leading to research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics STEM or in STEM education, in eligible Fields of Study listed in the Appendix.
If awarded, Fellows must enroll in a graduate degree program consistent with the Major Field of Study proposed in their application. 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. Joint or combined professional degree-science programs e. Individuals enrolled in a graduate degree program while on a leave of absence from a professional degree program or professional degree-graduate degree joint program are not eligible.
Individuals are not eligible to apply if they will be enrolled in graduate study focused on clinical practice, counseling, social work, patient-oriented research, epidemiological and medical behavioral studies, outcomes research, and health services research. Ineligible study includes pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and behavioral interventions for disease or disorder prevention, prophylaxis, diagnosis, therapy, or treatment.
Research to provide evidence leading to a scientific basis for consideration of a change in health policy or standard of care is not eligible. Graduate study focused on community, public, or global health, or other population-based research including medical intervention trials is also not eligible.
Research activities using animal models of disease, for developing or testing of drugs or other procedures for treatment of disease or disorder are not eligible. Research focused on basic questions in plant pathology are eligible, however, applied studies focused on maximizing production in agricultural plants or impacts on food safety, are not eligible. Certain areas of bioengineering research directed at medical use are eligible.
These include research projects in bioengineering to aid persons with disabilities, or to diagnose or treat human disease or disorder, provided they apply engineering principles to problems in medicine while primarily advancing engineering knowledge. Applicants planning to study and conduct research in these areas of bioengineering should select biomedical engineering as the field of study. Certain areas of materials research directed at development of materials for use in biological or biomedical systems are eligible, provided they are focused on furthering fundamental materials research.
The Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center is responsible for responding to questions about the program. For questions concerning eligibility and fields of study, contact the Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center, , international , or info nsfgrfp. Applicants must first register as a Research.
Applications must be received by p. Applications received after the Field of Study deadline will be returned without review. Due Dates of this Solicitation , by p. Two reference letters are required for applications to be reviewed. Applicants must list a minimum of three and up to five potential reference letter writers. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide three reference letters.
If fewer than two reference letters one or none are received by the reference letter deadline, the application will be returned without review. No additional items or information will be accepted or reviewed. Do not provide links to web pages within the application, except as part of citations in the References Cited section. Images must be included in the page limits. Review of the application and reference letters is based solely on materials received by the application and reference letter deadlines.
No materials will be accepted via email. Applicants must follow the instructions in the GRFP Application Module for completing each section of the application. The statements must be written using the following guidelines:. Applicants are strongly encouraged to proofread and upload their documents early to ensure they are format-compliant, and that non-compliant documents do not delay upload of the complete application for receipt by the deadline. Applications that are not compliant with these format requirements will be returned without review.
These page limits include all references, citations, charts, figures, images, and lists of publications and presentations. Applicants must certify that the two statements Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement, and Graduate Research Plan Statement in the application are their own original work.
The responsibility for proper scholarship and attribution rests with the authors of a proposal; all parts of the proposal should be prepared with equal care for this concern. Authors other than the PI or any co-PI should be named and acknowledged. Serious failure to adhere to such standards can result in findings of research misconduct.
Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts must be addressed individually under separate headings in both Personal and Research Plan statements to provide reviewers with the information necessary to evaluate the application with respect to both Criteria. Applications in which Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts are not addressed separately under separate headings will be returned without review. In the application, applicants must list their baccalaureate institution, and all graduate institutions attended with a start date prior to the fall term in which the application is submitted.
Transcripts are required for all degree-granting programs listed. Transcripts may be included for all other institutions listed in the Education section. Applicants should redact personally-identifiable information date of birth, individual Social Security Numbers, personal financial information, home addresses, home telephone numbers and personal email addresses from the transcripts before uploading.
Applicants who earned master's degrees in joint bachelor's-master's degree programs should submit transcripts that clearly document the joint program.
If the transcript does not document the joint program, applicants must upload a letter from the registrar of the institution certifying enrollment in a joint program, appended to the transcript for that institution. Failure to provide clear documentation of a joint program may result in an application being returned without review.
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