Fellowships

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Is it for you?

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) offers three years of support for advanced study in the mathematical, physical, biological, engineering, and select behavioral and social sciences and research-based Ph.D. degrees in science education at accredited U.S. institutions.

Awards carry an annual $37,000 stipend, plus a cost-of-education allowance payable to the Fellow’s institution in lieu of tuition and fees. Fellows may also apply for additional support to participate in international opportunities; enhanced access to cyber-infrastructure resources, including supercomputing time, is provided. All awards are for a maximum of three years, usable over a five-year period.

What are the key dates?

JHU applicants should email [email protected] to request access to our Canvas course for the NSF GRFP.

Writing Workshops – led by Dr. Jason Ludden of the University Writing Program, a specialist in science communication and fellowship application writing

Research Proposal: Tuesday, October 7 at 2 pm
Personal Statement: Thursday, October 9 at 10 am

Both sessions will take place in the Free Dive room in the Imagine Center on the Homewood campus (113 W. University Parkway). Zoom links are available on our Canvas course for those who cannot attend in-person.

Deadline for NFP draft review:

Thursday, October 16

Drafts must be submitted via our Canvas course.

Official Deadlines (by field):

November 10, 2025 – Life Sciences
November 12, 2025 – Computer and Information Science and Engineering; Materials Research; Psychology; Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences; STEM Education and Learning
November 13, 2025 – Engineering
November 14, 2025 – Chemistry; Geosciences; Mathematical Sciences; Physics and Astronomy

Due by 5pm submitting organization’s local time

**Reference letters are due Friday, November 7 at 5 pm ET***

Are you eligible?

Candidates for the NSF GRFP must:

be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents.
be college seniors, bachelor’s holders who have not started graduate study, first-year graduate students, or students in joint bachelor’s/master’s programs who have completed three years of undergraduate study.
select a field of graduate study leading to a research-based master’s and/or doctoral degree in the fields of science, engineering, and education within the NSF’s mission.*
be accepted to an NSF-approved graduate degree program at the time of fellowship acceptance (typically May) and enrolled by the following fall.

*These fields fall broadly within the following disciplines: chemistry, computer and information science and engineering, engineering, geosciences, life sciences, materials research, mathematical sciences, physics and astronomy, psychology, social sciences, STEM education and learning research. See the “Appendix” in the Program Solicitation for a complete list of eligible fields and sub-fields (please note: certain areas of research for which the goals are “directly health-related” are ineligible – please read the eligibility criteria carefully, especially the subsection entitled “Field of Study, Degree Programs, and Proposed Research”).

How do you work with the NFP?

JHU nomination is not required for the NSF GRFP. Applicants submit their own materials to the NSF portal, though NFP staff can offer feedback on a personal statement draft that is submitted by the draft review deadline noted above (if capacity allows).

The timeline gives an overview of the application process and when to reach out to us. In preparation, see “have a closer look” below for more resources about the NSF GRFP.

early September – mid-October	Attend a writing workshop or watch the online version
by late September	Submit draft of personal statement to NFP for feedback
October	Continue working on application materials
late October	Meet the NSF GRFP official deadline designated for your field of study

Are you competitive?

About 2,000-2,500 fellowships are awarded each year pending the availability of funds. Selection decisions are based on the following criteria:

Academic merit: Transcripts of all institutions listed on the GRFP application will be evaluated and must be uploaded electronically. See the instructions on the application for specifications related to transcripts. The NSF no longer accepts GRE scores as part of the GRFP application.
Intellectual Merit and Broader Impact of the project: The NSF treats both concepts expansively and evaluates both essays according to how they meet these criteria. Examples of “Intellectual Merit” include the importance of the project to advancing knowledge and understanding within its field; the qualifications of the proposer; the feasibility of the project, access to resources, and appropriateness of the choice of institution where the research will be conducted; and the extent to which the project suggests and explores creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts. Examples of “Broader Impact” include the integration of research and education; the extent to which the project would broaden participation in STEM; whether the project would enhance technological infrastructure for research and education; and the extent to which the project would represent a service to society.
Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement: In this three-page essay, describe any personal, professional, or educational experiences or situations that have prepared you or contributed to your desire to pursue advanced study in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics. How have these experiences prepared you to contribute to scientific understanding and teaching?
Graduate Research Plan Statement: In a two-page essay, present a clear, concise description of your proposed plan of study or research for the period covered by the fellowship. Your statement should demonstrate your understanding of research design and methodology, and explain any relationships with your previous research.
Letters of recommendation: Scientists or faculty members who have current knowledge of your academic and/or professional experience are asked to rank your ability in the following areas: knowledge in chosen field, motivation, perseverance toward educational goals, ability to work independently, ability to work as a member of a research team, ability to plan and conduct research, imagination and creativity, and overall scientific ability.

Have a closer look:

Fellowships

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Is it for you?

What are the key dates?

Are you eligible?

How do you work with the NFP?

Are you competitive?

Have a closer look:

Visit the Official Website

Hear from JHU Recipients

Start Your Application

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