The National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

NSF-GRFP: Preparation Workshop focusing on the Research Plan

Malek Adjouadi

San Juan Puerto Rico, March 27-29

Computing Alliance for Hispanic-Serving Institutions

Synopsis of ProgramSolicitation 10-604

The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program(GRFP) is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of thescientific and engineering workforce in the United States. Theprogram recognizes and supports outstanding graduatestudents who are pursuing research-based master's anddoctoral degrees in fields within NSF's mission. The GRFPprovides three years of support for the graduate education ofindividuals who have demonstrated their potential for significantachievements in science and engineering research. The ranks ofNSF Fellows include individuals who have made transformativebreakthroughs in science and engineering research and havebecome leaders in their chosen careers and Nobel laureates.

http://www.nsfgrfp.org/

link for the user guide about the program:

https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/NSFHelp/flashhelp/fastlane/FastLane_Help/fastlane_help.htm#2_getting_access1.htm

Eligibility Requirements

•Applicants are U.S. citizen, U.S. national or permanent resident alien

•Applicants are graduating senior; have completed a B.S./B.A. degree; or are in 1st year or the first semester of their 2nd year in graduate school.

•Applicants are pursuing a research-based master’s or doctoral degree in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields supported by NSF.

•Due submission date, usually in November

Application Deadline(s)

• November 15, 2010Interdisciplinary Fields of Study

• November 16, 2010Engineering

• November 18, 2010Mathematical Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering; Chemistry; Physics and Astronomy

• November 19, 2010Social Sciences; Psychology; Geosciences; STEM Education

• November 22, 2010Life Sciences

This year’s deadlines are not yet available. But to have anidea, the following are the deadlines for last year:

Required Essays

• Personal Statement– Describes personal, professional, and educational

experiences

• Previous Research Experience– Describes experience in research activities

• Proposed Plan of Research– Describes in detail applicant’s research plan

• Eligibility Essay (for those having completed greater than 12 months of graduate study)

Formatting and page number restrictions for the essays

All essays should be written using:

1. standard 8.5" x 11" page size2. 12-point, Times New Roman font3. 1" margins on all sides4. must be single spaced or greater.5. Only publications and presentation citations may be a smaller font, no

less than 10 pt. Times New Roman.6. Character spacing should use normal (100%) single-line space option7. Images may be included in your essays, however they will be produced

only in black and white. All images, footnotes, endnotes, and other citations are included in the 2-page limit.

Page number restriction:

There is a 2-page limit for:

1. Personal Statement2. Previous Research Experience3. Proposed Plan of Research

There is a 1-page limit for :1. Eligibility Essay (for those having completed greater than 12 months of graduate

study). References and citations are included toward the page limits.

Why a Research Plan?

The core of any proposal is the Research Plan, which involves addressing :

• what (statement of the problem)

• why (significance/hypothesis/specific aims)

• how (method/approach)

The research plan should also provide

• anticipated outcomes and

• potential for scientific/societal impact

Note: These should summarized as Intellectual Merit and Broader Impact

Research ProcessHypothesis Specific aims Experimentation or Scientific Method

Study and interpret the results Validation and Replication Gradual

accumulation of knowledge or truths

Remember:

Hypothesis: what is to be tested

Specific Aim: what is to be accomplished

Mentoring and Team Work

Athletes know the phenomenon of

running with someone ahead of them

to shorten the running time.

The same effect can be achieved with

effective mentoring or working with

a strong research group

You also need to

• Understand Funding Agency Mission

• Understand Peer Review Process

• Secure Collaborators for areas in which you lack

experience and training

• Practice: writing is a learned skill

Do not forget you need to:

• Organize, don‟t be sloppy, use readable fonts

• Make it easy for them to understand things

• Make it easy for them to find things

• Don’t make them work hard

• Make it easy for them to be your advocate

Structure of the 2-Page Research PlanThis is only a recommendation given the two-page limitation

• Introduction: Provide the research domain in broad terms and situate your research as to what it is you are undertaking-Background

• Research Question: Define the problem and indicate the knowledge gap or what are the existing limitations you intend to address - Significance

• Hypothesis: what is it that would be tested to overcome these limitations

• Specific Aims: What is it that you intend to accomplish

• Research Design and Methods: Use your research experience and skills to propose something new or unique in support of your Specific Aims.

• What are the intellectual merits (preferably in bullet form and concise)

• What are the broader Impacts (preferably in bullet form and concise)

• Close with a powerful retrospective (2 or 3 sentences to remind the reviewer the significance of your work)

Note: Except for the last bullet, try to have a good and succinct/well written paragraph for each bullet above, some shorter than others.

Intellectual Merits

– How important is the proposed activity to advancing

knowledge and understanding within its own field or across

different fields?

– How well qualified is the applicant to conduct the project?

(If appropriate, the reviewer will comment on the quality of

prior work.)

– To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and

explore creative, original, or potentially transformative

concepts?

– How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity?

– Is there sufficient access to resources?

For example, panelists (these are the people who will review

your application) may consider the following with respect to

the Intellectual Merit Criterion:

• Strength of the academic record,

• Proposed plan of research,

• Description of previous research experience or

publication/presentations

• References, and

• Appropriateness of the choice of institution relative to the

proposed plan for graduate education and research.

Intellectual Merits – Panelists View

Broader Impacts

– How well does the activity advance discovery and

understanding while promoting teaching, training, and learning?

– How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of

underrepresented groups (e.g., gender, ethnicity, disability,

geographic, etc.)?

– To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and

education, such as facilities, instrumentation, networks, and

partnerships?

– Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific

and technological understanding?

– What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?

Panelists may consider the following with respect to

the Broader Impacts Criterion:

• Personal, professional, and educational

experiences,

• Future plans and prior accomplishments in the

integration of research and education, and

• Potential to reach diverse audiences and benefit

society.

Broader Impacts: Panelists View

• Make the reviewer want to turn the page

• Draw the reviewer in:

The intrigue of the scientific question you pose

– What is known, what is not known,what is sought?

A compelling rationale (raison d'être or the reason of being), in other words why the research you propose?)

to convince the reviewers.

Background and Significance

If appropriate, use a good picture or diagram-

(situational): but because of the 2-page limitation try to be as

situational as possible (this helps the reviewer remember

what you are trying to do).

But if you manage to include such a diagram, it will

- Provides a concise referential ‘snapshot’

- Breaks the monotony of words

Background and Significance

Define what is known, and set the stage for

why the research you propose is absolutely

necessary to advance our knowledge

Establish that „X‟ is a big gap in our

knowledge.

Then point out how method/experiment of

specific aim „Y‟ will fix that or bridge it.

Background and Significance

• Bring the reviewer up to speed: Reviewer needs to be updated on the key research points you are addressing and feel comfortable with your research plan.

• Take time to read other people‟s work.

• Rather than merely describing where we have been, impart a sense that the work is new or groundbreaking.

• Provide a concise and honest description of the

problem including key references – you never know

who will review the application.

Background and Significance

• Start with a statement that identifies the phenomenon to be studied. Clearly articulate the HYPOTHESIS to guide the investigation in the light of established facts.

• What resources are helpful or needed to carry out this study?

• Avoid “over-ambitious” aims and be realistic.

• Connect the aims thematically

Ask yourself these things

• Do I know the field and its literature well?

• What are the important research questions in my field?

• What areas need further exploration?

• Could my study fill a gap? Lead to greater understanding?

• Has a great deal of research already been conducted in this area?

• Has this study been done before? If so, is there room for improvement?

• Most importantly, will my study have significant impact?

Specific Aim Guidelines

A Possible Model

• Reiterate Specific Aim

• Re-statement of rationale

• Design of study and structure of methodology

• Data analysis/interpretation: These are qualitative analyses and/or statistical procedures used to determine significance

Research design & Methods

Study Design

– Clear, concise, with logical flow

– Easy to follow for a reviewer who may not be expert in

the field

– Make sure the study schedule (time, milestones) is clear

and the reviewer can follow the procedure

– If you lose the reviewer here and they have to reread

numerous times, your score will suffer

Study Design & Methods

Methodology

– Provide details only on the key elements of your

research

– Commercially available methods or kits need only to

be briefly described or referenced

– For methods crucial to your aims: give reviewers a

sense that they are in good hands. Again, reference

significant published work

Research design & Methods

Data Analysis/Interpretation

– Define the primary and secondary endpoints

– Cite statistical tests to be used

– What level of significance will be accepted?

– What outcome is expected? Provide preliminary results if any

– How will you interpret that outcome? What will you conclude?

– What are possible alternate outcomes and interpretations?

Research Design and Methods

Pitfalls and Problems

– Address obvious potential technical difficulties

– Be clear about plan B (and C)

– Opportunity for preemptive strike against potential criticisms

– Don‟t go overboard in being too critical or too defensive

Research Design and Methods

Retrospective:

for Fellowship Applicants

1. Start early, taking significant time to compose essays, and

rewrite and provide them to your editors at your institution

rest assured that CAHSI investigators will help.

2. Demonstrate your personal motivation and excitement for

research

3. Spend time to thoroughly research your topic

4. Integrate essays to create singular theme

5. Keep essays clear and simple to read

6. Thoroughly address both Intellectual Merits and

Broader Impacts

7. Give essays to many people for review (colleague,

major professor, editor, CAHSI PIs.)

8. Get input from your advisor and other professors you

know

9. Get input from previous applicants or fellows

Retrospective:

for Fellowship Applicants (cont.)

10. Be sure to include all volunteer, leadership and extracurricular

activities

11. Highlight the significance of your research and how it will

impact society

12. Pay close attention to language in the solicitation

13. Focus on getting strong recommendation letters

14. Mention what sets you apart from a typical applicant - be

unique!

Retrospective:

for Fellowship Applicants (cont.)

1. Gain research experience, especially at the undergrad level

(NSF-REU program)

2. Become involved in leadership roles and community

service

3. Write clear and scientifically-sound essays

4. Strive for scientific publications and presentations

5. Have a strong academic record

Retrospective:

Tips from Reviewers

6. Select strong recommenders

• Link your teaching and research experiences

• Ensure you display a history of accomplishments

• Thoroughly address both Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts

• Highlight any international experience you may have

• Display your passion and motivation in the essays

• Be knowledgeable of your research topic

• Demonstrate the significance of your proposed work

• Make sure the proposed research is realistic

Retrospective:

Tips from Reviewers

Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF)

SMART Scholarship

(DoD)

National Defense Science Fellowship

(DoD)

Graduate Student

Research Program (NASA)

Post-doctorate Research

Fellowship (NSF)

Deadlines November December January March Until filledNumber of awardees

2,000 260 200 167 40

Benefits

Three-year annual stipend of $30,000.Cost of Education allowance of $10,500 for tuition and fees.A one-time $1,000 international travel allowance.The freedom to conduct Applicants own research at any U.S. accredited or foreign institution of graduate education they chose.

Full tuition and education related fees.Cash award paid at a rate of $25,000 -$41,000 depending on prior educational experience.Paid summer internshipsHealth insurance up to $1,200 per calendar year.Book allowance of $1,000 per academic year

Full tuition and education required fees.Fellows will receive a stipend for 12-month tenures of $31,000 for every year of three consecutive years.Medical insurance coverage offered through the institution, up to the value of $1,000 per year.

$30,000 renewable each year for three consecutive years.Student Stipend: $20,000Student Allowance: $6,000Health Insurance: $1,000University Allowance: $3,000

Each research fellow will receive a stipend of at least $75,000 plus health insurance benefits.The host company will provide a minimum of $27,500 and other non-cash benefits.

Other Fellowship Programs Available

Graduate Research

Fellowship (NSF)

SMART Scholarship

(DoD)

National Defense Science Fellowship

(DoD)

Graduate Student

Research Program (NASA)

Post-doctorate Research

Fellowship (NSF)

Deadlines November December January March Until filledNumber of awardees

2,000260 200 167 40

Application Procedure

Personal StatementPrevious Research Experience Proposed Plan of ResearchReference Letters

Academic Background Proposed Area of study.Publications and Presentations: Summary of Goals: References: GRE Scores SAT/ACT Scores: Transcripts

Academic StatusProposed Area of studyPublications and Presentations Awards and HonorsProfessional ExperienceLeadership ExperiencesTeamwork ExperienceMembership and CertificationsCommunity and Volunteer WorkSummary of GoalsReferences GRE Scores

AbstractProposalBiographical Transcript Letter of recommendation

TranscriptsAcademic BackgroundAwards & HonorsReferencesResearch Proposal: