The following Dear Colleague letter was recently released by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP), intended to provide support for those at the beginning of their graduate career and individuals seeking to reenter graduate studies following an interruption of at least two consecutive years.
The National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines who are pursuing research-based Master’s and doctoral degrees at accredited United States institutions. The program provides up to three years of support, including an annual $34,000 stipend, for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research.
The GRFP awards more than 2,000 new fellowships each year. The number of these fellowships awarded to students doing research in each subject area depends strongly on the number of applications received in that area. The fraction of fellowships in subject areas supported by the NSF Division of Mathematical Sciences (DMS) in 2017 was just over 3.9% of the total. There remains room for improvement in participation by the mathematical sciences community.
In the years 2013 through 2017, GRFP awards in the mathematical sciences were given to students who earned baccalaureate degrees from the 159 institutions listed below. The number of baccalaureate institutions in this list has been growing through the years.
I encourage the DMS community to inform eligible students about this program and to urge them to apply. This is a terrific opportunity for the mathematical sciences community. US citizens and permanent residents who are planning to enter graduate school in an NSF-supported discipline next fall, or in the first two years of such a graduate program, or who are returning to graduate school after being out for two or more years, are eligible. The applicant information page and the program solicitation contain the necessary details.
Applications for Mathematical Sciences topics are due October 27, 2017.
The GRFP also needs qualified faculty reviewers. Review panels are conducted by videoconference. Please see the panelist information page and consider volunteering to serve as a panelist by registering here.
Tie Luo
Acting Division Director
Division of Mathematical Sciences