NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

These comments are meant to help guide prospective and current NSF Fellows and their advisers at Vanderbilt, but are not exhaustive. Complete information regarding the administration of the program is available in the NSF GRFP website.

 

Fall 2017 NSF GRFP Workshop

Students are invited to attend a workshop to learn more about applying for NSF fellowships on Tuesday, September 19, at 5:00 PM, in Jacobs Believed in Me Auditorium in Featheringhill Hall.  This workshop is open to first- and second-year graduate students and VU Seniors who are in Biological, Natural, and Social Sciences, and Engineering.   Read the full details of the workshop announcement here.  Eligible students should register for this event no later than noon on September 19th.

 Research Proposal and Personal Statement essay tips covered at the workshop are available here.

Overview

The NSF GRFP provides for three years of stipend support over a maximum five-year period: Up to three Tenure years of financial support (stipend plus COE allowance) and two reserve years.

• The Fellowship technically expires upon completion of 36 months of stipend payments, three years’ Tenure Status, or five years after the Fellowship start, whichever comes first.
• However, Fellows who have used 36 months’ of stipend payments prior to the end of the 5-year fellowship period, with one or two years’ reserve status remaining, may continue to take part in fellowship opportunities by declaring their tenure status as “on Reserve” by the appropriate deadline.

Each Fellowship year is 12 months and is defined by NSF as beginning either Summer/June 1 or Fall/September 1. Tenure is computed from that date, independent of Vanderbilt’s academic year (which begins August 15), and Fellowship Tenure Status is not defined by the date on which a stipend payment is issued.

• At Vanderbilt, a fellowship year beginning in Summer typically runs from June 1 through May 31.
• A fellowship year beginning in Fall may begin August 1, September 1, or October 1; most begin August 1.
• Regardless of when the fellowship year begins, stipend payments are for 12 months only, and payment is made on the last business day of the month.

A GRFP fellowship cannot be concurrently accepted or combined with another Federal Fellowship, ^[1] regardless of the Fellow’s status, but may be combined with other types of funding.

• If you’re uncertain about how a particular type of funding might affect the NSF Fellowship, check with Vanderbilt’s Coordinating Official (CO). ^[2]

Regardless of Tenure Status, all continuing Fellows must submit two reports by May 1 each year via FastLane:  The Annual Activities report with the signed Academic/Research Advisor Confirmation Form and the Fellowship Year Tenure Declaration.  Additional details are available in the NSF Administrative Guide.

Stipends

Fellows are not considered salaried employees of either NSF or Vanderbilt.

• Vanderbilt defines the NSF stipend as service-free, meaning one that generally does not require service to be performed in order to receive payment.
• As such, no funds or taxes are withheld from stipend payments.

On an annual basis (by January 31 of each year), HR Processing will send stipend recipients a letter regarding taxability and what forms (if any) to expect from Vanderbilt University. ^[3]

The stipend is awarded to the Fellow but managed administratively by Vanderbilt, through the Graduate School.

• The stipend is pro-rated in monthly increments and paid on the last business day of the month.

Fellows are not permitted to receive more than 12 months of GRFP stipend support during a single Fellowship Year.

No Fellow is eligible to receive more than 36 months cumulative GRFP stipend support.

While on Tenure, Fellows are exempt from paying required tuition and fees normally charged to graduate students of similar academic standing.

• All living expenses are the responsibility of the Fellow. 

 

Cost of Education (COE) Allowance

The Fellowship provides a fixed COE allowance to Vanderbilt, not to the Fellow. The use of the COE allowance is at Vanderbilt’s discretion.

• The current COE is $12,000 per Tenure (stipend) year, typically paid in two installments:  $6,000 in the fall and $6,000 in the spring.

Vanderbilt uses the COE to pay a Fellow’s health insurance (unless waived by the Fellow), required activity and recreation fees ^[4] , and a portion of tuition charges for the years the Fellow is on Tenure.

Should a Fellow reach 72 hours and still be on Tenure, the COE is used to pay health insurance (unless waived by the fellow), required fees, and the nominal tuition (currently $200) for a student to remain in good standing. The Fellow may request the use of COE funds for approved professional development expenses, while the Fellow is still on Tenure, up to the limit of what is available after those charges have been paid.

• A brief request for funds, with proposed budget, is submitted in advance of any expenditures to the CO. The Fellow’s mentor must also provide a brief statement in support of these expenses.
• Funds are available up to the limit of the COE allowance available and must be expended in the semester the COE is received.

 
Key Websites

• GRFP Program website
• 2016 Program Solicitation
• Administrative Guide for Fellows and COs
• NSF GRFP website
• FastLane

 

Upcoming Deadlines

Applications Must Be Submitted by 5:00 pm Central Standard Time

October 23, 2017 (Monday)

• Geosciences
• Life Sciences

October 24, 2017 (Tuesday)

• Computer & Information Sciences & Engineering
• Engineering
• Materials Research

October 26, 2017 (Thursday)

• Psychology
• Social Sciences
• STEM Education & Learning

October 27, 2017 (Friday)

• Chemistry
• Mathematical Sciences
• Physics & Astronomy

 

Number of Applications Limitation

Effective as of the 2017 competition (Fall 2016 deadlines), graduate students are limited to only one application to the GRFP, submitted either in the first year or in the second year of graduate school. An exception is provided for first-year graduate students who applied to the 2016 GRFP completion in  Fall 2015; these individuals may apply a second time in Fall 2016 if they are otherwise eligible.

• First year graduate students should check with their department/program for guidance on submission in first or second year of graduate school.