Graduate Student Research & Training at NSF

Division of Graduate Education

Gisele Muller-Parker (gtmuller@nsf.gov)Richard Boone (rboone@nsf.gov)

NSF’s Current Investment in Graduate Students

80

7 13

Percentage of Students Supported by NSF

(N = 42,000)

RATraineeshipFellowship

7

GRFP Goals

Select, recognize and financially support individuals early in their careers with the demonstrated potential to be high achieving scientists and engineers

Broaden participation in science and engineering of underrepresented groups, including women, minorities, persons with disabilities and veterans

GRFP Features Funding

◦ Three years of support over a five year period◦ Annual stipend of $32,000◦ Annual cost of education allowance of $12,000 paid to

institution Flexible

◦ Choice of project, advisor and program Unrestrictive

◦ No service requirement Portable

◦ Any accredited U.S. institution Awards

◦ 2,000 for each of the past three years

GRFP: New Professional Development Opportunities

Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW)◦ Recently announced as a Dear Colleague Letter (NSF

13-022)www.nsf.gov/grow

Engineering Innovation Fellows Program www.nsfeifp.asee.org

Outreach Efforts to Broaden Participation in GRFP

◦ Partnering with EPSCoR◦ Providing presentations to underrepresented

groups Joint Annual Meeting of NSF’s Division of Human

Resource Development◦ Selecting panelists from minority serving

institutions

GRFP awardee demographic trend: ~ 17% Underrepresented Minorities in 2012 ~ 8% Underrepresented Minorities in 2002

Strategies to Enhance Participation in GRFP

Publicize GRFP on campus Identify faculty willing to mentor Encourage faculty to serve as

reviewers Establish peer mentoring system Recognize current Fellows Hold workshops Ask for outreach visit by NSF Utilize GRFP’s web resources

Web Resources for applying for an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship:

NSF GRFP Website (nsf.gov/grfp)◦ Solicitation and links◦ List of current and former Fellows

NSF GRFP FastLane Website (fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp)◦ Application, guides, announcements

GRFP Website (nsfgrfp.org)

Future Directions for GRFPGRFP is a cross-Foundation Program with a Working Group with members from each DirectorateSome questions the Working Group is considering:

• Is GRFP targeting the most appropriate applicant pool to meet the program goals?

• Should GRFP provide more professional development opportunities for NSF Graduate Fellows?

• Should the current financial model of the fellowship be changed to maximize the impact of NSF investments in GRFP?

Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Program

Established in 1998 to address national calls for greater emphasis on interdisciplinary training in graduate education.

Some IGERT Data1998-2013

• 7102 students• 122 institutions (some with multiple awards)• 44 states, DC, and Puerto Rico• 146 current projects• 55% of current IGERT projects have international

training component• IGERT students value interdisciplinary training

more highly than any other aspect of theprogram

The proposed NSF FY ‘14 budget calls for a transition from IGERT to a new NSF Research Traineeship (NRT) program.

What is known about the NRT• “These projects will design and implement

traineeships programs in emphasis areas that align with national priorities where new areas of science are emerging rapidly.”

• “NRT will also provide a mechanism for learning about the implementation and impact of innovative graduate traineeship programs or graduate education policies.”

Source: Proposed NSF FY ‘14 budget

What is known about the NRT (cont.)• “The program will build on what has been learned through IGERT, the Graduate STEM Fellows in GK-12 Education (GK-12) program, and in other

relevant NSF-sponsored efforts.”• “NSF will seek transformative approaches to graduate education that keep pace with the transformation of science in emerging fields and in specialized areas.”

Source: Proposed NSF FY ‘14 budget

What is next?• Work is now underway to to further define the NRT and develop the NRT solicitation.• NSF anticipates releasing the NRT solicitation in FY ‘14.• FY ‘14 request for IGERT/NRT is $55M• We welcome your thoughts on the design of the new NRT and the emphasis areas.