nsf graduate research fellowships

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program 

The nsf graduate research fellowship program supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master’s or doctoral degrees in stem — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or in stem education..

This support includes an annual stipend and a cost-of-education allowance towards tuition and fees.

The overall goal of the Graduate Research Fellowship Program is to recruit individuals into Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields; to select, recognize, and financially support individuals who have demonstrated the potential to be high achieving scientists and engineers, early in their careers; and to broaden participation in science and engineering of underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans. NSF Fellows are anticipated to become experts whose work contributed significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering.

MIT is proud to have over 650 students participating in the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP).

Fall 2024 Webinars

NSF GRFP Presentation – Prospective and Applying Fellows

• Wed, September 11th 12pm
• Thurs, September 19th, 12pm

Writing Workshop with the WCC

• Tues, September 24th, 4:30-6pm (register for in person workshop!)

NSF GRFP Presentation – Current and Incoming Fellows

• Wed, September 25th, 12pm

Application process

For more information, please see the NSF GRFP website for submission requirements, formatting, and links to the application modules. Please review the solicitation document as well as their website to make sure you adhere to  guidelines and requirements.

Please find the most recent NSF GRFP administrative guide here (released May 17, 2024).

Eligibility

Review NSF GRFP Program Solicitation and take the NSF GRFP Eligibility Questionnaire .

When applying for NSF GRFP, please note the major field of study you select must align with the name of your home department at MIT. We have created a chart of all the home departments at MIT and have provided a suggested selection of NSF GRFP major field(s) for each department. 

Please review our chart before your starting application .

If you intend to select a major field of study that falls outside of what we suggest, please email  [email protected]  to discuss prior to submitting your NSF GRFP application.

Late July / August – Program solicitation (released July 12, 2024) and application available online.

Attention: Reference Letters are due before the application deadline. 

October 11, 2024 5PM (Friday), EASTERN TIME – Reference Letter Submission Deadline

October – Deadlines vary by major field of study, and are typically in mid to late October. Expand the accordion below for 2024 deadlines.

Application deadlines by major field of study for 2024 application cycle

Applications are due at 5pm at your mailing address

October 15 (Tues):

• Geosciences
• Mathematical Sciences
• Physics and Astronomy

October 16 (Weds)

• Life Sciences

October 17 (Thur)

• Engineering

October 18 (Fri):

• Computer and Information Science and Engineering
• Materials Research
• Social Sciences
• STEM Education and Learning Research

November 15 (Fri)

• Application Withdrawal deadline

April – Awards announced in early April.

May – Fellowship acceptance deadline in early May.

*Review dates on the NSF GRFP website carefully; there are different deadlines for different fields of study.

Funding at MIT

Please find the most recent NSF’s administrative guide here (released May 17, 2024). Five-year fellowship, with three of the years (“On Tenure” status) providing the following:

• $37,000 stipend
• $16,000 cost-of-education (COE) allowance (tuition award)
• Your university supplements all shortfalls for tuition, stipend, health insurance, and mandatory fees.

The student is responsible for securing funding for the remaining two years (“On Reserve” status).

MIT’s fellowships team has created a MIT’s guidelines document to answer fellows’ and applicants’ questions and to layout the various procedures and policies of MIT and NSF.

Updated August 2024.

2023 Webinars (TBA)

NSF GRFP at MIT Fall 2023 Webinar – Slides * and panopto recording .

*You will need to have an MIT google account to access the slides – please find  more information here . 

The fellowship team’s August 2023 Newsflash and September 2023 Newsflash includes information on this year’s NSF GRFP solicitation, application timeline, resources to prepare your essays, and other things to note.

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Graduate School

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP)

Each year Princeton graduate students across diverse fields of study are selected for the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

The NSF GRFP is a five-year award which provides three years of funding. This offers flexibility, enabling fellows to select funding periods and status options aligned to their research, teaching, and professional development goals. 

• Duration: 36 months of funding. Fellows may elect an on reserve (non-funded) status for two of the five years. 
• Tenure: Each fellowship year is 12 months and is defined by NSF as beginning either summer or fall. Summer tenure is effective June 1 to May 31, and fall tenure is effective August 1 to July 31.
• Amount awarded: Each 12-month fellowship year provides a $37,000 stipend for the student and a $12,000 Cost of Education (COE) allowance awarded to the institution. These funds are remitted to and administered by Princeton. The Graduate School provides full tuition for GRFP awardees while on funding from the NSF Fellowship.
• Important guidance:  The GRFP offers key information to assist Fellows in understanding the benefits and requirements of the award in the current Administrative Guide . 

NSF GRFP Coordination with University Funding

During each year of NSF funding, GRFP awardees receive coverage for full tuition and University Fellowship stipend to bring them up to the standard University Fellowship rate. In addition, they are eligible to elect coordination of Princeton funding up to a higher stipend rate ($5,000 above the standard rate) or to remain at the standard rate and save 12-months of banked University support to be used in their first year of DCE status, if needed.

During each year of NSF funding, GRFP awardees receive coverage for full tuition and University or department support to bring them up to the standard department rate. In addition, the Graduate School provides a stipend supplement of $4,000 to awardees as a lump sum in August in each year that the fellowship is used.

Students who hold a Centennial, Wu, or Upton fellowship, all of which provide a premium above the standard academic year stipend, receive that supplement on top of NSF support. In Divisions III and IV, during years of active NSF GRFP funding, the supplement is provided in a lump sum in August rather than over the 10-month academic year. This replaces the Graduate School stipend supplement referenced above.

NSF GRFP Reporting

• Accept or decline and declare status: New awardees are required to accept or decline awards in the NSF Research.gov portal by the deadline (set at April 28th in 2023) and submit their status declarations (on tenure or on reserve) for the coming 12-month fellowship year. Incoming students awarded the GRFP are able to elect on reserve status in order to fully utilize the university fellowship offered in the first-year of study.
• If selecting tenure status, new Fellows must choose a Fall Start: Fall GRFP funding is effective August 1 - July 31. 
• Complete the Graduate School External Fellowship Form: All students with new external fellowship support are required to complete this form, which includes information on one’s fellowship plans. Award letters or documentation must also be uploaded to ensure full coordination of University support.
• Share plans during spring reenrollment: Awardees are asked to share their anticipated NSF GRFP plans for the coming academic year during the University reenrollment process in the spring.
• The Annual Activities Report
• The signed Academic / Research Adviser Confirmation Form 
• If selecting tenure status, choose between a Summer and Fall Start: Summer GRFP funding is effective June 1 - May 31. Fall is effective August 1 - July 31. You may wish to consider anticipated timing for degree completion and any plans for full-time summer internships when evaluating these options. 
• Share plans during spring reenrollment: Continuing fellows must report NSF GRFP plans for the coming academic year during the University reenrollment process in the spring.

GRFP Tenure Planning Considerations

Incoming students awarded the GRFP have the option to elect to be on reserve in their first year of study so that they can retain their First Year Fellowship in Natural Sciences and Engineering. By electing on reserve status as a first-year student, they will then be able to use three full years of GRFP funding in subsequent years of study.

An important consideration is plans for teaching, as students with external fellowships may teach no more than 3.0 hours per term (6.0 hours in an academic year). Should the department have a teaching requirement that demands an assignment greater than what is allowed while on fellowship, the teaching requirement should be completed during a reserve year. The department’s Graduate Program Administrator (GPA) can provide additional guidance regarding the typical schedule for teaching among students with the NSF GRFP.

Students planning a full-time internship or an external opportunity which will provide salary for work exceeding an average of 10 hours per week over the course of a term should consider declaring on reserve status. If accepting a full-time paid internship while on tenure, awardees are required to forfeit the NSF GRFP Fellowship stipend during the period of internship per the updated NSF GRFP Administrative Guide effective March 28, 2023 . 

The NSF GRFP does not offer funding for scientific travel at this time. The GRFP GROW program for international travel is no longer active.

The NSF offers funding for a range of other programs which may include scientific travel. Explore these options here:

• NSF Funding for Graduate Students
• Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE)  

A range of resources for scholarly travel can be found here: Student Activity Funding | Graduate School (princeton.edu) .

• The Graduate School offers funding for students presenting at academic conferences through The Dean’s Fund for Scholarly Travel . Please see the link for information on the program eligibility and application deadlines.
• Additional university funding for research and travel is available in SAFE, the link to which is on the same page in the right side navigation.

Related Article

• Acknowledgement of NSF Grant Number for NSF GRFP Awardees: KB0013612
• NSF Administrative Guide for Fellows
• External Fellowship Policy

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

With one successful application, you could expand your career options, earn $159,000 towards your graduate education and realize your dreams of becoming an accomplished social scientist, psychologist, scientist, STEM educator or engineer.

What is the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program?

The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (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 $37,000 and a cost of education allowance of $16,000 to the institution.

NSF GRFP in a nutshell (Infographic)   See this year's winners

What are the benefits of a GRFP Fellowship?

• Five-year fellowship period with three years of financial support
• Annual stipend of $37,000
• Cost-of-education allowance of $16,000 to the institution
• No post-graduate study service requirement
• Access to supplemental funding to sustain research while on medical deferral (e.g. family leave)

Who is eligible?

GRFP welcomes applications from individuals who are pursuing full-time research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM Education and who meet the eligibility requirements. First and second-year graduate students are also welcome to apply, meaning students may apply up to three years in a row for funding.

Determine if you are eligible with Fellowship eligibility questionnaire

We want to help you prepare a competitive application.

The Graduate School and the Graduate Student Association are co-sponsoring a workshop on the NSF GRFP application process.

This in-person workshop will be held Friday, September 6, 2024 from 12 to 1:15 p.m. in MIKC 107. Pizza will be served! 

The deadline for submitting the RSVP is 5 p.m., Wednesday, September 4, 2024. 

Soon after submitting an RSVP a confirmation email will be sent.

RSVP for GRFP workshop now

Workshop overview

The workshop will provide an overview of the GRFP application process, as well as a panel discussion by faculty who have served as GRFP panel reviewers and University students who have recently received NSF GRFP awards. A synopsis of the program is provided at the end of this email. To be eligible to receive one of these awards, you must be a US citizen or permanent resident by the application deadline.   

By attending the workshop , you will also receive access to supporting materials, such as examples of successful applications and tips on strengthening both the intellectual merit and broader impacts components of your application. In addition, if you are able to provide a complete draft of your application, the Office of Research and Innovation will provide expert reviews of your application in time for you to make revisions prior to the application deadline.

Please give serious consideration to attending the workshop and submitting a NSF GRFP application. The reputation of the GRFP follows recipients and often helps them become life-long leaders that contribute significantly to both scientific innovation and teaching. Past fellows include numerous Nobel Prize winners, former U.S. Secretary of Energy, Steven Chu, Google founder, Sergey Brin and Freakonomics co-author, Steven Levitt.

More information about the GRFP and application process

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based masters and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. NSF especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, persons with disabilities, veterans, and undergraduate seniors to apply.  

Application deadlines are listed on the NSF website.

Major fields of study

Note: Applications are reviewed based on the selection of a Major Field of Study. As an example, Chemistry is a Major Field of Study, and Chemical Catalysis is a subfield under Chemistry .

NSF GRFP website

Chemistry category

• Artificial Intelligence
• Chemical Catalysis
• Chemical Measurement and Imaging
• Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism
• Chemical Synthesis
• Chemical Theory, Models and Computational Methods
• Chemistry of Life Processes
• Computationally Intensive Research
• Environmental Chemical Systems
• Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry
• Quantum Information Science
• Sustainable Chemistry
• Other (specify)
• Computer and Information Sciences & Engineering category
• Algorithms and Theoretical Foundations
• Bioinformatics and other Informatics
• Communication and Information Theory
• Computational Science and Engineering
• Computer Architecture
• Computer Networks
• Computer Security and Privacy
• Computer Systems and Embedded Systems
• Data Mining and Information Retrieval
• Data Science
• Formal Methods, Verification, and Programming Languages
• Graphics and Visualization
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Machine Learning
• Natural Language Processing
• Quantum Computing and Communication
• Robotics and Computer Vision
• Software Engineering

Engineering category

• Aeronautical and Aerospace Engineering
• Bioengineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• Energy Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Industrial Engineering & Operations Research
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Materials Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Nuclear Engineering
• Ocean Engineering
• Optical Engineering
• Quantum Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Wireless Engineering

Geosciences category

• Atmospheric Chemistry
• Biogeochemistry
• Biological Oceanography
• Chemical Oceanography
• Climate and Large-Scale Atmospheric Dynamics
• Geochemistry
• Geodynamics
• Geomorphology
• Magnetospheric Physics
• Marine Biology
• Marine Geology and Geophysics
• Paleoclimate
• Paleontology and Paleobiology
• Physical and Dynamic Meteorology
• Physical Oceanography
• Sedimentary Geology
• Solar Physics

Life Sciences category

• Biochemistry
• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
• Cell Biology
• Developmental Biology
• Environmental Biology
• Evolutionary Biology
• Microbial Biology
• Neurosciences
• Organismal Biology
• Structural Biology
• Systematics and Biodiversity
• Systems and Molecular Biology

Materials Research category

• Biomaterials
• Chemistry of Materials
• Electronic Materials
• Materials Theory
• Metallic Materials
• Photonic Materials
• Physics of Materials

Mathematical Sciences category

• Algebra, Number Theory, and Combinatorics
• Applied Mathematics
• Biostatistics
• Computational and Data-Enabled Science
• Computational Mathematics
• Computational Statistics
• Geometric Analysis
• Logic or Foundations of Mathematics
• Mathematical Biology
• Probability

Physics & Astronomy category

• Astronomy and Astrophysics
• Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Nuclear Physics
• Particle Physics
• Physics of Living Systems
• Plasma Physics
• Solid State Physics
• Theoretical Physics

Psychology category

• Cognitive Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Comparative Psychology
• Computational Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Neuropsychology
• Perception and Psychophysics
• Personality and Individual Differences
• Physiological Psychology
• Psycholinguistics
• Quantitative Psychology
• Social/Affective Neuroscience
• Social Psychology

Social Sciences category

•  Anthropology, other (specify)
• Archaeology
• Biological Anthropology
• Communications
• Cultural Anthropology
• Decision Making and Risk Analysis
• History and Philosophy of Science
• International Relations
• Law and Social Science
• Linguistic Anthropology
• Linguistics
• Medical Anthropology
• Political Science
• Public Policy
• Science Policy
• Urban and Regional Planning

STEM Education and Learning Research category

• Engineering Education
• Mathematics Education
• Science Education
• Technology Education

See the University's 2022 Fellows

Elijah Boardman

Hydrology doctoral student

Jessica Buelow

Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology doctoral student

Ryan Pierce Coulter

Mechanical Engineering doctoral student

Natural Resources & Environmental Science doctoral student

Lily Raymond

Jordan Zabrecky

Natural Resources and Environmental Science doctoral student

Sure, our GRFP fellows are contributing in big ways to their respective fields through their research, but they are also helping to educate and inspire the next generation of scholars. They teach labs and classes, present posters and papers, and mentor up-and-coming undergraduate and master's students.

Learn more about our most recent GRFP Fellows

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

• Student Stories
• For Faculty
• Fulbright Week 2024
• Research Symposium
• Humanities Research Scholars Program
• Laidlaw Scholarship
• How to Apply
• MMUF Fellows and Alumni
• Current Rabi Scholars
• Publications
• Rabi Faculty Committee
• Current Science Research Fellows
• C.P. Davis Scholars
• Egleston Scholars
• Program for Academic Leadership and Service (PALS)
• Research Ambassadors and Peer Advisors
• Help & Advice

Up to three years of financial support for students pursuing doctoral studies in science, engineering, mathematics and social sciences

National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships (NSF GRFP) recognize and support outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited U.S. institutions. Supported fields also include many social science disciplines, such as Psychology, International Relations, Economics, Sociology, Public Policy, and many more . Fellows benefit from a generous three-year annual living stipend of along with an allowance for tuition and fees, opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education they choose.

NSF Fellows are expected to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. Applications will be reviewed by panels of disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists, mathematicians, engineers, and other professional experts in graduate education. Each application is reviewed independently on the basis of merit using all available information in the completed application, paying special attention to both intellectual merit and broader impact review criteria.

A video presentation on details of the program, and the application process, is available and may be downloaded in PDF format . Please see the GRFP Solicitation NSF 20-587 for more details on the program.

Important Changes to the 2023 Application

• Currently enrolled second-year graduate students are strongly advised to provide official Registrar-issued transcripts as part of their application.
• Reference letter writers must use the Research.gov/GRFP site ( https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do ) to register in Research.gov and submit reference letters through the Reference Letter System. Reference letters are due October 27 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).
• Applicants and reference letter writers requiring accessibility accommodation are asked to notify the GRF Operations Center at least four weeks before the deadline to coordinate assistance with NSF in submitting the application or reference letter.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for NSF 20-587, Applicants to FY 2021 Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for the NSF GRFP, you must:

• 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;
• have 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.

NSF GRF Formatting

As of August 2020, NSF has changed some of the formatting for GRF statements this year. The required formatting is now:

• Standard 8.5" x 11" page size
• Times New Roman font for all text, Cambria Math font for equations, Symbol font for non-alphabetic characters (it is recommended that equations and symbols be inserted as an image), no smaller than 11-point, except text that is part of an image
• 1" margins on all sides, no text inside 1" margins (no header, footer, name, or page number)
• No less than single-spacing (approximately 6 lines per inch). Do not use line spacing options such as "exactly 11 point," that are less than single spaced.

Please see the NSF website for additional information.

Dates & Deadlines

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Funding for Graduate Students

Funding at nsf.

From research experiences across the world to internships at its headquarters, the U.S. National Science Foundation offers graduate students and recent Ph.D.s paid opportunities to expand their skills and knowledge in science and engineering.

On this page

Information for principal investigators

This page highlights opportunities that graduate students and recent Ph.D.s can directly apply to.

If you're interested in supporting graduate students with NSF funding, explore NSF's  Funding Search  page. Most of NSF's funding opportunities allow proposers to include graduate student researchers in their project budget.

Some NSF opportunities focus explicitly on supporting graduate student training through  internships  and other activities, like NSF's  Non-Academic Research Internships for Graduate Students (INTERN) program.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

The prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program  supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's or doctoral degrees in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — or in STEM education.

The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support that can be used at accredited U.S. institutions. This support includes an annual stipend and a cost-of-education allowance covering tuition and fees.

Eligibility

Applicants must be citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States. Applicants must be pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM or in STEM education at accredited U.S. institutions.

How to apply

Applications are due in the fall of each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply at  nsfgrfp.org .

And read NSF 101 for some tips on how to apply .

International Research Experiences for Students (IRES)

NSF's IRES program offers international research opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students.

Participants are mentored by researchers at a foreign lab, allowing them to build their professional network. IRES opportunities usually involve small groups of students who travel to a host institution for a summer-length research project.

Undergraduate or graduate students who are citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States are eligible to apply.

Students must contact researchers with IRES funding for information and application materials. Application materials for different IRES opportunities can vary: they may require a statement of purpose, transcripts, reference letters or additional materials.

To find active IRES projects, visit the  NSF IRES Project Search . Each project lists the name and contact information of the principal investigator, or lead, of that project.

You can also find many (but not all) IRES opportunities on the  NSF Education and Training Application  website, where you can prepare and submit applications for IRES and other NSF education and training opportunities.

Computer and Information Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowships (CSGrad4US)

The CSGrad4US program helps bachelor's degree holders return to academia and pursue their research interests in computer and information science and engineering fields.

The three-year fellowship includes a stipend and cost-of-education allowance. 

Applicants must be citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States who are not currently enrolled in any degree-granting program and have never enrolled in a doctoral program. Applicants must intend to apply for full-time enrollment in a research-based doctoral degree program in a computer and information science and engineering field within two years.

Applications are typically due in the spring or early summer of each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply on the CISE Graduate Fellowships page.

Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grants (DDRIG)

Some of NSF's programs offer grants to doctoral students, allowing them to undertake significant data-gathering projects and conduct field research in settings away from their campus.

The award amounts of these grants vary across programs but typically fall between $15,000 to $40,000 (excluding indirect costs).

Doctoral students enrolled in U.S. institutions of higher education who are conducting scientific research are eligible to apply. Applicants do not need to be U.S. citizens.

These proposals are submitted to NSF through regular organizational channels by the doctoral student's dissertation advisor, with the student serving as the co-principal investigator on the proposal.

Visit NSF's  Funding Search  to see the list of programs that currently accept DDRIG proposals. Deadlines vary by program: some accept proposals at any time while others have annual or semi-annual deadlines.

Note: Information on the NSF-funded Law and Science Dissertation Grant (LSDG) can be found on the LSDG website .

NSF Research Traineeship Program (NRT)

The NSF Research Traineeship Program gives graduate students opportunities to develop the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a range of STEM careers.

Graduate students funded by the program receive, at minimum, 12-month-long stipends that support their participation in the program's training activities, which can include courses, workshops and research projects.

Graduate students who are citizens, nationals and permanent residents of the United States are eligible to participate as funded trainees in the NRT program. International students can participate as unfunded trainees. Participants must be enrolled in research-based master's or doctoral degree programs.

Students must contact researchers with NRT funding for information and application materials.

To find active NRT projects, visit the  NSF NRT Project Search . Each project lists the name and contact information of the Principal Investigator, or lead, of that project.

For more information about the NSF Research Traineeship Program, please contact  [email protected] .

Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship

NSF's Mathematical Sciences Graduate Internship program supports summer research internships for doctoral students in the mathematical sciences. These internships are primarily at national laboratories and focus on introducing students to applications of mathematical or statistical theories outside of academia.

Current graduate students pursuing doctoral degrees in mathematics, statistics or applied mathematics are eligible to apply. Participants do not need to be U.S. citizens.

Applications are due in the fall or winter each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply on the internship website .

Presidential Management Fellowship Program

The Presidential Management Fellows Program is a two-year paid fellowship designed to prepare current or recent graduate students for a career in the analysis and management of public policies and programs. At NSF, fellows serve as program and management analysts and a variety of other positions requiring a scientific degree.

Current or recent graduate students are eligible to apply.

Applications are due in the fall of each year. Learn more about the program and how to apply at  pmf.gov .

Summer Scholars Internship Program

NSF's Summer Scholars Internship Program is a 10-week-long summer internship for undergraduate and graduate students. Students participating in the program work in NSF offices that align with their academic interests.

Through the program, interns learn about science administration and how federal policies affect the science and engineering community.

Graduate students and undergraduates who are citizens, nationals or permanent residents of the United States are eligible to apply.

Students interested in the NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program can apply through the following organizations:

• QEM Network
• Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities National Internship Program

For more information on the NSF Summer Scholars Internship Program, please contact  [email protected] .

Applying for a postdoc?

NSF's Postdoctoral Research Fellowships support independent postdoctoral research, allowing fellows to perform work that will broaden their perspectives, facilitate interdisciplinary interactions, and help establish them in leadership positions.

These two- or three-year fellowships provide a stipend and a research and training allowance.

Citizens, nationals and permanent residents of the United States who have recently earned a Ph.D. or will have earned their Ph.D. before beginning the fellowship are eligible to apply.

Current postdoctoral fellowship opportunities can be found on NSF's  Funding Search .

Deadlines vary by program: some accept proposals at any time while others have annual deadlines.

Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Eligibility Questionnaire

Note This eligibility questionnaire is provided as a tool to assist potential applicants for the NSF GRFP. The information contained in this questionnaire is based on the official eligibility information in the NSF GRFP Program Solicitation but is not an official determination of an individual's eligibility.

Click to Start

Joint Bachelor's-Master's

Are you currently enrolled as a first year doctoral student after completing a joint bachelor's-master's degree the previous semester?

NEXT STEP RETURN TO PREVIOUS STEP

Interruption

Do you have an interruption of two (2) or more consecutive years immediately preceding the application deadline AND will not be enrolled in a graduate degree program at the application deadline?

Individuals who either previously accepted a NSF GRFP Fellowship offer or did not respond by the response deadline are not eligible

Individuals who do not intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in a research-based graduate degree program in an eligible Field of Study in STEM or STEM education by Fall of the year after the GRFP deadline are not eligible.

Intent to Enroll

Do you intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in a research-based graduate degree program in an eligible Field of Study in STEM or STEM education by Fall of the year after the GRFP deadline?

Offer Response

Did you either accept the offer or not respond by the response deadline?

Received an Offer

Were you offered the NSF GRFP Fellowship?

Individuals who previously have applied after ever being enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program are not eligible.

Individuals who have completed more than one academic year in a degree-granting program OR earned a previous master's degree of any kind (including bachelor's-master's degree) OR earned a professional degree are eligible only if: 1. They have had a continuous interruption in graduate study of at least two consecutive years immediately prior to the application deadline; and are not enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program at the application deadline. 2. Are currently enrolled as first-year doctoral students, who have not previously applied as graduate students and enrolled in the doctoral program the semester following award of the joint degree.

You appear to meet the general eligibility requirements to apply for the NSF GRFP. Please see the detailed eligibility requirements in Section IV of the Program Solicitation for full information and eligibility requirements. You may also wish to determine your level with the level questionnaire .

Citizenship

Are you a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident?

Master and Professional Degrees

Have you earned a master's or professional degree in any field or completed more than one academic year in a graduate degree-granting program?

Status During Last Application Attempt

When you previously applied, had you ever been enrolled in a graduate degree granting program?

Previously Applied

Have you previously applied to the NSF GRFP?

Individuals who are current NSF employees are not eligible.

NSF Employee

Are you a current NSF employee?

Individuals who have earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field are not eligible.

Applicants must be US citizens, US nationals or permanent residents. Foreign nationals, including those studying in the US on an F1 visa, are not eligible.

Doctoral or Terminal Degree

Have you earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field?

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