National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSFGRF) Workshop

1. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSFGRF) Workshop By: James H. Faghmous1,2 jfagh@cs.umn.edu 1Dept. of Computer Science, The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities 2Dept. of Neuroscience, The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities

2. Overview • Why graduate school? • What is the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship • Why should you apply for an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship • What you need to know before you start your application • Applying for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship • What else is out there • Acknowledgments James H. Faghmous, The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, 2007

3. Why Graduate School? • Specialization in your field • Better life • Better pay • Now you can attend graduate school for free! James H. Faghmous, The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, 2007

4. What’s the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship • The NSF looks to reinforce the diversity of scientific, technological, and engineering research by offering approximately 1,000 Graduate Fellowships yearly • The NSFGRF covers: • 3 years of support • $30,000 annual stipend • $10,500 cost-of-education • The ability to use the fellowship within a five-year period • You still can receive complementary funding from your graduate institution on top of the NSFGRF James H. Faghmous, The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, 2007

5. What’s the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship • The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship application consists of: • Three essays (personal statement, previous research experience, proposed plan of research) two single-spaced pages with one-inch margins each • Three letters of reference • Official transcripts • General GRE scores. Subject GRE optional, but strongly encouraged James H. Faghmous, The University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, 2007

6. Why should you apply for an NSFGRF • OK, OK, OK, … it sounds good but where’s the catch? • Absolutely no catch! As an NSF Graduate Fellow, you will do the SAME graduate work as a regular graduate student. You’re just being paid to do it. • To get back to our question: “Why should you apply for an NSFGRF?” • Let’s take a second and do the math: $40,500 x 3 = $121,500 • Absolutely no extra work for being an NSF Fellow

7. What you need to know before you start your application • Now that I got you feeling pretty good about yourselves, here’s the reality check: • The NSFGRF is one of the most competitive graduate fellowships • Although you’ll not need to do any extra work as an NSF Fellow, you will need to do A LOT of work as an applicant • This workshop will not review the eligibility criteria, deadlines, etc Please go to : https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov • Carefully read the information in these pages. Once you know what you are dealing with, it will save you a lot of time when the deadline gets closer, and the NSF Help Desk is overloaded with questions • Please note that NOT all majors have the same deadline

8. Understanding the NSF Intellectual Merit and the NSF Broader Impact Criteria • The NSF not only looks for talented students, they want more than “book worms”. They want researchers that can interact with their peers and promote science to the general public. • Intellectual Merit Criterion: • (1) to work as a member of a team as well as independently; • (2) to communicate; and • (3) to plan and conduct research.

9. Understanding the NSF Intellectual Merit and the NSF Broader Impact Criteria Broader Impacts Criterion The broader impacts criterion includes contributions that (1) effectively integrate research and education at all levels; (2) encourage diversity, broaden opportunities, and enable full participation; (3) enhance scientific and technical understanding; and (4) benefit society.

10. Gathering application materials • All application materials are submitted electronically, except for your transcripts. • As an NSFGRF applicant you will need: • Strong, but not perfect educational record. Make sure that your transcript is ABS, INC free. Keep in mind that it takes about a week for your transcript to be ready at the registrar. Don’t wait until the last minute! • Strong, but not perfect GRE scores. Take the GRE the summer before your Senior year. Don’t wait until your last semester starts to start preparing for the GRE. Get it out of the way as soon as possible. • Strong letters of recommendation. Choose your recommenders wisely. Make this process as easy as possible for your recommenders. Don’t forget that “Thank You” note. • Previous research experience. The least you should have is your Senior Capstone project.

11. Choosing your reference writers • Professors who have known you for a while and can speak about you on a personal level • Known specialists in your field, if possible • Make sure that you provide all the necessary information to your reference writers: your personal statements (if you have them), transcripts, and pointers on what should the writer focus on while writing you the letter • The NSF provides an FAQ for reference writers at www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp this would help them know what the NSF is looking for in letters of recommendation • Ask for a strong letter of reference ahead of time. If the professor says that he/she can’t write you a strong letter, find another reference

12. Writing your statements • Essay I: Personal Statement • Describe any personal, professional, or educational experiences or situations that have contributed to your desire to pursue advanced study in science, mathematics, or engineering. Discuss your career aspirations and how the NSF fellowship will enable you to achieve your goals. Provide specific details in the narrative that address the NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts as described in the program announcement. • You need to make it clear to the panelists that you are passionate about research. They will be looking for your motivations to pursue graduate studies • The mostimportant part of this essay is addressing the NSF Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts criteria

13. Writing your statements • “integrating research and education,” • Did you collaborate with other students in the classroom and discuss their research? – Your Senior Capstone might be a good fit here • Did you conduct research experiments in classes that you might have taught? • If you intend to become a Professor, how would you bring in the latest research into your classroom? • How will you continue to address your research area for the remainder of your career?

14. Writing your statements • “advancing diversity in science,” • Did you tutor/mentor minority students? • How did you contribute to the participation of under represented groups? • If you are a minority student (race or gender), how would you (as a professor) contribute to diversifying science?

15. Writing your statements • “enhancing scientific and technical understanding,” • Did you share your scientific knowledge with the general community? • Did you publish scientific findings in a more “common” jargon (not only in scientific journals) to reach out to the general community? • As a professional, how would you further the general community’s understanding of your field/research? • “benefiting society” • What have you done to benefit the society? • How does your research benefit the society?

16. Writing your statements Essay II: Previous Research Experience Describe any scientific research activities in which you have participated, such as experience in undergraduate research programs, or research experience gained through summer or part-time employment or in work-study programs, or other research activities, either academic or job-related. Explain the purpose of the research and your specific role in the research, including the extent to which you worked independently and/or as part of a team, and what you learned from your research. In your statement, distinguish between undergraduate and graduate research experience. If you have no direct research experience, describe any activities that you believe have prepared you to undertake research. At the end of your statement, list any publications and/or presentations made at national and/or regional professional meetings.

17. Writing your statements • When describing your research: • Keep in mind that the panelists are Professors in your field so make sure to use appropriate jargon • Be as detailed as possible (especially if you haven't had much research experience) • Display the ability to conduct research individually and in a group • At least one of your recommendation letters should support your previous research experience

18. Writing your statements Essay III: Research Proposal In a clear, concise, and original statement, present a complete plan for a research project that you may pursue while on fellowship tenure and how you became interested in the topic. Your statement should demonstrate your understanding of research design and methodology and explain the relationship to your previous research, if any. Describe how you propose to address the two NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts. Refer to the program announcement for specific guidance. Format: Include the title, key words, hypothesis, research plan (strategy, methodology, and controls), anticipated results or findings, literature citations, and a statement attesting to the originality of the research proposal. If you have not formulated a research plan, your statement should include a description of a topic that interests you and how you would propose to conduct research on that topic.

19. Writing your statements • Your Research Proposal needs to be your most polished essay • Start on this one early, and get as many specialists in the field to review it • Make sure that you made it clear to the panelists (through your first two essays) that you have the appropriate background and preparation for your proposed research • The NSF Research Proposal Format should be used: • Specific aims, background and significance, preliminary studies, methods, expected results • You need to display your technical writing skills in this essay. This is not a creative writing one! • Make sure you propose a realistic and achievable plan of research

20. Writing your statements • Cite relevant papers in the field. Thanks to Google, today you can see how many times a publication has been cited. Clearly, a paper that was cited 1,000 times is more important to your field than ones that were never cited • Conclude your essay with a paragraph describing why you institution of choice is the best place to execute your plan of research

21. The review process • Applications are due in November. Winners are announced late March • Three Panelists review your application. You are graded solely on how well you address the Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts Criteria • In March, all three panelists submit their review sheets for feedback

22. Reviewer rating sheet

23. What else is out there? • Once you apply for an NSFGRF you put yourself in a pretty easy position to apply for other graduate fellowships • Unfortunately, most fellowships are either institution and/or major specific (Gates Cambridge, IGERT) or make you do extra work (Microsoft Graduate Fellowship, DOEGF, DODGF). They also offer far less fellowships (possibly 100 per year) and restrict the research topics they fund • Next we will discuss some Graduate Fellowships that are due after the NSFGRF

24. What else is out there? • National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate (NDSEG) Fellowships http://asee.org/ndseg/ • U.S. Department of Homeland Security Graduate Fellowship • http://www.orau.gov/dhsed/ • Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Fellowships • http://www.hertzfndn.org/ • IGERT National Student Recruiting Program • http://www.igert.org/ • The Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship • http://www.krellinst.org/csgf/index.shtml • The Whitaker Foundation Grant Programs • http://www.whitaker.org/grants/

25. What else is out there? • For a list of numerous sources of funding for graduate school please visit: • The University of Minnesota Graduate School funding database: http://www.grad.umn.edu/prospective_students/Financing/other.html • Clemson University Graduate School funding database http://www.grad.clemson.edu/fellowships.php

26. Download this presentation This presentation and an NSF Rating Sheet will be available for download on my personal website: http://www-users.cs.umn.edu/~jfagh/

27. Conclusion • Masters VS. Ph.D. • If eligible, you should apply for an NSFGRF • Start now! • Seek assistance from faculty members in your field • Send supplemental materials early • Have fun!

28. Acknowledgments • Nathan Netravali, Stanford University • Keith Gamble, UC Berkley • Dr. Tess Moon, U. of Texas at Austin • Dr. Bruce Gao, Clemson University • The Grove School of Engineering, CCNY • The Division of Science, CCNY • The Honors Center, CCNY • CCAPP, CCNY