ATTENTION: 2024-25 GRF Reference Letters are due before the eligible field application deadlines (Oct. 15-18). They must be submitted on Friday, October 11, 2024, by 4:00 p.m. CST.
Upcoming events:
| Date/Time | GRF@MU Event | Description | Register |
| Wednesday, September 4, 2024 4–4:30 p.m. | GRFP 2024-25 Sprint Information Session (Online Event) | Learn about MU’s 2024-25 GRFP Sprint! This is a two-week, in-person, intensive workshop that will help you draft or polish your application essays for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program. | MU Engage |
| September 9–20, 2024 | GRFP 2024-25 Sprint Workshop | Register to attend the 2024-25 GRFP Sprint! Working with the MU GRF Coaches from Global & National Fellowships, the Office of Undergraduate Research, and the Graduate School, students will go from blank pages to full application drafts in two weeks. The in-person workshop is held evenings, M-F. The overlap between a GRF application and a graduate school application is significant. Think of the Sprint as a prep course for anyone applying to graduate school in an NSF field. The GRFP Sprint includes access to an asynchronous Canvas course. | MS Forms Survey |
| April 2025 | NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Information Session (Online Event) | Learn about applying for the 2025-26 NSF GRFP, GRF@MU workshops and other campus resources. | TBA |
| April 2025 | NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) 2025-26 Launch Event | Meet the MU GRF Coaching Team and learn about applying for the 2025-26 NSF GRFP while enjoying light refreshments and snacks. | TBA |
June 2025 | GRFP 2025-26 Summer Bootcamp | This 4-week virtual workshop series will give students a strong start to developing a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRF) application. The program will guide students to write the first draft of their NSF GRF application by mid-July with support from the MU GRF Coaching Team, a partnership of Global & National Fellowships, the Office of Undergraduate Research, and the Graduate School. Participants will also learn helpful strategies for developing their NSF GRF application in consultation with their faculty research advisor(s). | TBA |
About
The National Science Foundation aims to ensure the vitality of research and innovation in the United States by offering approximately 2,000 graduate fellowships in biological science, technology, engineering, mathematics, physical science, earth science and social science. The Graduate Research Fellowship provides three years of support (up to $159,000) for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees and is intended for students who are at the early stages of their graduate study.
Eligibility
Applicants must be United States citizens or permanent residents near the beginning of their graduate studies. Applicants may apply in their senior year of undergraduate studies or in their first or second year of graduate school. GRFP-supported fields of study include Chemistry, Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering, Engineering, Geosciences, Life Sciences, Materials Research, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education and Learning Research.
For detailed eligibility information, check the NSF GRFP website and consult with our office.
What They Are Looking For
Demonstrating potential for significant research contributions looks different for each applicant given the many fields and sub-fields of study NSF GRF recipients pursue. NSF GRFP recipients show their capacity for research excellence and meeting the grant selection criteria through:
- Collecting a variety of undergraduate research experiences and discussing how each of those experiences has provided transferable skills that qualify them for graduate study.
- Consulting with a mentor (or mentors) to develop sound methods and methodology for investigating a research question or hypothesis.
- Communicating how they have improved the public’s understanding of science, engaged people from diverse backgrounds in science education, or possibly directly benefited society in some way through their research.
- Articulating how they plan to advance knowledge within and beyond their academic discipline in graduate study and throughout their careers.
Application and Selection Timeline
April: Attend GRF information sessions hosted by Global and National Fellowships, Office of Undergraduate Research and the Graduate School
April: Register for the GRF summer bootcamp
June: Attend summer bootcamp and create first drafts of your application
July onward: Revise your application materials
Early August: Application opens
Late October: Application closes (deadlines vary by academic discipline)
Late March/early April: Awards announced
Early May: Fellows accept or decline awards