nsf graduate research fellowships

Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Application Resources

This section describes the different components of the GRFP Application. Applicants must submit the following information through the GRFP Module:

• Personal Information
• Application Level
• Education, Work and Other Experience
• Proposed Field(s) of Study
• Reference Letter Information
• Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals and Graduate Research Plan Statements

Additional detail about the GRFP Application Module can be found by reviewing the GRFP Application Module screenshots

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Archived funding opportunity

Nsf 12-599: graduate research fellowship program(grfp), program solicitation, document information, document history.

• Posted: August 16, 2012
• Replaces: NSF 11-582
• Replaced by: NSF 13-584

Program Solicitation NSF 12-599

Application Deadline(s) (submitted by 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time):

Engineering; Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering; Materials Research

Mathematical Sciences; Chemistry; Physics and Astronomy

Social Sciences; Psychology; STEM Education and Learning

Life Sciences; Geosciences

Important Information And Revision Notes

• Application deadlines have changed.
• Refer to Section V.A. for a description of Interdisciplinary Applications.
• Eligibility criteria have changed with respect to the extenuating circumstance.
• Reference writer deadline has changed.
• All transcripts must be submitted electronically via the NSF FastLane Graduate Research Fellowship Program Application Module.
• Before submitting an application, applicants must certify that they meet the GRFP Eligibility criteria defined in this Solicitation. This is in addition to the certifications that the essays and proposed research contained in their applications are their own original work, and the certifications on use of controlled substances; delinquency on Federal debt; and debarment and suspension.

Summary Of Program Requirements

General information.

Program Title:

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Synopsis of Program:

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce in the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in fields within NSF's mission. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

Please note that the following information is current at the time of publishing. See program website for any updates to the points of contact.

Applications, contact: GRF Operations Center, telephone: (866) 673-4737, email: [email protected]

Gisele T. Muller-Parker, telephone: (703) 292-8694, email: [email protected]

Doris L. Carver, telephone: (703) 292-8694, email: [email protected]

Pushpalatha Murthy, telephone: (703) 292-8694, email: [email protected]

• 47.041 --- Engineering
• 47.049 --- Mathematical and Physical Sciences
• 47.050 --- Geosciences
• 47.070 --- Computer and Information Science and Engineering
• 47.074 --- Biological Sciences
• 47.075 --- Social Behavioral and Economic Sciences
• 47.076 --- Education and Human Resources
• 47.079 --- International and Integrative Activities (IIA)
• 47.081 --- Office of Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
• Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award: Fellowship

Estimated Number of Awards: 2,000 new Fellowships will be offered pending availability of funds.

Each Fellowship consists of three years of support usable over a five-year period. For each year of support, NSF provides a stipend of $30,000 to the Fellow and a cost-of-education allowance of $12,000 to the degree-granting institution. Pending the availability of funds in 2013, it is anticipated that the stipend will increase to $32,000, as indicated in NSF's FY2013 Budget Request to Congress.

• Eligibility Information

Fellowship applications must be submitted by the prospective Fellow. Applicants must register with Fastlane ( https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/fastlane.jsp ) prior to submitting an application. Confirmation of acceptance in an NSF-approved graduate degree program is required at the time of Fellowship acceptance, by May 1, 2013. Prospective Fellows must enroll in an accredited United States university, college, or non-profit academic institution of higher education offering advanced degrees in science and engineering by Fall 2013.

Refer to Section IV. Additional Eligibility Information.

Applicants are limited to only one application in this competition.

Applicant Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. application preparation instructions.

• Letters of Intent: Not Applicable
• Preliminary Proposal Submission: Not Applicable
• Application Instructions: This solicitation contains information that deviates from the standard Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

B. Budgetary Information

• Cost Sharing Requirements: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

No indirect costs are allowed.

• Other Budgetary Limitations: Other budgetary limitations apply. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

C. Due Dates

Application review information criteria.

Merit Review Criteria: National Science Board approved Merit Review Criteria (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts) apply.

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions: Fellowships are made subject to the provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in NSF 12-061 : NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials .

Reporting Requirements: See reporting requirements in full text of solicitation and NSF 12-061 : NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials .

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Summary of Program Requirements

• Introduction
• Program Description
• Proposal Preparation Instructions
• Budgetary Information
• FastLane Requirements
• NSF Application Review Process
• Application Review and Selection Process
• Notification of the Award

Award Conditions

• Reporting Requirements
• Agency Contacts
• Other Information

I. Introduction

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) provides Fellowships to individuals selected early in their graduate careers based on their demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering. Three years of support is provided by the program for graduate study that is in a field within NSF's mission and leads to a research-based master's or doctoral degree.

The program goals are 1) to select, recognize, and financially support individuals early in their careers 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 in developing 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 breakthroughs in science and engineering research, become leaders in their chosen careers, and been honored as Nobel laureates.

Applicants are urged to visit the NSF web page at https://www.nsf.gov/ for more information and guidance about current and emerging themes for NSF.

II. Program Description

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awards Fellowships for graduate study leading to research-based master's and doctoral degrees in the fields of science and engineering relevant to the mission of the National Science Foundation (See Fields of Study). This list provides applicants guidelines on appropriate eligible fields and is used to place applications in the most appropriate review panel.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowships are awarded to individuals in the early stages of their graduate study. All applicants are expected to have adequate preparation to begin graduate-level study and research by Summer or Fall of 2013. This is nearly always demonstrated by a bachelor's degree in a science and engineering field earned prior to Fall 2013. In addition, Fellowship awardees must be enrolled in an accredited US university, college, or non-profit academic institution of higher education offering graduate degrees in eligible science and engineering fields by Fall 2013. Confirmation of acceptance in an NSF-approved graduate degree program is required at the time of Fellowship acceptance, by May 1, 2013. Upon acceptance of an NSF GRFP Fellowship, Fellows must certify that they meet all of the eligibility requirements as described in this Program Solicitation.

Applicants may pursue research-based graduate study at an accredited institution located in the US which grants a graduate degree in an NSF-supported field. While applicants accepting the fellowship must be affiliated with a US-based institution, NSF encourages graduate students to establish collaborative relationships with international researchers and institutions. 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.

GRFP supports individuals proposing a comprehensive holistic plan for graduate education that takes into account individual interests and competencies. Thus, an applicant must provide a detailed profile of her or his relevant educational and research experiences and plans for graduate education in such a way as to demonstrate potential for significant achievements in science and engineering.

Prospective applicants are advised that submission of an application implies a commitment to the pursuit of graduate study in a research-based program in a science and engineering field supported by NSF (See Fields of Study). Acceptance of a Fellowship award is an explicit agreement that the Fellow will be duly enrolled in an NSF-approved graduate degree program consistent with the field of study indicated in their application by the beginning of the following academic year.

III. Award Information

The NSF expects to award 2,000 Graduate Research Fellowships under this program solicitation pending availability of funds.

For each matriculated Fellow, the institution receives up to a $42,000 award per Fellow tenure year (12-month increments) to cover the costs described below.

The Graduate Research Fellowship stipend is currently $30,000 for a 12-month tenure period, prorated in whole month increments of $2,500. Pending the availability of funds in 2013, it is anticipated that the stipend will increase to $32,000, as indicated in NSF's FY2013 Budget Request to Congress.

The cost-of-education allowance to the institution is currently $12,000 per tenure year and is to be used by the institution toward the costs of educating the Fellow during that time period. During tenure, 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.e., the institution is responsible for tuition and required fees in excess of the cost of education allowance). Refer to NSF 12 -061 : NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials for restrictions on the use of the cost-of-education allowance.

Fellows will receive announcements about opportunities to apply for GRFP support of their participation in international opportunities.

Fellows are provided enhanced access to cyberinfrastructure resources, including supercomputing time, through the Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment (XSEDE). Please refer to http://www.xsede.org for more information on cyberinfrastructure resources.

All Fellowships will be for a maximum of three years (in 12-month allocations, starting in summer or fall) usable over a five-year period. The anticipated announcement date for the Fellowships is early April 2013.

Honorable Mention

The NSF accords Honorable Mention to meritorious applicants who do not receive Fellowship awards. This is considered a significant national academic achievement and provides access to cyberinfrastructure resources through the XSEDE. Please refer to http://www.xsede.org for more information on cyberinfrastructure resources.

IV. Eligibility Information

Applicant Eligibility:

Limit on Number of Applications per Applicant: 1

Additional Eligibility Info:

Described in detail below are the three eligibility requirements for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program: (1) citizenship, (2) graduate plan of study degree requirements, and (3) field of study. Applicants are advised to read the entire program solicitation carefully to be sure that the requirements are interpreted properly. Applicants must self-certify that they are eligible to receive the Fellowship. Categories of applicants that are ineligible: Those who do not hold US citizenship, national, or permanent resident status by the application deadline. Those who were previously awarded a fellowship from the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program and accepted it. Those who have declined the offer of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and who did not notify NSF by the published deadline for accepting the Fellowship. Those who have earned any graduate or professional degree by August 1, 2012, except applicants who have completed a joint BS/MS program and have not completed any further graduate study outside the joint program. Current NSF employees. Eligibility criteria: 1. Citizenship 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, Guam, Puerto Rico, US Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands. It does not refer to a citizen of another country who has applied for US citizenship. 2. Degree Requirements Fellowships are awarded to individuals in the early stages of their graduate study. Below are general guidelines for determining eligibility according to the degree requirements criterion: Applicants are expected to have adequate preparation to begin graduate study and research by Summer or Fall 2013. This is nearly always demonstrated by receipt of a bachelor's degree in a science or engineering field earned prior to Fall 2013. Individuals are typically eligible to apply: During the senior year of college After graduating from college and prior to entering graduate school During the first year of graduate school Prior to completing the Fall term of the second year of graduate school. Applicants must have completed no more than 12 months of full-time graduate study or its equivalent as of August 1, 2012. Full-time graduate study is as defined by the universities attended. There is no credit hour limit for students who have completed only full-time graduate study; eligibility for full-time students is based on the length of time enrolled in the graduate program. Applicants who have completed part-time graduate study (or a combination of part-time and full-time graduate study) must have completed no more than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours or their equivalent as of August 1, 2012. All post-baccalaureate, graduate-level study is counted toward the allowed 12 months of completed graduate study. This includes all master's and doctoral programs. Applicants in joint BS/MS programs are typically eligible to apply prior to completion of any further graduate study. In four-year joint programs, applicants may apply in the fourth year and after completion of the program. Completion of any graduate study outside of the joint program will disqualify an applicant. In five-year joint programs, applicants may apply in the fourth and fifth years of the program and after completion of the program. Completion of any further graduate study outside of the joint program will disqualify an applicant. Definition of Completed Graduate Study and Extenuating Circumstance Applicants may have completed no more than 12 months of full-time graduate study or its equivalent by August 1, 2012. Pre-graduate participation in summer activities (e.g., bridge programs, field studies, lab rotations) offered by a graduate program prior to the start of the Fall graduate program are not included in this total. All post-baccalaureate, graduate study is counted towards the allowed 12 months of graduate study. This includes the following: All master's programs (including research-based or coursework-based programs, and "terminal" programs as well as those that are contiguous with a Ph.D. program) All doctoral programs Post-baccalaureate, graduate-level coursework completed outside a degree program Both full-time and part-time graduate programs. Extenuating Circumstance Applicants who have completed more than twelve months of graduate study and who have not earned a graduate degree may be considered eligible if they have had an interruption in graduate study of at least two consecutive years prior to November 2012. To be eligible, applicants must have completed no additional graduate study by August 1, 2012. An essay describing the extenuating circumstance is required in the application. 3. Field of Study Fellowships are awarded for graduate study leading to research-based master's and doctoral degrees in the fields of science and engineering supported by the National Science Foundation (See Fields of Study, Appendix and the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide ). The guidelines below should be used to assess eligibility according to the field of study criterion. An individual's proposed research and graduate study must both be in fields within NSF's mission (see Fields of Study in the Appendix). Applicants must self-certify that they are eligible to receive the Fellowship according to the following criteria. The following programs and areas of graduate study and research are ineligible: Practice-oriented professional degree programs, joint professional degree-science programs (MD/PhD and JD/PhD), or medical, dental, law, and public health programs are not eligible. Examples of typical ineligible degree programs include MBA, MPH, MSW, and ED. Clinical (see below), counseling, business administration or management, social work, education (except in science and engineering education in an NSF-supported discipline), or history (except in history of science) areas of graduate study are not supported. Clinical study that is ineligible includes patient-oriented research, epidemiological and behavioral studies, outcomes research and health services research. For example, clinical study that is ineligible includes investigations to provide evidence leading to a scientific basis for consideration of a change in health policy or standard of care, and includes pharmacologic, non-pharmacologic, and behavioral interventions for disease prevention, prophylaxis, diagnosis, or therapy. Community and other population-based intervention trials are also ineligible. Research with disease-related goals, including work on the etiology, diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality, or malfunction in human beings is normally not supported. Animal models of such conditions or the development or testing of drugs or other procedures for their treatment also are not eligible for support. However, research in bioengineering, with diagnosis or treatment-related goals, that applies engineering principles to problems in biology and medicine while advancing engineering knowledge is eligible for support. Bioengineering research to aid persons with disabilities also is eligible. The Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center is responsible for processing applications and responding to questions about the program. For questions concerning these guidelines, contact the Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center, (866) 673 -4737, international (202) 331 -3542, or [email protected] .

V. Application Preparation And Submission Instructions

Fellowship applications must be submitted electronically using the NSF FastLane Graduate Research Fellowship Program Application Module at https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/Login.do according to the Field of Study deadline and by 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Applications submitted after the Field of Study deadline date and time will be returned without review. An applicant must first register as a FastLane user at that web site. The official or unofficial transcript(s) is (are) due by the relevant Field of Study deadline and must be submitted electronically through the FastLane GRFP Application Module. See the Applicant User Guide for instructions on completing and submitting an application. Three reference letters must be submitted electronically by the reference writers through the FastLane GRFP Application Module by the reference letter deadline, November 27, 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. If three reference letters are not received by the reference letter deadline and time, the application will be returned without review.

The FastLane GRFP Application Module includes the following information: Personal Information, Education and Other Experience, Graduate School Information, Personal Statement Essay, Previous Research Essay, Proposed Research Essay, Eligibility Essay if appropriate, Transcripts, and References. 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 proposal, 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 Applicant User Guide and the FastLane GRFP Application Module for completing each section of the application. The essays must be written using standard 8.5" x 11" page size, 12-point, Times New Roman font or Computer Modem (LaTeX) font, 1" margins on all sides, and must be single spaced or greater. Only references, footnotes, and figure captions may be a smaller font, no less than 10-point Times New Roman. The Personal Statement, Previous Research Experience, and Proposed Plan of Research essays each have a maximum length of two pages, including all references, citations, charts, figures, images, and lists of publications and presentations. The essay for applicants who have completed more than 12 months of graduate study and meet the extenuating circumstance requirement is limited to one page. Failure to comply fully with these requirements will result in the application being returned without review. Additionally, applications that are incomplete (missing required transcripts and/or reference letters, or that do not have "submitted" status by the application deadline) will be returned without review. Applicants are advised to submit applications early to avoid possible FastLane system delays on the deadline dates. Note that applications are due by 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time on the application deadline dates.

Supplemental Application Materials are described below.

• Official or Unofficial Academic Transcripts (Must be received by Field of Study deadline by 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time)

Academic transcripts are required for all institutions listed by the applicant in the FastLane GRFP Application Module. Required transcripts include academic transcripts from the baccalaureate institution and transcripts for all graduate work. Transcripts must be submitted electronically through the FastLane GRFP Application Module by the Field of Study application deadline.

• Three Reference Letters (Must be submitted by November 27, 2012 by 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time)

Applications must include a total of three reference letters from non-family members, received by the November 27, 2012 8 p.m. deadline, to be eligible for review. Applicant-nominated reference writers submit their letters through the FastLane GRFP Application Module. Reference writers should use letterhead and include the following information: name and title of reference writer, department, and institution or organization. The reference letter is limited to two pages, and should provide 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 of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts. Reference writers must provide an appropriate e-mail address for the applicant to enter into the FastLane GRFP Application Module. An exact e-mail address is crucial to matching the reference writer and the applicant in the FastLane GRFP Application Module. 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.

Application Completion Status

The FastLane GRFP Application Module displays the completion status of the Fellowship application. 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 have been received before the deadline. Applicants must use the FastLane user ID and password to access this information. For FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail [email protected] .

Interdisciplinary Applications

NSF welcomes applications for interdisciplinary programs of study and research. Interdisciplinary research is defined as "a mode of research by teams or individuals that integrates information, data, techniques, tools, perspectives, concepts, and/or theories from two or more disciplines or bodies of specialized knowledge to advance fundamental understanding or to solve problems whose solutions are beyond the scope of a single discipline or area of research practice" (National Academy of Sciences 2004 report: Facilitating interdisciplinary research). To accommodate the special review needs of interdisciplinary applications, applicants must indicate the relative effort for each field of study represented in their application. Applications classified under "Interdisciplinary Fields of Study" must be submitted by the deadline for the primary field of study designated on the application. Proper response to these instructions will help insure that applications are evaluated by the most appropriate panel(s) of reviewers.

Cost Sharing: Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited

NSF awards $42,000 each year to the GRFP institution to cover the Fellow stipend and cost-of-education allowance for each NSF Graduate Research Fellow "On Tenure" at the institution.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program fellowship stipend currently is $30,000 for a 12-month tenure period, prorated in monthly increments of $2,500. Pending the availability of funds in 2013, it is anticipated that the stipend will increase to $32,000, as indicated in NSF's FY2013 Budget Request to Congress.

The institutional cost-of-education allowance currently is $12,000 per tenure year per Fellow.

D. Fastlane Requirements

Applicants are required to prepare and submit all applications for this program solicitation through the FastLane system. Detailed instructions for application preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/a1/newstan.htm . For FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail [email protected] . The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of 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.

VI. NSF Proposal Processing And Review Procedures

A. nsf application review process.

Applications will be reviewed by panels of disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists and engineers and other professional graduate education experts. Applications are placed in panels based on the applicant's chosen Field(s) of Study and the discipline(s) represented. Thus, applicants are advised to select the Field of Study in the FastLane GRFP Application module 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. In considering applications, reviewers are instructed to address the two Merit Review Criteria as approved by the National Science Board - Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts ( NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide ). 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 .

What is the intellectual merit of the proposed activity?

How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields? 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 the proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts? How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity? Is there sufficient access to resources? If international activities are proposed, are the proposed activities relevant and do they benefit the applicant?

For example, panelists may consider the following with respect to the Intellectual Merit Criterion: the strength of the academic record, the proposed plan of research, the description of previous research experience or publication/presentations, references, and the appropriateness of the choice of institution relative to the proposed plan for graduate education and research.

What are the broader impacts of the proposed activity?

How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning? How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)? To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and partnerships? Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding? What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society? Background information and examples of Broader Impacts activities are available at https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/gpg/broaderimpacts.pdf .

For example, panelists may consider the following with respect to the Broader Impacts Criterion: the personal, professional, and educational experiences, the future plans and prior accomplishments in the integration of research and education, and the potential to reach diverse audiences and benefit society.

B. Application Review and Selection Process

Applications submitted in response to this program solicitation will be reviewed by Panel Review.

The application evaluation involves the review, rating, and ranking of applications by disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists and engineers, and other professional graduate education experts.

The primary responsibility of each panel is to evaluate the merit of eligible GRFP applications by applying the National Science Board-approved Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts, and to subsequently recommend applicants for NSF Graduate Research Fellowships. Panelists are instructed to review the applications holistically in the context of applying NSF's Merit Review Criteria and the GRFP emphasis on demonstrated potential for significant achievements in science and engineering. NSF determines the successful applicants from these recommendations, with Fellowships and Honorable Mention offered based on the GRFP portfolio within the context of NSF's mission.

After NSF Fellowship offers are made, applicants are able to view the verbatim reviewer comments, excluding the names of the reviewers, through a secure website at the NSF GRFP FastLane website.

VII. Award Administration Information

A. notification of the award.

The Division of Graduate Education generally notifies applicants within six months after the deadline of the outcome of their applications. The NSF publishes lists of Fellowship and Honorable Mention recipients on the GRFP website at http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp / in April 2013. This information is extracted from the applications and cannot be changed.

B. Award Conditions

An NSF Graduate Research Fellowship award consists of the notification letter that includes the applicable terms and conditions and Fellowship management instructions. All Fellowships are made subject to the provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF 12-061 : Administrative Guide for Fellows and GRFP Coordinating Officials.

NSF will award GRFP Fellowship Grants to the Institution providing funds for NSF Fellows who have "on tenure" status. The Institution will accept such grants, including any amendments to them and administer them in accordance with the terms of the Agreement and provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document NSF 12-061 : Administrative Guide for Fellows and GRFP Coordinating Officials.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program applicants will be notified in early April 2013 of their selection. The applicant must accept or decline the Fellowship by May 1, 2013 by logging into the Graduate Research Fellowship Program link at: http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp with the applicant User ID and password. Failure to comply with the deadline and acceptance of award conditions by the deadline will result in revocation of the Fellowship offer and render applicants ineligible to re-apply.

Other Opportunities for Fellowship Awardees and Honorable Mention Recipients

Fellows and Honorable Mention recipients may request cyberinfrastructure resources through the XSEDE. Details on resources available are described at: http://www.xsede.org . Requests must be for cyberinfrastructure resources in support of research undertaken toward completion of the graduate program of study.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (students and faculty) to work on NSF-supported projects. Fellowship awardees with disabilities may apply for assistance after consulting the instructions in the document NSF 12-061 : Administrative Guide for Fellows and GRFP Coordinating Officials.

Awardees must formally accept and agree to the terms and conditions of the award. Acceptance of the Fellowship constitutes a commitment to pursue a graduate degree in an eligible science or engineering field. Acceptance of a Fellowship award is an explicit acceptance of this commitment and assurance that the Fellow will be duly enrolled in an NSF-approved graduate degree program consistent with the field of study indicated in their application by the beginning of the following academic year. Major changes in scope later in the graduate career require NSF approval. NSF 12-061 : Administrative Guide for Fellows and GRFP Coordinating Officials includes the terms and conditions that apply to the Fellowship and subsequent institutional award, in addition to the eligibility requirements (citizenship, degree requirements and field of study) and Certifications in the application. Each institution, in accepting the funds, also certifies that the Fellows are eligible to receive the Fellowship under these terms and conditions.

The GRFP fellowship cannot be accepted concurrently with another Federal fellowship.

The GRFP supports the NSF Career-Life Balance Initiative by offering limited paid and unpaid leave options for Fellows facing dependent-care issues (child birth/adoption and elder care). NSF enables career-life balance through a variety of mechanisms. For more information, please see https://www.nsf.gov/career-life-balance/ .

Responsible Conduct of Research

It is the responsibility of the Fellow, in conjunction with the GRFP Institution, to ensure that all academic and research activities carried out in or outside the US comply with the laws or regulations of the US and/or of the foreign country in which the academic and/or research activities are conducted. These include appropriate human subject, animal welfare, copyright and intellectual property protection, and other regulations or laws, as appropriate. All academic and research activities should be coordinated with the appropriate US and foreign government authorities, and necessary licenses, permits, or approvals must be obtained prior to undertaking the proposed activities.

In response to the America Competes Act, all Fellows supported by NSF to conduct research are required to receive appropriate training and oversight in the Responsible and Ethical Conduct of Research.

Research Involving Human Subjects

Projects involving research with human subjects must ensure that subjects are protected from research risks in conformance with the relevant Federal policy known as the Common Rule (Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects, 45 CFR 690). All projects involving human subjects must either (1) have approval from the organization's Institutional Review Board (IRB) before Fellowship award or (2) must affirm that the IRB or an appropriate knowledgeable authority previously designated by the organization (not the Applicant) has declared the research exempt from IRB review, in accordance with the applicable subsection, as established in section 101(b) of the Common Rule. Applicants and Fellows are required to comply with this policy and adhere to the organization's protocol for managing research involving human subjects.

Proposals Involving Vertebrate Animals

Any project proposing use of vertebrate animals for research or education shall comply with the Animal Welfare Act [7 U.S.C. 2131 et seq.] and the regulations promulgated thereunder by the Secretary of Agriculture [9 CFR 1.1-4.11] pertaining to the humane care, handling, and treatment of vertebrate animals held or used for research, teaching or other activities supported by Federal awards. In accordance with these requirements, proposed projects involving use of any vertebrate animal for research or education must be approved by the submitting organization's Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) before an award can be made. For this approval to be accepted by NSF, the organization must have a current Public Health Service (PHS) Approved Assurance.

Projects involving the care or use of vertebrate animals at a foreign organization or foreign field site also require approval of research protocols by the US grantee's IACUC. If the project is to be funded through an award to a foreign organization or through an individual Fellowship award that will support activities at a foreign organization, NSF will require a statement of compliance that the activities will be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws in the foreign country and that the International Guiding Principles for Biomedical Research Involving Animals (see http://www.cioms.ch/ ) will be followed.

Legal Rights to Intellectual Property

The National Science Foundation claims no rights to any inventions or writings that might result from its fellowship or traineeship grants. However, fellows and trainees should be aware that the NSF, another Federal agency, or some private party may acquire such rights through other support for particular research. Also, fellows and trainees should note their obligation to include an Acknowledgment and Disclaimer in any publication.

C. Reporting Requirements

Acknowledgment of Support and Disclaimer

All publications, presentations, and creative works based on activities conducted during the Fellowship must acknowledge NSF GRFP Support and provide a disclaimer by including the following statement in the Acknowledgements or other appropriate section:

"This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program under Grant No. (NSF grant number). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation."

Annual Activity Report

Regardless of tenure status, Fellows are required to submit an Activity Report annually, using NSF's FastLane electronic fellowship management and reporting system. The system permits electronic submission and updating of activity reports, including information on research accomplishments and activities related to broader impacts, presentations, publications, teaching and research assistantships, awards and recognitions, and other scholarly and service accomplishments. These reports are reviewed by the faculty advisor prior to submission to NSF.

Annual Tenure Declaration

By the Fellowship acceptance deadline individuals receiving the Fellowship offer must be accepted by and duly enrolled in by the beginning of the following academic year, an NSF-approved graduate degree program. Fellows must declare their intent to utilize the Fellowship for the following year annually using the NSF GRFP FastLane Fellowship management and reporting system. Failure to declare intent by the established deadline violates the terms and conditions for NSF Fellowship awards, resulting in revocation of the fellowship offer.

Program Evaluation

The Division of Graduate Education (DGE) is conducting an evaluation to provide evidence on the impact of the GRFP on individuals' educational decisions, career preparations, aspirations and progress, as well as professional productivity; and provide an understanding of the program policies in achieving the program goals. Additionally, it is highly desirable to have a structured means of tracking Fellows beyond graduation to gauge the extent to which they follow a career path consistent with the intent of the program and to assess the impact the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship has had on their graduate education experience. Accordingly, Fellows and Honorable Mention recipients may be contacted for updates on various aspects of their employment history, professional activities and accomplishments, participation in international research collaborations, and other information helpful in evaluating the impact of the program. Fellows and their institutions agree to cooperate in program -level evaluations conducted by the NSF and/or contracted evaluators.

VIII. Agency Contacts

Please note that the program contact information is current at the time of publishing. See program website ( https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201 ) for any updates to the points of contact.

General inquiries regarding this program should be made to:

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:

• FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-673-6188; e-mail: [email protected] .

The Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center is responsible for processing applications and responding to requests for information. General inquiries regarding the Graduate Research Fellowship Program should be made to:

Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center, telephone: 866-NSF-GRFP, 866-673-4737 (toll-free from the US and Canada) or 202-331-3542 (international). email: [email protected]

IX. Other Information

The NSF website provides the most comprehensive source of information on NSF Directorates (including contact information), programs and funding opportunities. Use of this website by potential proposers is strongly encouraged. In addition, "My NSF" is an information-delivery system designed to keep potential proposers and other interested parties apprised of new NSF funding opportunities and publications, important changes in proposal and award policies and procedures, and upcoming NSF Grants Conferences . Subscribers are informed through e-mail or the user's Web browser each time new publications are issued that match their identified interests. "My NSF" also is available on NSF's website at https://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/ .

Grants.gov provides an additional electronic capability to search for Federal government-wide grant opportunities. NSF funding opportunities may be accessed via this new mechanism. Further information on Grants.gov may be obtained at http://www.grants.gov .

Many NSF programs offer announcements or solicitations concerning specific proposal requirements. To obtain additional information about these requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices. Any changes in NSF's fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to Programs will be announced in the NSF E-Bulletin, which is updated daily on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin , and in individual program announcements/solicitations. Subscribers can also sign up for MyNSF, formerly the Custom News Service, at ( https://www.nsf.gov/home/cns/start.htm ) to be notified of new funding opportunities that become available. Students are encouraged to gain professional experience in other countries through their university graduate programs, and to participate in international research opportunities offered by NSF at: https://www.nsf.gov/od/oise/stud-early-career.jsp . Other funding opportunities for students are available at http://www.nsfgrfp.org/ .

About The National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent Federal agency created by the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended (42 USC 1861-75). The Act states the purpose of the NSF is "to promote the progress of science; [and] to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare by supporting research and education in all fields of science and engineering."

NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. It does this through grants and cooperative agreements to more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations and other research organizations throughout the US. The Foundation accounts for about one-fourth of Federal support to academic institutions for basic research.

NSF receives approximately 55,000 proposals each year for research, education and training projects, of which approximately 11,000 are funded. In addition, the Foundation receives several thousand applications for graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The agency operates no laboratories itself but does support National Research Centers, user facilities, certain oceanographic vessels and Arctic and Antarctic research stations. The Foundation also supports cooperative research between universities and industry, US participation in international scientific and engineering efforts, and educational activities at every academic level.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See Grant Proposal Guide Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.

The National Science Foundation has Telephonic Device for the Deaf (TDD) and Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) capabilities that enable individuals with hearing impairments to communicate with the Foundation about NSF programs, employment or general information. TDD may be accessed at (703) 292-5090 and (800) 281-8749, FIRS at (800) 877-8339.

The National Science Foundation Information Center may be reached at (703) 292-5111.

Privacy Act And Public Burden Statements

The information requested on proposal forms and project reports is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. The information on proposal forms will be used in connection with the selection of qualified proposals; and project reports submitted by awardees will be used for program evaluation and reporting within the Executive Branch and to Congress. The information requested may be disclosed to qualified reviewers and staff assistants as part of the proposal review process; to proposer institutions/grantees to provide or obtain data regarding the proposal review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and researchers and educators as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies or other entities needing information regarding applicants or nominees as part of a joint application review process, or in order to coordinate programs or policy; and to another Federal agency, court, or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information about Principal Investigators may be added to the Reviewer file and used to select potential candidates to serve as peer reviewers or advisory committee members. See Systems of Records, NSF-50 , "Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004), and NSF-51 , "Reviewer/Proposal File and Associated Records," 69 Federal Register 26410 (May 12, 2004). Submission of the information is voluntary. Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of receiving an award.

An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, an information collection unless it displays a valid Office of Management and Budget (OMB) control number. The OMB control number for this collection is 3145-0023. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 12 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding the burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

Suzanne H. Plimpton Reports Clearance Officer Division of Administrative Services National Science Foundation Arlington, VA 22230

X. APPENDIX

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

Fields of Study

Note: Applicants are reviewed in panels based on their primary Field of Study. The "other" field of study category should only be selected by applicants if the proposed field of study is not covered by one of the following fields, and should not be used to designate a field of study that is more specific than the fields listed.

Chemical Catalysis Chemical Measurement and Imaging Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism Chemical Synthesis Chemical Theory, Models and Computational Methods Chemistry of Life Processes Environmental Chemical Systems Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry Sustainable Chemistry Chemistry, other (specify)

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (CISE)

Algorithms and Theoretical Foundations Communication and Information Theory Computational Science and Engineering Computer and Information Security Computer Architecture Computer Systems, Networking, and Embedded Systems Databases Data Mining and Information Retrieval Graphics and Visualization Human Computer Interaction Informatics Machine Learning Natural Language Processing Robotics and Computer Vision Software Systems and Software Engineering CISE, other (specify)

ENGINEERING

Aeronautical and Aerospace Bioengineering Biomedical Chemical Engineering Civil Engineering Computer Engineering Electrical and Electronic Energy Environmental Industrial Engineering & Operations Research Materials Mechanical Nuclear Ocean Optical Engineering Polymer Systems Engineering Engineering, other (specify)

GEOSCIENCES

Atmospheric Chemistry Aeronomy Biogeochemistry Biological Oceanography Chemical Oceanography Climate and Large-Scale Atmospheric Dynamics Geobiology Geochemistry Geodynamics Geophysics Glaciology Hydrology Magnetospheric Physics Marine Biology Marine Geology and Geophysics Paleoclimate Paleontology and Paleobiology Petrology Physical and Dynamic Meteorology Physical Oceanography Sedimentary Geology Solar Physics Tectonics Geosciences, other (specify)

LIFE SCIENCES

Biochemistry Biophysics Cell Biology Developmental Biology Ecology Environmental Science Evolutionary Biology Genetics Genomics Microbiology Molecular Biology Neurosciences Organismal Biology Physiology Proteomics Structural Biology Systematic Biology Life Sciences, other (specify)

MATERIALS RESEARCH

Biomaterials Ceramics Chemistry of materials Electronic materials Materials theory Metallic materials Photonic materials Physics of materials Polymers Materials Research, other (specify)

MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

Algebra, Number Theory, and Combinatorics Analysis Applied Mathematics Biostatistics Computational and Data-enabled Science Computational Mathematics Computational Statistics Geometric Analysis Logic or Foundations of Mathematics Mathematical Biology Probability Statistics Topology Mathematics, other (specify)

PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY

Astronomy and Astrophysics Atomic, Molecular and Optical Physics Condensed Matter Physics Nuclear Particle Physics Physics of Living Systems Plasma Solid State Theoretical Physics Physics, other (specify)

Cognitive Cognitive Neuroscience Computational Psychology Developmental Experimental or Comparative Industrial/Organizational Neuropsychology Perception and Psychophysics Personality and Individual Differences Physiological Psycholinguistics Quantitative Social Psychology, other (specify)

SOCIAL SCIENCES

Archaeology Biological Anthropology Cultural Anthropology Anthropology, other Communications Decision Making and Risk analysis Economics (except Business Administration) Geography History and Philosophy of Science International Relations Law and Social Science Linguistics Linguistic Anthropology Medical Anthropology Political Science Public Policy Science Policy Sociology (except Social Work) Urban and Regional Planning Social Sciences, other (specify)

STEM EDUCATION AND LEARNING RESEARCH

Engineering Education Mathematics Education Science Education Technology Education STEM Education and Learning Research, other (specify)

Current Institution refers to the institutional affiliation of the applicant at the time of GRFP application submission.

 2024 Offered Award List

Five CSE students awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Five current and incoming students and recent graduates in computer science and engineering at the University of Michigan have been selected for the 2024 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). One of the most prestigious awards for graduate students in STEM fields, the fellowship recognizes and supports outstanding students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees.

The five students receiving this honor cover a broad range of research areas in CSE, including grounded language acquisition in AI agents, systems security, human-centered software engineering, and more.

The NSF GRFP awardees in CSE are as follows:

Current and incoming students

Jacob Sansom

Jacob recently finished his master’s degree in CSE and will continue his graduate studies at U-M this fall, pursuing a PhD in CSE under advisors Prof. Joyce Chai and Prof Honglak Lee. Part of the Situated Language and Embodied Dialogue (SLED) lab, his research interests include grounded language acquisition in embodied AI agents, online/continual learning, and cognitive modeling.

William Wang

William is a recent graduate of Johns Hopkins University, where he earned a dual bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering and computer science. He will be coming to U-M this fall to pursue a PhD in CSE. His research interests include medical robotics, high-performance graphics computing, virtual/augmented reality, and machine learning.

Recent graduates

Kaia Newman

Kaia graduated with a BSE in computer science in 2023 and is currently a PhD student at Carnegie Mellon University. Her research focuses on human-centered software engineering, including program comprehension, developer productivity and wellbeing, accessibility for neurodivergent developers, and more, and she continues to contribute to projects on these topics with Prof. Westley Weimer in CSE.

Elanor Tang

Elanor graduated with an MS in CSE in December 2023 and will be pursuing a PhD in computer science at Carnegie Mellon University in the fall. While at U-M, she performed research in the Michigan Aerospace and Robotics Verification Lab (MARVL) with Prof. Jean-Baptiste Jeannin, with her work focusing on the application of formal methods and programming language techniques to establish the safety and security of programs and systems.

Eric recently graduated with a BSE in computer science and will be pursuing a PhD at Brown University starting this fall. During his time at U-M, he worked with Prof. Cyrus Omar in the Future of Programming Lab on the design of next-generation user interfaces for modern programming languages. One of his papers in this area won a Distinguished Paper Award at POPL 2024

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Future leaders and innovators

Article by Karen B. Roberts Photo illustration by Jeffrey C. Chase May 28, 2024

12 UD students, alumni awarded 2024 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

Memories shared with siblings can be the stuff of family legend. Some experiences are quickly forgotten, like the reason for that dark parental stare during some interminably long car ride. Other memories stick, always to be remembered. 

University of Delaware doctoral student Gavin Mullin recently added an unexpected highlight to his core memory list: finding out that he and his sister Hollie were both awarded 2024 National Science Foundation (NSF) graduate research fellowships.

Mullin is pursuing doctoral studies in social psychology at UD, while his sister Hollie is studying clinical neuropsychology at Pennsylvania State University. 

“It has been amazing to be able to celebrate with my sister. We even found out together over FaceTime when the results were released,” Mullin said. 

The National Science Foundation (NSF) awards graduate research fellowships each spring to promising undergraduate and graduate students around the country who are expected to become knowledge experts in their field. These individuals are anticipated to help advance the nation’s technological infrastructure, national security and economic well-being through their research, teaching and innovations in science and engineering.

At UD, Mullin is among an impressive 12 undergraduate and graduate students and alumni selected for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program’s 2024 Class of Fellows. Three additional UD students and four alumni earned honorable mentions.

"You can see that the work these students are doing at this early point in their scholarly careers is simply breathtaking," said Lou Rossi, dean of the Graduate College and vice provost for graduate and professional education. "These NSF fellowships are the hallmark of excellence in graduate education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields."

The highly competitive fellowship is awarded to individuals pursuing full-time, research-based master’s and doctoral programs in STEM fields or STEM education. The oldest graduate fellowship of its kind, the award provides a three-year annual stipend of $37,000, and a $16,000 cost-of-education allowance for tuition and fees.

Read on to learn about the current and future work planned by UD’s 2024 fellows.

UD’s 2024 Fellows

Qi “Matthew” Zhang, Goldwater Scholar, chemical engineering 

Qi “Matthew” Zhang, a senior chemical engineering major and Goldwater Scholar, has conducted a wide range of research while at UD. He has explored lung disease mechanisms, such as how stiffness and the presence of cytokines — substances secreted by certain cells — impair the characteristics and function of lung immune cells and used air-liquid interface models to understand other aspects affecting the pulmonary immune system. Zhang also leveraged tools from 3D cell culture, bioengineering and responsive material design to understand how cells and their microenvironment interact, with the aim of contributing toward the discovery of new therapeutics for managing immune system disorders. Most recently, he characterized ultra-soft biomaterials, such as hydrogels, using atomic-force microscopy to determine their micro-level mechanical properties. His advisers have included chemical engineers Catherine Fromen, Eric Furst and April Kloxin. This fall, Zhang begins doctoral studies in chemical and biological engineering at Princeton University and certification in bioengineering. Ultimately, he plans to pursue a career in academia or biopharmaceutical research and development.

Miyu Mudalamane, Honors College, Goldwater Scholar, chemical engineering

Miyu Mudalamane is a senior honors chemical engineering major with minors in biochemical engineering and sustainable energy technologies. Advised by chemical and biomolecular engineer Aditya Kunjapur, Mudalamane’s research has focused on engineering microbes to produce proteins containing non-standard amino acids. When added into proteins, these non-standard amino acids enable new properties that make the proteins useful as biocatalysts, sensors and therapeutics. Other work included discovery and characterization of enzymes for the safe, sustainable creation of nitroaromatic compounds, a common component of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals. This fall, Mudalamane will pursue doctoral studies in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where she hopes to work at the interface between sustainability and bioengineering to advance biological systems for producing high-value pharmaceutical and specialty chemicals in an environmentally friendly fashion.

Dana Kullgren, Honors College, Goldwater Scholar, particle physics

Dana Kullgren, a senior honors physics student and Goldwater Scholar, is using machine learning to improve our ability to discover and analyze cosmic-ray radio signals detected by radio antennas at the South Pole. In this work, Kullgren has worked with the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, which consists of special equipment for detecting highly energetic particles from space and is a hub for scientific advancement in astrophysics and particle physics. Cosmic rays interact with the Earth's atmosphere to produce interesting effects, such as these short pulses of radio waves. Under the guidance of physicist Frank Schroeder and graduate student Abdul Rehman, Kullgren has trained neural networks to obtain clear signals from these radio waves. Kullgren plans to continue studying astroparticle physics this fall as a doctoral student at Pennsylvania State University.

Gavin Mullin, social psychology 

Gavin Mullin, a doctoral student studying social psychology, is exploring how identities, group membership and person perception — the cognitive process behind how we categorize people and their behavior — shape social behavior, specifically towards marginalized groups like the LGBTQ+ community. Working with psychologist Peter Mende-Siedlecki, Mullin has examined how conceptual maps support our ability to generalize traits, which can facilitate how we predict others' behavior. For example, if someone is deemed friendly, are they automatically generous, too? How does this information help individuals predict a person’s behavior in other situations? Further, does racial and gender bias influence perceptions of pain and sadness in faces, and subsequently, treatment recommendations? Mullin is developing a database of faces with gender diverse identities for studying how biases influence perceptions and treatment recommendations of pain and sadness towards gender diverse identities (transgender, non-binary, etc.). Ultimately, he’d like to work in academic research or the nonprofit sector.

Erin Mulhearn, chemistry – chemical measurement and imaging

Erin Mulhearn is a chemistry and biochemistry doctoral student working under the advisement of assistant professor Ariel Alperstein to better understand how proteins fold and aggregate in our bodies. In one project, Mulhearn is exploring how microplastics interact with proteins and potentially alter their structure and function. She also is investigating how functional proteins, called chaperone proteins, influence a chronic condition affecting the heart muscle called desmin fragment-related cardiomyopathy. Both projects use vibrational spectroscopy and other techniques, including two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2DIR), which can help researchers gain kinetic, structural and spatial information on biological samples in physiological environments. Following graduate school, Mulhearn plans to pursue a career in the pharmaceutical industry, studying fundamental problems that negatively impact health.

Shar Daniels, astronomy and astrophysics

Doctoral student Shar Daniels works at the intersection of astrophysics and data science under astrophysicist Federica Bianco. They build deep-learning networks to extract rapid transient phenomena from astronomical survey data. The idea is to look for extreme astrophysical events that test our understanding of high-energy and fundamental physics, such as supernovae, exploding stars, even black holes in other galaxies that are “eating” neighboring stars. Daniels is excited to expand their research to categorize unknown and rare transient astrophysical phenomena in the upcoming Vera Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST). Additionally, as part of their LSST Science Collaboration, Daniels coordinates a mentor-training program for faculty and research scientists who mentor undergraduate and graduate students or junior faculty. Ultimately, they plan to pursue a career in academia, teaching and researching the largest scales of the universe and keeping life balanced as a West Coast Swing dancer.

Kristin Chisholm, STEM Education and Learning Research – educational statistics

Doctoral student Kristin Chisholm is exploring how to engage students, especially those from underrepresented communities, in STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — education. A former educator with over seven years of classroom experience teaching STEM to high school students, Chisholm’s studies have taken her to local schools to study engagement, connected her with policymakers and education leaders and expanded her mixed methods research skills. Under the advisement of mentor Teomara Rutherford and doctoral adviser Liz Farley Ripple, Chisholm plans to further explore the opportunities and benefits of hands-on educational experiences, such as robotics, in evolving the education system and creating equitable opportunities and lasting engagement for STEM students.

The following UD alumni also will continue their research through the fellowship:

Samuel Freer , Honors College, biomedical engineering, University of Texas at Austin

Rebecca Robertson , entomology, University of Kentucky

Dana Wilkins , Honors College, bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley

Allison George , Honors College, neurosciences, Stony Brook University

Shalom Fadullon , chemical engineering, Northeastern University

Honorable mentions

Awarded honorable mention were the following six undergraduate or graduate students and alumni:

Current UD students :

Nicole Gill , Honors College, chemical engineering

Derek Wu , Honors College, Goldwater Scholar and Eugene du Pont Scholar, environmental biology 

Pragati Muthukumar , chemical engineering

Olivia Duke , Honors College, chemistry/chemical catalysis, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Cassidy McCormick , mechanical engineering, University of California, Berkeley

Hayley Sussman , Honors College, biomedical engineering, University of Virginia Main Campus

Violet Ullman , Honors College, biomedical engineering, University of Pennsylvania

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Six Biological Sciences Graduate Students Selected for 2023 NSF Research Fellowships

Five-year awards support outstanding students pursuing advanced STEM degrees

July 6, 2023

By Mario Aguilera

Six UC San Diego School of Biological Sciences graduate students have been awarded 2023 Graduate Research Program (GRFP) fellowships by the National Science Foundation (NSF).

The highly competitive five-year NSF GRFP fellowships provide three years of financial support with an annual stipend of $37,000. The GRFP program selects outstanding master’s and Ph.D. graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology engineering and mathematics disciplines. The program is designed to ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforce its diversity, according to the NSF.

This year’s recipients for the School of Biological Sciences are: Jose Chacon (David Traver Lab), Claire Chapman (Fabian Rivera-Chávez Lab), Andrew Kapinos (Fabian Rivera-Chávez Lab), Gabrielle Meza (Alexandra Dickinson Lab), Jocelyn Olvera (Dmitry Lyumkis Lab) and John Reddan (Terry Hwa Lab). Taryn Broe (Sara Jackrel Lab) received an honorable mention.

“It is great to see the accomplishments of our outstanding PhD students recognized by these prestigious NSF GRFP fellowships,” said Professor Eric Bennett, chair of the school’s Graduate Committee. “These extramural research awards highlight the success of our PhD training program. These successful applications are the result of continued and coordinated efforts by faculty, staff and students to provide a rigorous training environment to push the boundaries of biological research.”

NSF has designed the program so that GRFP fellows become knowledge experts who can significantly contribute to research, teaching and innovation in science and engineering.

“These individuals are crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation’s technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well-being of society at large,” according to the NSF.

Each year since 1952, undergraduate and graduate students early in their careers have received fellowship offers from NSF to pursue research in STEM. By recruiting and supporting outstanding students with high potential in science, technology, engineering and mathematics, GRFP has nurtured economic innovation and leadership in the U.S. More than 40 former fellows have been awarded Nobel Prizes and more than 400 have been selected as members of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine.

— With information from the National Science Foundation

Jose Chacon

Claire Chapman

Andrew Kapinos

Gabrielle Meza

Jocelyn Olvera

John Reddan

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NERS graduate students receive NSF fellowships

Logan Burnett and Nataly R. Panczyk have been awarded prestigious fellowships from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Sara Norman

Logan Burnett and Nataly R. Panczyk have received fellowships from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program. In receiving these prestigious fellowships, both Logan and Nataly have demonstrated their exceptional dedication to advancing scientific research and innovation in their respective fields. Their work, which will be done under the mentorship of Prof. Majdi Radaideh in the Artificial Intelligence and Multiphysics Simulations (AIMS) Laboratory when they begin their graduate studies at NERS this fall, reflects the program’s mission to ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the U.S. scientific and engineering workforce. With their diverse backgrounds and ambitious goals, Logan and Nataly exemplify the promise of the next generation of leaders in STEM, poised to make significant contributions to nuclear engineering and artificial intelligence.

Logan Burnett

Hailing from Birmingham, Alabama, Logan’s academic journey began at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he pursued his undergraduate degree in physics. His diverse academic background and the reputation of NERS led him to pursue a graduate degree here at U-M.

“I chose to attend NERS because I want to be an industry leader for the next generation of nuclear power,” said Logan. “Prof. Radaideh’s research on integrating artificial intelligence with nuclear applications is the perfect opportunity to utilize my background in physics, mechanical engineering, and high-fidelity simulation.”

At the heart of Logan’s research lies a mosaic of experiences and insights gleaned from his multifaceted journey through various academic and research environments. As an undergraduate, Logan simultaneously worked in three different labs within three separate fields.

While at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, he first joined Prof. Cheng-Chien Chen’s computational condensed matter group where he simulated rare-earth materials on various national supercomputers. Knowing that he’d eventually like to study nuclear energy in graduate school, he also joined Prof. Suzanne Lapi’s lab at the Cyclotron Facility where he helped prepare, irradiate, and analyze radioisotopes for medical imaging applications. It was there that he developed a code for speeding up analysis which is currently in the pipeline of being published.

The third lab Logan joined was Prof. Emilio Baglietto’s Computational Fluid Dynamics Group at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology as part of the MIT Summer Research Program. He wasn’t happy with leaving his project after the summer, so he continued working remotely and recently brought the project to completion as it was published in Nuclear Technology.

Looking towards the future, Logan harbors ambitious plans for leveraging his expertise to shape the landscape of the nuclear energy sector. Post-PhD, he envisions himself playing a pivotal role in microreactor startups, capitalizing on his experiences at NERS to drive innovation in artificial intelligence-assisted operation and management. However, beyond corporate endeavors, Logan’s ultimate goal is to establish his own startup focused on the deployment of microreactors—a venture driven not only by commercial aspirations but also by a profound sense of purpose in bringing reliable energy to underserved communities around the globe.

“I’d like to recognize my main PI from undergraduate, Prof. Cheng-Chien Chen, as I would’ve never made it to NERS without him,” said Logan. “He has been and no doubt will continue to be one of my mentors, and much of my success is a product of his incredible dedication and mentorship. Throughout my development as a researcher, he was persistent in getting me involved in collaborations, presenting at conferences, and pushing me to produce the best research possible. I think our relationship also testifies to the success that can take place when a PI treats their students as friends and collaborators rather than just a worker. I hope to implement the same ideology as I pursue leadership within the nuclear industry.”

“Logan’s commitment and passion to develop the next generation of nuclear power was truly inspiring from the first meeting we had,” said Radaideh. “I am excited to be part of his professional growth and I look forward to seeing him establish a great career at NERS and become a leader in the industry.”

Nataly R. Panczyk

Hailing from Palatine, Illinois, Nataly’s journey to U-M began with a foundation laid at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nuclear, Plasma, and Radiological Engineering in 2024. It was during her undergraduate studies that Nataly became aware of the NERS Prof. Majdi Radaideh’s research into explainable artificial intelligence methodology for nuclear applications.

“I’ve been interested in doing my PhD in Nuclear Engineering essentially since my second semester of undergrad,” said Nataly. “Prof. Radaideh’s work in artificial intelligence sounded fascinating to me, so I applied. It helped that U-M is one of the best-ranked programs in the country.”

Nataly’s research centers around enhancing the capabilities of artificial intelligence within the realm of nuclear engineering. Collaborating with Prof. Radaideh, she aims to develop an explainable artificial intelligence methodology that not only enhances the understanding of artificial intelligence-generated conclusions but also fosters trust in its outcomes.

“Having a model-agnostic explainable artificial intelligence tool would not only be huge for nuclear from a regulatory perspective, but could offer benefits to other highly regulated, and/or high-risk industries as well,” said Nataly.

Nataly’s ultimate goal is clear and resolute: to contribute to the proliferation of carbon-free energy sources, with a steadfast belief in the pivotal role of nuclear power.

“My goal is to help put as many carbon-free electrons on the grid as possible,” said Nataly. “Nuclear power is the most efficient way to get there.”

Post-PhD, she envisions herself actively engaged in the operation and deployment of existing and emerging nuclear reactors worldwide. Recognizing climate change as a collective challenge, Nataly is committed to leveraging her expertise to combat this global crisis, one electron at a time. Her vision extends beyond national borders, encompassing communities and countries alike, united in the pursuit of a sustainable future.

“I am especially grateful for my professors at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign who not only helped me earn this fellowship, but who also taught, supported, and advised me throughout my undergraduate career,” said Nataly. “Specifically, Prof. Caleb Brooks, Prof. Madicken Munk, and Prof. Tomasz Kozlowski were all willing to give me their time and attention whenever I needed it. Without them, I simply could not have gotten where I am today.”

“Nataly stands out among the few students I observed who diligently prepared for graduate school well in advance,” said Radaideh. “I can see her emerging as an outstanding leader in our field, focusing on a unique intersection of reactor design, explainable AI, and their societal implications.”

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Graduate student awarded prestigious fellowship from National Science Foundation

Paige (Elizabeth) Bond, a doctoral student in the biomedical sciences graduate program at Penn State College of Medicine , has been selected as a fellow for the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) in 2024. Bond is the first student from the College of Medicine to be selected for this fellowship.

The GRFP recognizes graduate students who are advancing research and teaching science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Bond, whose background is in biochemistry, is one of the 1,500 fellows selected from over 12,000 applicants.

For the five-year fellowship, Bond will focus on identifying deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) changes that influence traits and disorders more prevalent in women than men, such as many autoimmune diseases. She is particularly interested in finding genes on the sex chromosomes since role of these gender determinants in human genetic disorders is often ignored.

Under the joint supervision of Laura Carrel, PhD , and Dajiang Liu, PhD , Bond will use a combination of experimental and computational approaches to link DNA alterations to genes that are disrupted in autoimmune disorders to better understand disease mechanisms and find people who are at highest risk.

“Paige is a very worthy recipient of this award,” Liu said. “Her science is at the forefront of human genetics. Her ability and interest in utilizing multiple approaches will be key for understanding the molecular basis of autoimmune disorders.”

NSF fellows are required to translate their scientific knowledge and findings to the general public. Bond is building a website that will describe what her studies find on the X chromosome. This site will include information of interest to high school and college students and clinical geneticists alike.

“It is a great honor to receive this award,” Bond said. “In our increasingly interconnected world, it is imperative that we conduct interdisciplinary research to tackle complex problems from multiple angles. I am excited to see what we can accomplish through the blending of data science, genomics and molecular genetics to improve patient outcomes.”

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Prestigious NSF grant will fund MSU graduate student’s missing persons research

Contact: Sarah Nicholas

STARKVILLE, Miss.—A Mississippi State University graduate student whose work benefitted the Mississippi Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons is the recipient of a prestigious National Science Foundation fellowship.

Sarajane Smith-Escudero, a master’s student in the Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures, is a selection for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program in Anthropology. She was chosen as an outstanding graduate student with the potential to be a high-achieving scientist with demonstrated potential for significant research achievements. She will receive more than $150,000 for research and education materials in the first three years of her five-year fellowship.

“With this award, I hope to continue my research on the racialized public safety crisis that disproportionately affects Black, indigenous and other people of color. Overall, I hope to help the public in Mississippi by deepening our understanding of the intersections between race and ‘missingness,’ and hopefully raising awareness about missing persons cases,” said Smith-Escudero, a native of Laredo, Texas. “As NSF reviewers noted, not only will my project have a positive impact on Mississippi, but by bringing my insight as a bilingual BIPOC individual to forensic anthropology, I have the potential to help shape the discipline in the future.”

Smith-Escudero received a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and Latino studies from the University of Notre Dame in 2023. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in applied anthropology with a focus in forensic anthropology and bioarchaeology. The NSF award will allow Smith-Escudero to hold a fall graduate manager position with the MRMUP, led by Jesse Goliath, MSU Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures assistant professor.

For more information about MSU’s College of Arts and Sciences, Department of Anthropology and Middle Eastern Cultures and Mississippi Repository for Missing and Unidentified Persons, visit www.cas.msstate.edu , www.amec.msstate.edu and www.missinginms.msstate.edu .

Mississippi State University is taking care of what matters. Learn more at www.msstate.edu .

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