nsf graduate fellowship 2022

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

 2024 Offered Award List

2022 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Awardees Announced

Three ccs students receive prestigious fellowships.

This spring, Jadon Bienz ‘22 (CCS Chemistry and Biochemistry), Emily Lopez ‘22 (CCS Mathematics) , and Patrick Tran ‘22 (CCS Physics) received 2022  National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program awards (NSF GRFP). The NSF offers these distinguished fellowships to outstanding students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines to support their pursuit of research-based graduate degrees. All three recipients plan to pursue doctoral degrees beginning in the fall.

Jadon will be attending Caltech to pursue a PhD in Materials Science. “I plan to work on electrode materials for novel multivalent ion rechargeable batteries, to help move beyond the scarcity of resources surrounding Li-ion batteries,” said Jadon.

Emily will be moving to the east coast to attend the Center for Applied Mathematics at Cornell University to pursue a PhD in Applied Mathematics and study machine learning algorithms and their role in image processing. “As a graduate student, I hope to have more influence on learning environments through STEM outreach and teaching assistantships so that I can make academia a more welcoming place for diverse students,” said Emily. “I have been so fortunate to have found welcoming communities and to meet great mentors along my academic career. I am truly grateful.” Before starting her graduate studies, she will be participating in the Enhancing Diversity in Graduate Education (EDGE) for Women program at Oxford over the summer.

Patrick is currently working on two research projects, one in computational biophysics with Dr. Paul Atzberger, and the other in condensed matter theory with Dr. Sagar Vijay. He will then attend UC Berkeley to pursue a PhD in Physics. While at UC Berkeley, he will be “focusing on high energy theory, exploring the connections between condensed matter systems and quantum gravity.”

CCS congratulates Jadon, Emily, and Patrick!

• The Graduate School >
• Graduate News >

Four from UB receive NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

By Charles Anzalone

Release Date: May 7, 2024

BUFFALO, N.Y. – Three University at Buffalo students and one alumna have received prestigious National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) scholarships.

Two alumni and one current students received honorable mentions.

The latest awards continue UB’s success in placing its students as winners in the GRFP scholarship program. Launched in 1952, the GRFP represents the oldest continuous investment in the nation’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce. As one of the most competitive scholastic programs in the U.S., it recruits high-potential, early-career scientists and engineers, and supports their graduate research training.

“The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship is a great recognition of the recipients’ accomplishments,” says Ashlee N. Ford Versypt, associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and faculty fellow for NSF GRFP at UB. “Their potential for further impacts in their fields of research is a reflection of the outstanding research environment at UB.

“Additionally, Ariel Lighty, one of this year’s recipients, is a graduate student in my lab, which is very exciting personally.”

The UB students and recent graduates who received the GRFP are:

Lauren Heinzinger (Scarsdale, New York)

Heinzinger graduated from UB in 2021 with a BS in biological sciences and a BA in English and psychology. While at UB, she was a National Institutes of Health Undergraduate Scholarship Program (NIH UGSP) recipient and a Ronald E. McNair Scholar. After earning her bachelor’s degree, she worked at the NIH as a postbaccalaureate research fellow for two and a half years. In the fall, she will pursue a PhD in microbiology and immunology at the University of Michigan as a Rackham Merit Fellow. Heinzinger’s basic and translational research interests include host-pathogen interactions and bacterial pathogenesis.

Luke Hess (Grand Island, New York)

Hess graduates from UB this spring with a BS in biochemistry and will pursue a PhD in cancer biology at the University of Michigan. He conducted research in biochemistry professor Jennifer Surtees’s lab at UB and at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center under Katerina Gurova. His research pertains to understanding genomic instability and characterizing next-generation chemotherapies, called chromatin damaging agents. Hess has also served as a Civic Engagement Alternative Break team leader, Ready-Set-Buffalo team leader and is an academic tutor.

Ariel Lighty (Bremerton, Washington)

Ariel Lighty is a first-generation student and UB Schomburg Fellow pursuing a PhD in chemical and biological engineering. Her PhD research focuses on understanding the effects of aging and diet on gut health using mathematical models, and she hopes to continue advancing biomedical sciences through data-driven and mechanistic models after graduating.

Sarah MacDougall (New York, New York)

MacDougall is completing her master’s degree in linguistics and will pursue her PhD in psychology at UB in the fall focusing on language processing and cognition. A former music major, she took a winding path and eventually got her undergraduate degree in psychology from Purdue University before pursuing graduate studies at UB.

One current UB student and two alumni received honorable mention:

• Leah Maykish  received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering at Ohio State University in 2015 is pursuing a PhD in engineering education at UB.
• Julia Shapiro  received a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from UB in 2022. She will receive her master’s degree in mathematics from Virginia Tech this semester and will continue on at Virginia Tech to earn a PhD in mathematics.
• Matthew Simkulet  graduated from UB in 2022 with a bachelor’s of science degree in biomedical engineering and a mathematics minor. He is currently pursuing his PhD in biomedical engineering at Boston University.

Media Contact Information

Charles Anzalone News Content Manager Educational Opportunity Center, Law, Nursing, Honors College, Student Activities Tel: 716-645-4600 [email protected]

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Archived funding opportunity

Nsf 19-590: graduate research fellowship program (grfp), program solicitation, document information, document history.

• Posted: July 26, 2019
• Replaces: NSF 18-573
• Replaced by: NSF 20-587

Program Solicitation NSF 19-590

Application Deadline(s) (received by 5 p.m. local time of applicant's mailing address):

     October 21, 2019

      Life Sciences, Geosciences

     October 22, 2019

      Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Engineering, Materials Research

     October 24, 2019

      Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education and Learning

     October 25, 2019

      Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy

     October 19, 2020

     October 20, 2020

     October 22, 2020

     October 23, 2020

Important Information And Revision Notes

• This solicitation covers the Fiscal Year (FY)2020 and FY2021 competitions.
• Applications must be submitted in research.gov through the GRFP Application Module ( https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do ).
• Applications are due at 5:00 p.m. local time of the applicant's mailing address.
• Portions of the eligibility criteria have been rewritten for clarity.
• Individuals pursuing a master's degree simultaneously with the bachelor's degree (joint bachelor's-master's degree) must have completed three years in the joint program and are limited to one application to GRFP; they will not be eligible to apply again as a doctoral degree student. Individuals in this category who applied in the FY2019 competition (Fall 2018 deadline) are eligible to apply as first-year doctoral students only in the FY2020 competition (Fall 2019 deadline).
• Sections of the Field of Study eligibility criteria have been rewritten for clarity.
• The required number of Reference Letters has been clarified.
• Reference letters are due at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).

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 of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's 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.

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.

• Christopher Hill, telephone: (866) 673-4737, email: [email protected]
• Jong-on Hahm, telephone: (866) 673-4737, email: [email protected]
• Narcrisha S. Norman, telephone: (866) 673-4737, email: [email protected]
• Applications contact: GRF Operations Center, telephone: (866) 673-4737, 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 --- Office of International Science and Engineering
• 47.083 --- Office of Integrative Activities (OIA)

Award Information

Anticipated Type of Award: Fellowship

Estimated Number of Awards: 1,600

The NSF expects to award 1,600 Graduate Research Fellowships per fiscal year under this program solicitation pending availability of funds.

Anticipated Funding Amount: $138,000

Per award (Fellowship), pending the availability of funds.

Each Fellowship consists of three years of support during a five-year fellowship period. Currently, NSF provides a stipend of $34,000 to the Fellow and a cost-of-education allowance of $12,000 to the graduate degree-granting institution for each Fellow who uses the fellowship support in a fellowship year.

Eligibility Information

Organization Limit:

Fellowship applications must be submitted by the prospective Fellow. Applicants must register with Research.gov ( https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do ) prior to submitting an application. Confirmation of acceptance in a graduate degree program in science or engineering is required at the time of Fellowship acceptance, no later than May 1 of the year the award is accepted. Prospective Fellows must enroll in a non-profit university, college, or other institution of higher education accredited in, and having a campus located in, the United States, its territories, or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico that offers advanced degrees in STEM or STEM education no later than fall of the year the award is accepted. All Fellows from the date of Acceptance through Completion or Termination of the Fellowship must be enrolled in a graduate degree-granting institution accredited in, and having a campus located in, the United States, its territories, or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

See the information provided below in Detailed Eligibility Requirements . Applicants must self-certify that they are eligible to receive the Fellowship. To be eligible, an applicant must meet all of the following eligibility criteria by the application deadline: Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident 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 (See Appendix and Section IV.3 for eligible Fields of Study) Have never previously accepted a GRFP award If previously offered a GRFP award, have declined by the deadline Have never previously applied to GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program Have never earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field Have never earned a master's or professional degree (see joint bachelor's-master's degree information below) in any field, unless (i) returning to graduate study after an interruption of two (2) or more consecutive years immediately preceding the deadline, and; (ii) are not enrolled in a graduate degree program at the application deadline Not be a current NSF employee Number of Times Individuals May Apply Undergraduate seniors and bachelor's degree holders may apply before enrolling in a degree-granting graduate program. Graduate students enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program are limited to only one application to the GRFP, submitted in the first year or at the beginning of the second year of their degree program. Individuals pursuing a master's degree simultaneously with the bachelor's degree (joint bachelor's-master's degree) must have completed three (3) years in the joint program and are limited to one application to GRFP; they will not be eligible to apply again as a doctoral degree student. Individuals in this category who applied in the FY2019 competition (Fall 2018 deadline) are eligible to apply as first-year doctoral students only in the FY2020 competition (Fall 2019 deadline). Individuals holding joint bachelor's-master's degrees 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, may apply as first-year doctoral students only. Applications withdrawn by November 15 of the application year do not count toward the one-time graduate application limit. Applications withdrawn after November 15 count toward this one-time limit. Applications not reviewed by NSF (returned without review) do not count toward the one-time graduate application limit. There is a limited opportunity for returning graduate students to apply for a graduate research fellowship. Individuals who have (i) completed more than one academic year in a degree-granting program, (ii) earned a previous master's degree of any kind (including bachelor's-master's degree), or (iii) earned a non-doctoral professional degree are eligible only if: 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.

Limit on Number of Applications per Applicant: 1

An eligible applicant may submit only one application per annual competition.

Application 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 NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) proposal preparation guidelines. Please see the full text of this solicitation for further information.

B. Budgetary Information

C. due dates, application review information criteria.

Merit Review Criteria:

National Science Board approved Merit Review Criteria (Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts) apply. Additional Solicitation-Specific Review Criteria also apply (see Section VI.A below).

Award Administration Information

Award Conditions:

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

Reporting Requirements:

See reporting requirements in full text of solicitation and the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials . Fellows are required to submit annual activity reports and to declare fellowship status by May 1 each year. Additional reporting requirements are presented in Section VII.C of this solicitation.

I. Introduction

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is a National Science Foundation-wide program that provides Fellowships to individuals selected early in their graduate careers based on their demonstrated potential for significant research achievements in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. Three years of support is provided by the program for graduate study that leads to a research-based master's or doctoral degree in STEM or STEM education (see Fields of Study in Appendix).

The program goals are: 1) to select, recognize, and financially support, early in their careers, individuals with the demonstrated potential to be high achieving scientists and engineers, and 2) to broaden participation in science and engineering of underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans. NSF especially encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, persons with disabilities, veterans, and undergraduate seniors to apply. GRFP is a critical program in NSF's overall strategy to develop the globally-engaged workforce necessary to ensure the Nation's leadership in advancing science and engineering research and innovation. The ranks of NSF Fellows include numerous individuals who have made transformative breakthrough discoveries in science and engineering, become leaders in their chosen careers, and been honored as Nobel laureates.

II. Program Description

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) awards Fellowships for graduate study leading to research-based master's and doctoral degrees in STEM or in STEM education. GRFP supports individuals proposing a comprehensive plan for graduate education that takes individual interests and competencies into consideration. The plan describes the academic achievements, attributes, and experiences that illustrate the applicant's demonstrated potential for significant research achievements. The applicant must provide a detailed profile of their relevant education, research experience, and plans for graduate education that demonstrates this potential.

Prospective applicants are advised that submission of an application implies their intent to pursue graduate study in a research-based program in STEM or STEM education at an accredited, non-profit institution of higher education having a campus located in the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. All applicants are expected to either have adequate preparation to enroll in a degree-granting graduate program by fall of the year the award is accepted, or be enrolled in a research based master's or doctoral program in STEM or STEM education. From the date of Acceptance through Completion or Termination of the Fellowship, applicants accepting the award (Fellows) must be enrolled in an accredited graduate degree-granting institution having a campus located in the United States, its territories or possessions, or the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico.

III. Award Information

Fellowship funding will be for a maximum of three years of financial support (in 12-month allocations, starting in summer or fall) usable over a five-year fellowship period. The anticipated announcement date for the Fellowship awards is early April each year.

The institution at which a Fellow is enrolled receives up to a $46,000 award per Fellow who uses the fellowship support in a fellowship year. The Graduate Research Fellowship stipend is currently $34,000 for a 12-month tenure period, prorated in whole month increments of $2,833. The cost-of-education allowance to the institution is currently $12,000 per year of fellowship support.

During receipt of the fellowship support, the institution is required to exempt Fellows from paying tuition and fees normally charged to students of similar academic standing, unless such charges are optional or are refundable (i.e., the institution is responsible for tuition and required fees in excess of the cost-of-education allowance). Refer to NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials for restrictions on the use of the cost-of-education allowance.

GRFP awards are eligible for supplemental funding as described in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG).

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects as described in the PAPPG Chapter II.E.6. Fellows with disabilities may apply for assistance after consulting the instructions in the document NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials.

NSF Career-Life Balance Initiative ( NSF 13-099 ) offers limited paid and unpaid leave options for Fellows facing dependent-care issues (childbirth/adoption and elder care).

Honorable Mention

The NSF accords Honorable Mention to meritorious applicants who do not receive Fellowship awards. This is considered a significant national academic achievement.

IV. Eligibility Information

Applicant Eligibility:

Additional Eligibility Info:

Detailed Eligibility Requirements: Described in detail below are the eligibility requirements for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program: (1) citizenship, (2) degree requirements, and (3) field of study. Applicants are strongly advised to read the entire program solicitation carefully to ensure that they understand all the requirements. Applicants must self-certify that they intend to pursue or are pursuing a research-based graduate degree in an eligible field of study and that they meet all eligibility criteria. 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. It does not refer to a citizen of another country who has applied for United States citizenship and who has not received U.S. citizenship by the application deadline. 2. Degree Requirements Applicants are eligible to apply: 1) as undergraduates or bachelor's degree holders who have never enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program, and who will be prepared to attend graduate school in fall of the award year; or 2) as graduate students who have not completed more than one academic year of a graduate program in an eligible field of study (see Appendix). Below are detailed guidelines to determine eligibility: a) Applicants not currently enrolled in a graduate degree program: With no prior graduate degree program enrollment Undergraduate students on track to receive a bachelor's degree prior to the fall of the year following the application (e.g., senior or final year of bachelor's degree) Bachelor's degree holders never enrolled in a graduate degree program can apply any time. However, they must be prepared to enroll in a full-time graduate degree program in the summer or fall of the year they are offered a GRFP award. With prior enrollment in a graduate degree program Applicants must not have completed more than one academic year of graduate study as defined by the universities attended as of the application deadline (see exception below). Applicants re-entering graduate study : applicants who have completed more than one academic year of graduate study or earned a previous graduate or professional degree are eligible only if they have had an interruption in graduate study of at least two consecutive years immediately prior to the application deadline, and are not enrolled in a graduate program at the deadline . Applicants must not have engaged in any graduate coursework during the interruption. Applicants should address the reasons for the interruption in graduate study in the Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement. b) Applicants pursuing a master's degree simultaneously with a bachelor's degree (joint bachelor's-master's degree program): Individuals pursuing a master's degree simultaneously with the bachelor's degree (joint bachelor's-master's degree) must have completed three years in the joint program and are limited to one application to GRFP; they will not be eligible to apply again as a doctoral degree student. Individuals in this category who applied in the FY2019 competition (Fall 2018 deadline) are eligible to apply as first-year doctoral students only in the 2020 competition if they meet all other eligibility requirements. Individuals holding joint bachelor's-master's degrees 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, may apply as first-year doctoral students only. c) Applicants currently enrolled in a graduate degree program: Applicants must not have completed more than one academic year of graduate study as defined by the universities attended, as of the application deadline. 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 is not included in this total. Graduate coursework taken without being enrolled in a graduate degree-granting program is not counted in this limit.

3. Field of Study

Fellowships are awarded for graduate study leading to research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. If awarded, Fellows must enroll in a graduate degree program consistent with the field of study proposed in their application. The guidelines below should be used to assess eligibility according to the field of study. Applicants are encouraged to carefully read the exceptions as applications ruled ineligible will be returned without review.

The following programs, areas of graduate study, and research are ineligible for Fellowship support:

Individuals are not eligible to apply if they will be enrolled in a practice-oriented professional degree program such as medical, dental, law, and public health degrees at any time during the fellowship. Ineligible degree programs include, but are not limited to, MBA, MPH, MSW, JD, MD, DVM and DDS. Joint or combined professional degree-science programs (e.g., MD/PhD or JD/PhD) and dual professional degree-science programs are also ineligible. Individuals enrolled in a graduate degree program while on a leave of absence from a professional degree program or professional degree-graduate degree joint program are ineligible.

Individuals are not eligible to apply if they will be enrolled in graduate study focused on clinical practice, counseling, social work, patient-oriented research, epidemiological and medical behavioral studies, outcomes research, and health services research. Ineligible study includes 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. Individuals pursuing graduate study focused on community, public, or global health, or other population-based research including medical intervention trials are also ineligible.

Individuals are not eligible to apply if they will conduct research for which the goals are directly health-related, such as etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality, or malfunction in humans and other animals. Research activities using animal models of disease, for developing or testing of drugs or other procedures for treatment of disease, and statistical modeling for which the purpose is diagnosis or epidemiology also are not eligible for support. Studies focused on basic questions in plant pathology are eligible, however, applied studies focused on maximizing production in agricultural plants or impacts on food safety, are not eligible.

Certain areas of bioengineering research directed at medical use are eligible. These include research projects in bioengineering to aid persons with disabilities, or to diagnose or treat human disease, provided they apply engineering principles to problems in medicine while primarily advancing engineering knowledge. Applicants planning to study and conduct research in these areas of bioengineering should select biomedical engineering as the field of study.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center is responsible for responding to questions about the program. For questions concerning eligibility and fields of study, contact the Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center, (866) 673-4737, international (202) 331-3542, or [email protected] .

V. Application Preparation And Submission Instructions

Applicants must first register as a Research.gov user on the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program website at https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do . Fellowship applications must be submitted electronically using the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Application Module at https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do according to the deadline corresponding with the Field of Study selected in the application . Instructions for preparing and submitting applications are available through the "Applicant Help" link in the GRFP Application Module.

Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. local time, as determined by the applicant's mailing address provided in the application. Applications received after the Field of Study deadline will be returned without review .

All reference letters must be submitted electronically by the reference writers through the GRFP Application Module and must be received by the reference letter deadline (see Application Preparation and Submission Instructions/C. Due Dates of this Solicitation), by 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET). Two reference letters are required for applications to be reviewed. Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide three reference letters. If fewer than two reference letters (one or none) are received by the reference letter deadline, the application will be returned without review.

Applicants must submit the following information through the GRFP Application Module: Personal Information; Education, Work and Other Experience; electronic transcripts; Proposed Field(s) of Study; Proposed Graduate Study and Graduate School Information; the names and email addresses of at least three reference letter writers; Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement; and Graduate Research Plan Statement.

Only the information required in the GRFP Application Module will be reviewed. No additional items or information will be accepted or reviewed. No materials will be accepted via email. Do not provide links to web pages within the application, except as part of citations in the References Cited section. Any images must be included in the page limits. Review of the application and reference letters is based solely on materials received by the application and reference letter deadlines.

Applicants must follow the instructions in the GRFP Application Module, including the instructions found at the "Applicant Help" link in the Module, for completing each section of the application. The statements must be written using the following guidelines:

• standard 8.5" x 11" page size
• 12-point, Times New Roman font
• 10-point font may be used for references, footnotes, figure captions and text within figures
• 1" margins on all sides
• Single-spaced (approximately 5 lines per inch) or greater line spacing. Do not use line spacing options such as "exactly 12 point," that are less than single spaced.

Compliance with these guidelines will be judged based on the document as it appears in the GRFP Application Module after it is uploaded. Applicants are strongly encouraged to proofread and upload their documents early to ensure compliance and avoid potential formatting issues caused by the PDF conversion process. Applications that are not compliant with these format requirements will be returned without review.

The maximum length of the Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement is three (3) pages. The maximum length of the Graduate Research Plan Statement is two (2) pages. These page limits include all references, citations, charts, figures, images, and lists of publications and presentations. Applicants must certify that the two statements (Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement, and Graduate Research Plan Statement) in the application are their own original work. As explained in the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG): "NSF expects strict adherence to the rules of proper scholarship and attribution. The responsibility for proper scholarship and attribution rests with the authors of a proposal; all parts of the proposal should be prepared with equal care for this concern. Authors other than the PI (or any co-PI) should be named and acknowledged. Serious failure to adhere to such standards can result in findings of research misconduct. NSF policies and rules on research misconduct are discussed in the PAPPG, as well as 45 CFR Part 689."

Both statements must address NSF's review criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts (described in detail in Section VI). In each statement, applicants should address Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts under separate headings to provide reviewers with the information necessary to evaluate the application with respect to both Criteria.

In the application, applicants must list their baccalaureate institution, and all graduate institutions attended with a start date prior to the fall term in which the application is submitted. Transcripts are required for all institutions listed. If the applicant started at the current institution in the fall of the application year and the institution does not provide unofficial or official transcripts prior to completion of the first term, the applicant may submit a class schedule/enrollment verification form in place of a transcript. At least one transcript must be included for the application to be accepted by the GRFP Application Module.

Transcripts must be submitted electronically through the GRFP Application Module by the Field of Study application deadline. Applicants should redact personally-identifiable information (date of birth, individual Social Security Numbers, personal financial information, home addresses, home telephone numbers and personal email addresses) from the transcripts before uploading. Transcripts must be uploaded in a format that is supported by FastLane as described in the FastLane GRFP Application Module. The GRFP Application Module does not accept encrypted or password-protected transcripts.

Applicants who earned master's degrees in joint bachelor's-master's degree programs should submit transcripts that clearly document the joint program. If the transcript does not document the joint program, applicants must upload a letter from the registrar of the institution certifying enrollment in a joint program, appended to the transcript for that institution. Failure to provide clear documentation of a joint program may result in an application being returned without review.

Failure to comply fully with the above requirements will result in the application being returned without review.

Applications that are incomplete due to missing required transcripts and/or reference letters (fewer than two letters received), or that do not have "received" status in the Application Module on the application deadline for the selected Field of Study) will be returned without review. Applicants are advised to submit applications early to avoid unanticipated delays on the deadline dates.

Reference Letters

Two reference lettersfrom non-family members are required for an application to be reviewed. Applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain three reference letters. Applications with fewer than two reference letters (one or none) will be returned without review.

All reference letters must be received in the GRFP Application Module by 5:00 p.m. ET (Eastern Time) on the letter submission deadline date (see the deadline posted in GRFP Application Module and in Application Preparation and Submission Instructions/C. Due Dates of this Solicitation). No exceptions to the reference letter submission deadline will be granted. Each letter is limited to two (2) pages. The GRFP Application Module allows applicants to request up to five (5) reference letters and to rank those reference letters in order of preference for review. If more than three reference letters are received, the top three will be considered for the application. Reference writers will be notified by an email of the request to submit a letter of reference on behalf of an applicant. To avoid disqualifying an application, reference writers should take into consideration the Eastern Time (ET) hours of operation of the NSF Help Desk as stated in the notification email. Letter writers will receive a confirmation email after submitting a letter via the GRFP Application Module.

Applicants must enter an email address for each reference writer into the GRFP Application Module. An exact email address is crucial to matching the reference writer and the applicant in the 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.

Applicant-nominated reference writers must submit their letters through the GRFP Application Module. Reference letter requirements include:

• Institutional (or professional) letterhead, if available
• Two (2) page limit
• 12-point Times New Roman in the body of the letter
• Name and title of reference writer
• Department and institution or organization

The reference letter should address the NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts (described in detail below). It should include details explaining the nature of the relationship to the applicant (including research advisor role), 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 aid review panels in evaluating the application according to the NSF Merit Review Criteria.

Application Completion Status

Applicants should use the "Application Completion Status" feature in the GRFP Application Module to ensure all application materials, including reference letters, have been received by NSF before the deadlines. For technical support, call the NSF Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail [email protected] .

Interdisciplinary Applications

NSF welcomes applications for interdisciplinary programs of study and research; however, data on interdisciplinary study is collected for informational purposes only. 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" (Committee on Facilitating Interdisciplinary Research, Committee on Science, Engineering, and Public Policy, 2004. Facilitating interdisciplinary research . National Academies. Washington: National Academy Press, p. 2). Applications must be received by the deadline for the first Field of Study designated in the application. Applications will be reviewed by experts in the first Field of Study listed. If awarded, Fellows will be required to enroll in a degree program consistent with the Field of Study in which the application was funded.

Withdrawal of a GRFP application

To withdraw a submitted application, the applicant must withdraw their application using the Withdrawal option in the GRFP Application Module.

Applications withdrawn by November 15 of the application year do not count toward the one-time graduate application limit. Applications withdrawn after November 15 count toward this limit.

Cost Sharing:

Inclusion of voluntary committed cost sharing is prohibited.

Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:

No indirect costs are allowed.

Other Budgetary Limitations:

NSF awards $46,000 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 is $34,000 for a 12-month tenure period, prorated in monthly increments of $2,833. The institutional cost-of-education allowance is $12,000 per tenure year per Fellow.

D. Application Submission Requirements

Applicants are required to prepare and submit all applications for this program solicitation through the GRFP Application Module. Detailed instructions for application preparation and submission are available at: https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do . For user support, call the NSF Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail: [email protected] . The NSF Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the 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. Application Review Information

A. merit review principles and criteria.

Applications are reviewed by disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists and engineers and other professional graduate education experts. Reviewers are selected by Program Officers charged with oversight of the review process. Care is taken to ensure that reviewers have no conflicts of interest with the applicants. Applications are reviewed in broad areas of related disciplines based on the selection of a Field of Study (see Fields of Study in Appendix). Selection of a Field of Study determines the application deadline, the broad disciplinary expertise of the reviewers, and the discipline of the graduate degree program if awarded a Fellowship . Applicants are advised to select the Field of Study in the GRFP Application Module (see Fields of Study in Appendix) that is most closely aligned with the proposed graduate program of study and research plan. Applicants who select "Other" must provide additional information describing their studies.

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 ). Applicants must include separate statements on Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts in their written statements in order to provide reviewers with the information necessary to evaluate the application with respect to both Criteria as detailed below. Applicants should include headings for Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts in their statements.

The following description of the Merit Review Criteria is provided in Chapter III of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide (PAPPG) :

All NSF proposals are evaluated through use of the two National Science Board approved merit review criteria. In some instances, however, NSF will employ additional criteria as required to highlight the specific objectives of certain programs and activities. The two merit review criteria are listed below. Both criteria are to be given full consideration during the review and decision-making processes; each criterion is necessary but neither, by itself, is sufficient. Therefore, proposers must fully address both criteria. (PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.d.i. contains additional information for use by proposers in development of the Project Description section of the proposal.) Reviewers are strongly encouraged to review the criteria, including PAPPG Chapter II.C.2.d.i., prior to the review of a proposal. When evaluating NSF proposals, reviewers will be asked to consider what the proposers want to do, why they want to do it, how they plan to do it, how they will know if they succeed, and what benefits could accrue if the project is successful. These issues apply both to the technical aspects of the proposal and the way in which the project may make broader contributions. To that end, reviewers will be asked to evaluate all proposals against two criteria: Intellectual Merit : The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge; and Broader Impacts : The Broader Impacts criterion encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes. The following elements should be considered in the review for both criteria: What is the potential for the proposed activity to: Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)? To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts? Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success? How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities? Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

Additionally, Chapter II of the NSF Proposal and Award Policies and Procedures Guide states:

Broader impacts may be accomplished through the research itself, through the activities that are directly related to specific research projects, or through activities that are supported by, but are complementary to, the project. NSF values the advancement of scientific knowledge and activities that contribute to achievement of societally relevant outcomes. Such outcomes include, but are not limited to: full participation of women, persons with disabilities, and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM); improved STEM education and educator development at any level; increased public scientific literacy and public engagement with science and technology; improved well-being of individuals in society; development of a diverse, globally competitive STEM workforce; increased partnerships between academia, industry, and others; improved national security; increased economic competitiveness of the US; and enhanced infrastructure for research and education.

Additional Solicitation Specific Review Criteria

Applicants are reviewed on their demonstrated potential to advance knowledge and to make significant research achievements and contributions to their fields throughout their careers. Reviewers are asked to assess applications using a holistic, comprehensive approach, giving balanced consideration to all components of the application, including the educational and research record, leadership, outreach, service activities, and future plans, as well as individual competencies, experiences, and other attributes. The aim is to recruit and retain a diverse cohort of early-career individuals with high potential for future achievements, contributions, and broader impacts in STEM and STEM education.

B. Application Review and Selection Process

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

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

The primary responsibility of each reviewer is to evaluate eligible GRFP applications by applying the Merit Review Criteria described in Section VI.A, and to recommend applicants for NSF Graduate Research Fellowships. Reviewers are instructed to review the applications holistically, applying the Merit Review Criteria and noting GRFP's emphasis on demonstrated potential for significant research achievements in STEM or in STEM education. From these recommendations, NSF selects applicants for Fellowships or Honorable Mention, in line with NSF's mission and the goals of GRFP. After Fellowship offers are made, applicants are able to view verbatim reviewer comments, excluding the names of the reviewers, for a limited period of time through the NSF GRFP website.

VII. Award Administration Information

A. notification of the award.

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program applicants will be notified of the outcomes of their applications by early April of the competition year. The NSF publishes lists of Fellowship and Honorable Mention recipients on the GRFP website at https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do in early April.

B. Award Conditions

An NSF Graduate Research Fellowship award consists of the award 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 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials .

The applicant must accept or decline the Fellowship by May 1 of the competition year by logging into the GRFP link at https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do with the applicant User ID and password. Failure to comply with the deadline and acceptance of Fellowship Terms and Conditions by the deadline will result in revocation of the Fellowship offer and render applicants ineligible to re-apply.

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 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials .

Terms and Conditions

Awardees must formally accept and agree to the terms and conditions of the Fellowship 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 a 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 Graduate Research Fellowship Program Administrative Guide for Fellows and Coordinating Officials includes the terms and conditions that apply to the Fellowship and subsequent institutional award, in addition to the eligibility requirements (U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident, 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. Fellows are expected to make satisfactory academic progress towards completion of their graduate degrees, as defined and certified by the Fellow's GRFP institution. In cases where Fellows have misrepresented their eligibility, or have failed to comply with the Fellowship Terms and Conditions, the Fellowship will be revoked, and the case may be referred to the Office of the Inspector General for investigation. This action may result in requiring the Fellow to repay Fellowship funds to the National Science Foundation.

An individual may not accept the Graduate Research Fellowship if the individual accepts or is supported by another federal graduate fellowship.

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 an Institutional Review Board (IRB) before issuance of an NSF award; or, (2) must affirm that the IRB has declared the research exempt from IRB review, in accordance with the applicable subsection, as established in 45 CFR § 690.104(d) of the Common Rule. Fellows are required to comply with this policy and adhere to the organization's protocol for managing research involving human subjects.

Research 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 an international organization or international 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 an international organization or through an individual fellowship award that will support activities at an international organization, NSF will require a statement from the international organization explicitly listing the proposer's name and referencing the title of the award to confirm that the activities will be conducted in accordance with all applicable laws in the international 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 Activities Report and Annual Fellowship Status Declaration

Fellows are required to submit an Annual Activities Report and to complete Fellowship Status Declaration by May 1 each year, using NSF's FastLane GRFP 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 and satisfactory progress verified by the faculty advisor or designated graduate program administrator prior to submission to NSF.

Fellows must declare their intent to utilize the Fellowship for the following year using the NSF GRFP FastLane Fellowship management and reporting system. Failure to declare Fellowship status by the established deadline violates the terms and conditions for NSF Fellowship awards, and results in termination of the Fellowship.

Program Evaluation

The Division of Graduate Education (DGE) conducts evaluations 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 choose 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. The 2014 GRFP evaluation is posted on the "Evaluation Reports" Web page for NSF's Education and Human Resources Directorate: https://www.nsf.gov/ehr/Evaluation_Resources.jsp .

GRFP institutions are required to submit the GRFP Completion Report annually. The Completion Report allows GRFP institutions to certify the current status of all GRFP Fellows at the institution. The current status will identify a Fellow as: In Progress, Graduated, Transferred, or Withdrawn. For Fellows who have graduated, the graduation date is a required reporting element.

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:

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

For questions related to the use of GRFP Application Module, contact:

• NSF 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, "NSF Update" 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. "NSF Update" also is available on NSF's website .

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

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 (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities to work on NSF-supported projects. See the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide Chapter II.E.6 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 the application materials is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. It will be used in connection with the selection of qualified applicants and may be disclosed to qualified reviewers as part of the review process; to the institution the nominee, applicant or fellow is attending or is planning to attend or is employed by for the purpose of facilitating review or award decisions, or administering fellowships or awards; to government contractors, experts, volunteers and other individuals who perform a service to or work under a contract, grant, cooperative agreement, advisory committee, committee of visitors, or other arrangement with the Federal government as necessary to complete assigned work; to other government agencies needing data regarding applicants or nominees as part of the review process, or in order to coordinate programs; and to another Federal agency, court or party in a court or Federal administrative proceeding if the government is a party. Information from this system may be merged with other computer files to carry out statistical studies the results of which do not identify individuals. Notice of the agency's decision may be given to nominators, and disclosure may be made of awardees' names, home institutions, and fields of study for public information purposes. For fellows or awardees receiving stipends directly from the government, information is transmitted to the Department of the Treasury to make payments. See System of Records, NSF-12, "Fellowships and Other Awards," 63 Federal Register 265 (January 5, 1998). Submission of the information is voluntary; however, failure to provide full and complete information may reduce the possibility of your 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 this burden estimate and any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to:

Suzanne H. Plimpton Reports Clearance Officer Office of the General Counsel National Science Foundation Alexandria, VA 22314

X. Appendix

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

Fields of Study

Note: Applications are reviewed in panels based on the selection of a primary Field of Study. Selection of a primary Field of Study determines the application deadline, the panel that will review the application, and the designated Field of Study for awardees. Applicants may select "other" if their Field of Study is not represented in the list under each Primary Field of Study. The "other" field of study category should be selected by applicants only 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 SCIENCES & ENGINEERING

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 Databases Formal Methods, Verification, and Programming Languages Graphics and Visualization Human Computer Interaction Machine Learning Natural Language Processing Robotics and Computer Vision Software Engineering CISE, other (specify)

ENGINEERING

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 Materials Engineering Mechanical Engineering Nuclear Engineering Ocean Engineering Optical Engineering Polymer Engineering Systems Engineering Engineering, other (specify)

GEOSCIENCES

Aeronomy Atmospheric Chemistry Biogeochemistry Biological Oceanography Chemical Oceanography Climate and Large-Scale Atmospheric Dynamics Geobiology Geochemistry Geodynamics Geomorphology 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 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology Biophysics Cell Biology Developmental Biology Ecology Environmental Biology Evolutionary Biology Genetics Genomics Microbial Biology Neurosciences Organismal Biology Physiology Proteomics Structural Biology Systematics and Biodiversity Systems and Molecular 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 & ASTRONOMY

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

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

SOCIAL SCIENCES

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

STEM EDUCATION AND LEARNING RESEARCH

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

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• Northwestern Engineering

Six Students Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

The five-year fellowship is awarded to outstanding students pursuing a graduate degree in stem.

Northwestern Engineering PhD students Mandi Cai, Melissa Chen, Lawrence Chillrud, Fiona Neylon, and Essien Taylor, and undergraduate student Carolyn Zou in Northwestern’s School of Communication, have been awarded National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships in recognition of their demonstrated potential for significant research achievements.

The highly selective Graduate Research Fellowship program awards a five-year fellowship to outstanding individuals pursuing a full-time, research-based graduate degree in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The students will receive three years of financial support, including an annual stipend.

Prior to joining Northwestern, Cai was a data journalist at The Texas Tribune . Her award-winning work with editors Darla Cameron and Chris Essig inspired Cai’s curiosity about data visualizations in the media and shaped her current research focus.

“This fellowship provides me with the support to investigate all the big, pressing questions I had while working as a data journalist — ‘how is data journalism supporting the public’s ability to understand and interact with data, data visualizations, and statistical models in news coverage around high-profile topics like COVID-19 and elections? How do audiences understand and trust this coverage?’” Cai said.

Leading up to the November elections, she is investigating public perceptions around the use of data and statistical modeling in elections coverage, with a particular focus on the communication of live election results and winner projections. Cai and her collaborators — Kay and Erik Nisbet , Owen L. Coon Endowed Professor of Policy Analysis, and Communication — aim to determine participants’ baseline level of understanding, points of confusion, and degree of distrust toward winner projections in US elections. Using this data, the team will design and test alternative explanations of projections to improve user understanding and synthesize techniques for newsrooms to effectively communicate data-driven models.

“Ultimately, I wish to empower data journalists to be data educators who can consider the unique needs of their reader populations,” Cai said. “I also seek to empower readers to understand data they encounter in everyday life. More public data and statistical literacy supports individuals in evaluating and interrogating data as it is used to guide decisions or fuel algorithms.”

Melissa Chen

Chen studies students’ self-efficacy — or a person's belief in their ability to complete a task or achieve a goal — in introductory computing courses.

Building on research by O’Rourke and Jamie Gorson (PhD ’22), a graduate of the joint PhD program in Computer Science and Learning Sciences , Chen is examining students’ self-assessments during the process of learning programming and the tendency for novice programming students to be self-critical. Chen wants to understand how students with lower self-efficacy are influenced by personal experiences and interactions with the computing community and aims to design scalable systems that help students adjust their self-assessment criteria to be more aligned with what is expected of them as computing learners.

“Self-efficacy has an impact on students’ decisions to persist in computing,” Chen said. “By gaining a better understanding of how to improve and build self-efficacy, I hope to be able to equitably support students so that they feel confident learning and using their computing skills in their everyday lives.”

Supported by a 2023-24 Design Cluster research fellowship, Chen is also working on a related project with O’Rourke and Duri Long , assistant professor of communication studies in the School of Communication and (by courtesy) assistant professor of computer science at Northwestern Engineering. The team is designing a socially situated, small-group intervention to help students reframe their self-assessments and improve their self-efficacy. They plan to work with students to determine how to make the interventions scalable.

Lawrence Chillrud

Chillrud is developing machine learning methods for applications in biomedical imaging. He aims to create robust uncertainty quantification techniques for medical imaging models and to design reliable algorithms that can assist doctors and patients in making informed decisions.

“Knowing when to trust these complex predictive models in high-stakes clinical settings is of critical importance,” Chillrud said. “If a model could reliably estimate its case-by-case uncertainty, clinicians could have a better understanding of how to integrate model predictions in data-driven decision-making, and patients could be better informed and in control of their disease and treatment plan.”

Chillrud is working on two research projects. In his radiological work, he is developing models that seek to predict the presence or absence of important brain tumor biomarkers in a patient’s MRI scan. In pathology, Chillrud is investigating computational techniques to help renal pathologists identify patients most at risk of kidney transplant failure.

Chillrud earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Columbia University in 2020. Prior to joining Northwestern, Chillrud was a senior programmer in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. His research into the development of interpretable machine learning methods for assessing complex mixtures of environmental exposures in epidemiological studies with mentor Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou ignited Chillrud’s passion for research and inspired him to pursue a PhD.

“I feel tremendously lucky to have been awarded the fellowship and believe that it speaks more to the exceptional support and mentorship I have received over the years from advisers, colleagues, teachers, friends, and family, than it does say anything about me personally,” Chillrud said. “I am also hugely grateful to the NSF for their support during this early and exciting stage of my career.

Katsaggelos is the Joseph Cummings Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and (by courtesy) professor of computer Science at Northwestern Engineering and professor of radiology at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine . Cooper is the director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine’s Center for Computational Imaging and Signal Analytics in Medicine and associate professor of pathology and preventive medicine at Feinberg and (by courtesy) associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Fiona Neylon

Neylon’s research interests lie in human-robot interaction in the medical, rehabilitation, and assistive spheres. Drawing from her own prolonged rehabilitation experience during high school after a near-total spinal fusion, she aims to develop tools that clinicians and patients can use to improve overall quality of life.

“Having normal function one day and limited the next made me understand the importance of independence and improving the quality of life for all,” Neylon said. “I’m thankful for being in the unique position of pairing that experience with my technical training to make me the researcher I am today — one motivated to improve the lives of individuals through robotic and assistive solutions.”

After joining Argall’s Assistive and Rehabilitation Robotics Laboratory (argallab) at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in 2022, Neylon began working with the argallab’s assistive robotic arm project team on developing a body-machine interface for customized control. The group is studying the learning effects of individuals with spinal cord injuries to control a seven-degree-of-freedom robotic arm via a shared control training paradigm.

“Receiving the fellowship is an incredible honor and is not only validation of the dedication I’ve put into my academic and research pursuits, but also a testament to the support of my mentors,” Neylon said.

Essien Taylor

Taylor investigates computer architecture and aims to reduce energy consumption in power-constrained embedded systems, including electronic medical implants and mobile phones.

“Understanding the energy consumption of microprocessors requires detailed models that take a large amount of time and labor to create,” Taylor said. “My current work will generate these complex models in a fraction of the time and effort, allowing us to rapidly explore countless research avenues.”

In 2023, the financial support of his GEM Fellowship afforded Taylor the opportunity to intern with Cadence Design Systems Inc., which aided his approach to electronics design.

Taylor is also a member of the Karsh STEM Scholars Program at Howard University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. The program provides full scholarships for undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines and support for underrepresented minorities completing graduate programs in STEM.

“My experience as a Karsh STEM Scholar at Howard University was crucial in developing my passion for research,” Taylor said.

Carolyn Zou

Zou builds AI tools that support the design of resilient social systems. Leveraging generative language models, her goal is to create ‘agents’ that faithfully represent the people that populate complex social systems.

“Simulations with these agents can reflect the contingent dynamics of social influence and interaction, and prototyping with populated systems allows decision-makers to assess the anticipated effects of, and iterate on, prosocial interventions,” Zou said.

This fall, Zou will join the PhD program in computer science at Stanford University, supported by both the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and a Stanford Graduate Fellowship.

"I am immensely grateful for the NSF's support as I begin my graduate studies. This recognition is a testament to the incredible mentorship I've received at Northwestern and truly speaks to the opportunities afforded by the wide reach of human-computer interaction research across the University,” Zou said. “Northwestern's interdisciplinary environment allowed me to pursue HCI research from a starting point in the social sciences while developing the technical skills to prepare me for a PhD in computer science, and I look forward to bringing this unique perspective to my future work in human-AI interaction."

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• > Two engineering students honored with National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

Two engineering students honored with National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowships

May 15, 2024 - by Kim Delker

Two students in the School of Engineering are recipients of the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRFP).

Ashley Apodaca-Sparks, a master’s student in the in the Gerald May Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering, and Mega Frost, a Ph.D. student in the Optical Science and Engineering Program, received awards.

The NSF GRFP was created to ensure the quality, vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. GRFP seeks to broaden participation in science and engineering of underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, persons with disabilities and veterans. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support with an annual stipend.

Apodaca-Sparks is currently working on the development of a field sensor for uranium detection in natural water systems. She said that there is a need for an easy-to-use and affordable field sensor, especially in New Mexico, which has a large presence of abandoned uranium mines.

“The communities affected have to rely on costly and often out-of-reach methods to get information about the safety of their water, and my hope is to help provide a tool that can provide them with this information directly,” she said.

Additionally, she works on Shared.Futures, an ArtScience collaborative led by Professor Yolanda Lin from the UNM Department of Geography and Environmental Studies. Apodaca-Sparks works with others on the project to connect artists and researchers through a fellowship program where they collaborate to create artwork communicating scientific perspectives.

“I am incredibly honored to have received this award, and I know it would not have been possible without the many people who have supported and inspired me, specifically professors José Cerrato, Anjali Mulchandani, Yolanda Lin and Andreas Hernandez, as well as my family and friends,” Apodaca-Sparks said. “I have always been passionate about pursuing a higher education, and this fellowship will help me achieve this goal.”

Long term, she said she would like to continue with scientific research and promoting science communication through mediums like art.

“For many, science and engineering can seem unattainable, but I believe artwork has the capacity to bridge the divide between researchers and the larger community,” she said.

Frost’s area of research is in III-V semiconductor crystal growth, particularly the development of antimonide-based structures on silicon for applications in optoelectronics.

“Receiving the NSF GRFP is an achievement that I am both incredibly honored and humbled to receive,” Frost said. “It is a prestigious award that distinguishes researchers that the NSF believes to be major contributors to the future of science, and it will be a distinction that will aid me in several of my future endeavors.”

Future plans for Frost include either pursuing a faculty research position or working as a researcher at a national research laboratory such as Sandia National Laboratories.

“My desire is to continue working on cutting-edge research to bring new and exciting technology to the industry and to never stop contributing to the wealth of human knowledge,” Frost said. “As the need for semiconductor manufacturing capabilities within the United States increases, I understand that my continued work in this field will remain relevant and necessary.”

Three students in the School of Engineering received honorable mention for the award: Kritan Subedi and Paige Haley, both master’s students in the Gerald May Department of Civil, Construction and Environmental Engineering; and Andrew Geyco, who received a bachelor’s degree in computer science from UNM.

In addition, two UNM Engineering alums received fellowships: Levi Premer, who received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from UNM and is now at Purdue University; and Shantae C. Gallegos, who received a biomedical engineering degree from UNM who is now at the University of Colorado at Boulder.

A full list of students who received the fellowship from UNM and around the country can be found on the National Science Foundation website .

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Former USU Science Valedictorian Porter Ellis Named 2024 NSF Graduate Research Fellow

Aggie STEM scholars Kenen Goodwin, Elizabeth Siemion and Neville Taraporevala received honorable mention from this year's competitive national graduate student fellow search.

By Mary-Ann Muffoletto | May 17, 2024

USU alum Porter Ellis, pictured in the USU Dickenson Lab in 2022, has been named a 2024 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. Ellis, who credits his undergrad research and teaching experiences at USU with fostering his successful progression to graduate studies, is a doctoral student in biochemistry at Duke University. (Photo Credit: USU/M. Muffoletto)

Utah State University alum Porter Ellis, who was USU’s 2022 College of Science valedictorian, was named a 2024 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow . A doctoral student in the Department of Biochemistry at Duke University, Ellis is among some 2,000 students selected from more than 15,000 applicants nationwide.

“I am thrilled to have been selected to receive this fellowship,” says Ellis, a native of Farr West, Utah, who graduated as salutatorian from Fremont High School in 2018 and entered USU on a Presidential Scholarship. “I am extremely grateful for my mentors who supported me in applying for the award, including Dr. Maria Schumacher, my current adviser at Duke, and Dr. Nicholas Dickenson, who was my undergraduate research mentor at Utah State.”

The prestigious fellowship program provides up to three years of support for each awardee’s graduate education, including a $37,000 annual stipend, along with a yearly $16,000 cost-of-education allowance for tuition and fees.

Ellis studies nucleoid associated proteins — called NAPs — which support the compaction and organization of genomic DNA in bacteria.

“Emerging evidence highlights the importance of NAPs in fundamental biological processes, including gene regulation, virulence and stress responses,” he says. “I’m working to understand the mechanisms by which many NAPs interact with DNA and function in regulatory processes.”

During his undergrad career, Ellis received a USU Undergraduate Research and Creative Opportunities (URCO) grant , which supported his research in Dickenson’s lab in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry on the YscN homolog from the bacterium Yersinia pestis .

“ Yersinia pestis is the causative agent of bubonic plague in humans, and YScN is essential to its virulence,” Ellis says. “Working on that project was my first exposure to biochemical research and structural biology. Dr. Dickenson is an incredible adviser with an established history of support for undergrad research, and I am very fortunate to have been a beneficiary of his mentorship.”

In addition to research, Ellis honed his teaching skills at Utah State. He was an Undergraduate Teaching Fellow and supplemental instructor for eight courses over three of his undergraduate years. His outstanding efforts led to his designation as the College of Science’s 2021 Undergraduate Teaching Fellow of the Year.

Ellis’s teaching service took on a sense of urgency during the pandemic, as Utah State moved to remote learning in 2020, and continued as Aggies cautiously returned to in-person learning the following year.

“I was a team lead in Utah State’s Supplemental Instructors program, which included training and directing other supplemental instructors,” he says. “During that time, I also represented the SI program as a delegate for a regional student affairs conference, where I learned how to better support USU’s students.”

While teaching a broad range of formidable chemistry and biochemistry course material, Ellis listened to student concerns, encouraged students to follow COVID-19 safety protocols, and developed skills in maintaining a positive classroom environment during a stressful and challenging situation.

“At USU, I discovered my love for teaching and established my commitment to STEM education,” he says. “USU’s Supplemental Instruction and Undergraduate Teaching Fellow programs provided incredible resources and fantastic opportunities to gain experience in front of a classroom. Teaching was among the most fulfilling activities of my undergrad career.”

Ellis has served as a teaching assistant for Duke’s structural biochemistry series, and he’s pursuing Duke’s Graduate Certificate in College Teaching, which is a formal avenue of pedagogical training and STEM outreach.

“My experiences at Utah State, especially in undergrad research, teaching and classroom support activities, inspired me to pursue graduate education and have been immensely valuable to me in my transition to graduate school,” he says.

USU scholars receiving honorable mention in the 2024 NSF Graduate Research Fellow search were alum Kenen Goodwin and graduate students Elizabeth Siemion and Neville Taraporevala.

Goodwin, who conducted undergrad research in USU Biology and Ecology Center faculty mentor Zach Gompert’s lab and graduated from Utah State as the Quinney College of Natural Resources Valedictorian in 2020, is pursuing doctoral studies at Oregon State University.

Siemion and Traporevala are master’s students in USU’s Department of Wildland Resources and the USU Ecology Center.

Siemion’s research focuses on understanding the space use of mule deer in California’s Owens Valley, and how it corresponds to mountain lion use and predation intensity. Her faculty mentor is Kezia Manlove.

Taraporevala conducts research with faculty mentor Julie Young and serves as a departmental representative for USU’s Graduate Student Council.

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship program helps to ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science and engineering in the United States and reinforces its diversity, according to the NSF website. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines, who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions.

Mary-Ann Muffoletto Public Relations Specialist College of Science 435-797-3517 [email protected]

Comments and questions regarding this article may be directed to the contact person listed on this page.

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This support session will help prepare students to submit prestigious fellowship applications for the upcoming funding cycle, 2022-2023. Students in the final stages of writing an application for the GRFP, Ford Foundation, National Defense, or F31-NIH fellowships for submission in the 2022-2023 funding cycle are encouraged to attend this informational feedback session. Attendees should bring working application documents and any questions they have about the application process. A workshop for students interested in applying for the 2023-2024 funding cycle will be held during the Spring 2023 semester.

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The Prestigious Funding Workshops are designed to help students prepare and apply for different graduate fellowship opportunities, including to the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). The GRFP recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based master and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. This Fall, the University of Idaho College of Graduate Studies will host workshops dedicated to helping students apply for this and other prestigious fellowship programs.

Other fellowship programs included in the workshop are the Ford Foundation Fellowship, and the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG). The workshops can help students prepare for all variety of fellowship applications.

The dean of the College of Graduate Studies, along with the Director of Graduate Student Support Programming, will lead this series. They will introduce you to the process of preparing written materials for your application, seeking feedback from peers and mentors, and submitting all application requirements by the deadline.

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If you would like more information on the Prestigious Fellowships Workshop, please provide your contact information, area of interest, and your Major Professor’s name below. We can be contacted directly at  [email protected] .

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The work of the Rice University Robert Noyce Master Teaching Fellowship Program began in the spring of 2016 with program planning and document preparation. Recruitment of 16 MTFs took place during the summer and fall of 2016. Selection took place in the late fall of 2016 after which the 16 selected MTFs were notified of their acceptances. MTFs' first meeting was held in the spring of 2017 to prepare for the first summer of professional development activities. MTFs jumped into the rigorous mathematics coursework and leadership building activities during this summer (2017) and second summer (2018). Another Noyce Track 3 group from the University of Louisiana Lafayette visited to observe our MTFs in action and for conversations about leadership (spring, 2018). MTFs' leadership activities positively impacted their school communities, HISD, and Rice University (Math Circle, Math-Letics, Life in Schools, and the Rice University School Mathematics Project [RUSMP]) through 2019. Many of the MTFs were also making time to serve as mentors for pre-service teachers at other universities.

COVID-19 struck the greater-Houston area in the spring of 2020. Instruction in HISD moved from in-person to a virtual format in March, 2020. MTFs were called upon to take the lead in a variety of ways so that the essential work of schools could continue. They prepared videos, supported colleagues at their schools and across the district, and reassured parents and students. The challenges of COVID-19 prompted MTFs to step up their leadership efforts across HISD - assisting teachers with virtual instruction and helping parents support their children?s learning. MTFs were the acknowledged leaders in this transition to a virtual teaching environment. Their expertise and talent ensured that RUSMP's 2020 and 2021 virtual summer programs were successful as well as RUSMP's 2020 Fall and 2021 Spring Virtual Networking Conferences, and the NSF 2021 Robert Noyce Lessons Learned Conference (Fall, 2021). COVID-19 did not stop our MTFs but allowed them to soar. Please visit: https://rusmp.rice.edu/about/noyce

Intellectual Merit

RU-MTF created an innovative, multi-faceted research-informed model for identifying, developing, and supporting mathematics leaders that can be replicated for different grade bands and in urban, suburban, and rural school districts. What was learned from implementing RU-MTF contributes to the body of knowledge on how to improve mathematics instruction and serves as a very effective model for developing teacher leaders in pre-COVID-19 and under the duress of COVID-19.

Broader Impacts

RU-MTF continues to have broad impacts on mathematics teaching and learning especially during COVID-19 when leadership was especially crucial. Project findings are being disseminated through a variety of means including presentations, publications, the RUSMP website, and its social media. To date, RU-MTF has produced 34 publications and 59 presentations.

Selected Publications

Papakonstantinou, A. (2021, April 20). RUSMP's Spring Networking Conference Goes Global. Village News/Southwest News, 36(46), p. 7.

Papakonstantinou, A., & Ekmekci, A. (2020). The Rice University School Mathematics Project: Supporting excellence in K-16 mathematics since 1987. In B. Acu, D. Danielli, M. Lewicka, A. Pati, S. RV, & M. Teboh-Ewungkem (Eds.), Advances in Mathematical Sciences, Association for Women in Mathematics Series, 21, 361?369. Springer. DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-42687-3_24

White, C., Papakonstantinou, A., Ekmekci, A., & Ward, R. (2021). Lessons learned in 2020 as mathematics professional development for teachers transitioned to remote learning. Academia Letters, Article 3614. https://doi.org/10.20935/AL3614

Selected Presentations

Ekmekci, A., Aquazade, M., McMorris, P., & Jaster, S. (2022, February).  The Rice University Master Teaching Fellowship Program Results: Development of Teacher Leaders in High-Need Urban Schools . 2022 Mid-West Annual Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Conference. Louisville & Cave City, KY. 

Papakonstantinou, A., Ekmekci, A., & White, C. (2021, May). Noyce Master Teaching Fellows take charge during COVID-19. 2021 STEM for All Video Conference.

Papakonstantinou, A., Ekmekci, A., & White, C. (2020, August). The Rice University Robert Noyce Master Teaching Fellows (RU-MTF). 2020 Virtual Noyce Summit.

Mironitchev, A. (2020, August). Administrative Support of Teachers at American High School. Third Annual International Symposium, Moscow, Russia.

Ekmekci, A., & McCoy, A. (2021, October). Research Results and Implications. NSF Robert Noyce Lessons Learned Conference (DUE 1556006) in conjunction with RUSMP's 35th Anniversary Networking Conference, Houston, TX.

Ekmekci, A., & McMorris, P. (2019, July). Developing mathematics teacher leaders to meet the needs of urban schools: Lessons from the Rice University Robert Noyce Master Teaching Fellowship Program. Poster presented at the 2019 Noyce Summit, Washington, DC.

McMorris, P. (2019, July). Master Teacher Panelist: The Role of Teacher Preparation Program in STEM Teacher Retention in High-Need School Districts. 2019 Noyce Summit, Washington, DC.

Parr, R., Hamilton, G., & Wu, L. (2019, February). Lessons learned from a unique collaboration opportunity between two Noyce programs at two different universities. 2019 Western Noyce Regional Conference, Tucson, AZ.

Ekmekci, A., Sheppard, P., Papakonstantinou, A., & Parr, R. (2018, July). Lessons learned from a unique collaboration opportunity between two Noyce programs at two different universities (Rice-ULL). 2018 Noyce Summit, Washington, DC.

Last Modified: 01/24/2022 Modified by: Anne J Papakonstantinou

Please report errors in award information by writing to: [email protected] .

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Department of EECS Announces 2024 Promotions

By jane halpern.

May 17, 2024 | Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

The Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science (EECS) is proud to announce the following promotions to associate professor with tenure. All will be effective July 1, 2024:

Adam Belay earned his BS and MEng at MIT in 2008 and 2011, respectively, and his PhD at Stanford in 2016. He spent a year as a Software Engineer at Google before joining MIT in July 2017.  A principal investigator in CSAIL, Belay’s research focuses on operating systems and networking, with an interest in developing practical and efficient methods for microsecond-scale computing. This has many applications pertaining to efficiency and performance in data centers. For example, his work on Caladan significantly speeds up server resource allocation, unlocking the ability to maintain both high CPU utilization and low tail latency. Additionally, Belay has worked on storage virtualization at VMware and has contributed substantial code to the Linux Kernel.

Among other honors, Belay has served on multiple program committees, including OSDI (2021-4), NSDI (2023-4), SOSP (2021, 2023), Eurosys (2019, 2022), and USENIX ATC 2019, and has received the OSDI Jay Lepreau Best Paper Award, a Sloan Research Fellowship, and multiple research awards from Google and Meta.

Manya Ghobadi earned her bachelor’s degree from the Sharif University of Technology in 2005, followed by her M.Sc. from the University of Victoria in 2007, and her PhD from the University of Toronto in 2013. She then worked at Google as a software engineer and at Microsoft as a researcher, before joining EECS as an Assistant Professor in October 2018. A principal investigator within CSAIL, Ghobadi’s current research interests are centered on building efficient network infrastructures that optimize resource use, energy consumption, and high availability. She is considered the leading expert in networks with reconfigurable physical-layer, and many of the networks she has helped develop are part of real-world systems at Microsoft and Google.

Her work has been recognized by the Sloan Fellowship in Computer Science, ACM SIGCOMM Rising Star award, ACM-W Rising Star Award, NSF CAREER award, a Sloan Fellowship in Computer Science, the first Optica Simmons Memorial Speakership award, and best paper awards at the Conference on Machine Learning and Systems (MLSys) and ACM Internet Measurement Conference (IMC).

Stefanie Mueller earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Applied Science Harz in 2010, and her MSc and her PhD from the Hasso Plattner Institute, in 2013 and 2016, respectively, before joining MIT EECS, joint with MIT MechE. Mueller is the lead of the Human Computer Interaction (HCI) Engineering group at MIT CSAIL; in her research, she develops novel hardware and software systems that leverage innovations in hardware, materials, and computational algorithms to give objects new capabilities. Among other applications, her lab creates prototype health sensing devices and electronic sensing devices for curved surfaces; embedded sensors; fabrication techniques that are trackable via invisible marker; and objects with reprogrammable and interactive appearances. 

Among many other honors, Mueller has been recognized with the MIT Technology Review ‘Innovators Under 35’ 2022, Microsoft Research Faculty Fellowship and Alfred P. Sloan Research Fellowship, an NSF Career Award, and the Forbes 30 Under 30 in Science. 

Julian Shun earned his BA at UC Berkeley in 2008, and his MS and PhD from Carnegie Mellon in 2012 and 2015, respectively. After a postdoctoral stint at UC Berkeley, he joined MIT EECS as an Assistant Professor in 2017. A principal investigator in CSAIL, Shun’s research focuses on the theory and practice of parallel and high-performance computing, including designing algorithms and high-level programming frameworks for graphs, spatial data, and dynamic problems.

Among many other honors, Shun has been awarded the DOE Early Career Award, the NSF Career Award, the Google Faculty Research Award and Google Research Scholar Award, the SoE Ruth and Joel Spira Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Allen Newell Award for Research Excellence.

Related topics

• Computer Science (Systems)
• Computer Science (Theory)
• Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory (CSAIL)

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