nsf graduate research fellowship contact

Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Contact Information

If you have any questions please see the proper contact information below.

GRF Operations Center

If you have questions about the topics below, please contact the GRF Operations Center.

• General program information
• Application (non-technical) assistance
• Review inquiries
• Reviewer inquires
• Selection notification inquires

Tel: 1-866-NSF-GRFP (1-866-673-4737)

Email:  [email protected]

NSF Help Desk

Technical questions from GRFP Applicants, GRFP Fellows, GRFP Reference Writers, and GRFP Coordinating Officials should be addressed to the NSF Help Desk.

Tel: 1-800-673-6188

Email:  [email protected]

GRF Program Office

GRFP Coordinating Officials with fellowship administration questions should contact the GRF Program Office.

Email:  [email protected]

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Overview and Introduction

The  NSF 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 US institutions.  Fellows share in the prestige and opportunities that become available when they are selected.  

Fellows also benefit from a three-year annual stipend of $34,000 along with a $12,000 cost of education allowance for tuition and fees (paid to the institution) for a total of $138,000, plus opportunities for international research and professional development, and the freedom to conduct their own research at any accredited U.S. institution of graduate education they choose.

Learn more about the NSF-GRFP in this introductory video

Eligibility:

• Citizenship:  Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident 
• Employment:  Not be a current NSF employee
• If previously offered a GRFP award, have declined by the deadline; 
• Have never previously applied to GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program 

Application Deadlines

• Campus Deadline:  Deadlines vary by field of study.  See the  NSF website  for specific deadlines.
• Endorsement:  GRFP does not require institutional endorsement; students may apply directly to this program. 

Prospective Applicants

Prospective applicants are encouraged to join the U-M NSF GRF Workshop & Canvas site for an overview of the application, program requirements, additional advising information, and more. Please note, ONSF does not offer individual advising for NSF-GRF Applicants at this time. The NSF-GRF website will have the most up to date information.

Resources for Applicants:

• Check out  Alex Lang's website  which has a number of examples in different fields
• Robin Walker (University of Missouri)  tip sheet for applicants
• ONSF maintains a Canvas site with lists of current NSF Grad Fellows in various departments and sample application essays.  Current UM students should complete  this Google Form  to request access to this site.

Application Summary

• Applicants apply directly through  www.fastlane.nsf.gov  
• As you ask for letters, be sure to include  this link to NSF-GRFP advice to letter writers .
• Applicants are strongly encouraged to work closely with faculty in their own departments in the completion of the application.  

Applicant Levels & Degree Requirements

• Intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in a research-based graduate degree program in an eligible Field of Study; 
• Have never earned a master's, professional, or bachelor's-master's degree in any field, unless (i) returning to graduate study after an interruption of two (2) or more consecutive years immediately preceding the deadline, and; (ii) are not enrolled in a graduate degree program at the application deadline; 
• Have never earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field.

Number of Times Individuals May Apply:

• Undergraduate seniors and bachelor's degree holders: may apply before enrolling in a degree-granting graduate program.
• Graduate students enrolled in a degree-granting graduate program:  only one application to the GRFP, submitted in the first year or at the beginning of the second year of their degree program.
• Individuals in this category who applied in the FY2021 competition (Fall 2020 deadline) are eligible to apply as first-year doctoral students only in the FY2022 competition (Fall 2021 deadline).

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2024 NFS Graduate Research Fellowship Program announces awardees and honorable mentions

Twelve boilermakers from the College of Science are honored  

The National Science Foundation ( NSF ) has announced the 2024 Graduate Research Fellowship Program ( GRFP ) which included 20 awardees and 12 honorable mentions from Purdue University.  Of the pool of innovators, the Purdue University College of Science students stood out with ten awardee offers and two honorable mentions:  

Awardees:  

• Katie Wilson: Applied Math major with EAPS and CS minors; Field of study : Geosciences - Computationally Intensive Research  
• Abigail Haydee Soliven : Chemistry (ACS), Honors College with distinction, and a minor in English; Field of study : Chemistry - Chemical Catalysis  
• Meenakshi McNamara : Physics and Math major; Field of study : Mathematical Sciences - Quantum Information Science  
• Brady R Layman : Chemistry graduate student in Professor Jeffrey Dick’s laboratory; Field of study : Chemical Measurement and Imaging  
• Mikail Habib Khan : CS, with Mathematics minor; Field of study : Comp/IS/Eng - Formal Methods, Verification, and Programming Languages  
• Daniel Miroslav Hristov : Chemistry and Honors College; Field of study : Chemistry - Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism  
• Stephanie Sara DeLancey : Chemistry with Psychology minor; Field of study : Chemistry - Undergraduate American Chemical Society accredited  
• Addison Curtis : EAPS graduate student; Field of study : Geosciences - Geochemistry  
• Grace Crim : Chemistry and Electrical Engineering, minor in Biological Sciences; Field of study : Engineering - Electrical and Electronic Engineering  
• Haleigh Brown : EAPS graduate student Field of study : Geosciences and Astrobiology  

Honorable Mentions:   

• Mariana Blanco-Rojas : EAPS graduate student  
• Sara Cuevas-Quiñones : Physics and EAPS major  

The purpose of the NSF GRFP is to help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. A goal of the program is to broaden participation of the full spectrum of diverse talents in STEM. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000.  

To learn more about GRFP or to apply for future awards, current students at the undergraduate and graduate level can check the NSF GRFP resources webpage . The College of Science is proud of our students who are driven to instigate the next giants leaps in STEM and look forward to following their research into their five-year fellowships term.  

Learn more about some of the students who were offered the fellowship below.    

Katie Wilson :   

“I am about to graduate from Purdue with a bachelor’s degree in applied math and minors in computer science and EAPS at Purdue. I fell in love with atmospheric science at Purdue, specifically clouds, and am excited to continue my education on the topic in grad school. At Purdue, I have been deeply involved in the Women in Science Program as a mentee, mentor, and team leader, from which I have made so many fun memories and impactful relationships. Being awarded the GRFP changed my future and opened exciting opportunities for me. Because of it, I am now able to pursue research in a field that I am passionate about without having to stress much over funding, something that greatly influenced my graduate school decision. I am very grateful for the opportunity to prove myself and make discoveries with my research as a woman in science. My plans for the GRFP are to go to the University of Wisconsin-Madison and get my master’s through their Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Research Program. I plan to do research on cloud microphysics/aerosols to learn more about factors that affect cloud properties and how this impacts climate change using numerical models and remote sensing data.”  

Haleigh Brown :   

“I am a computational astrobiologist working within the PHAB lab under Associate Professor Stephanie Olson at Purdue’s Earth Atmosphere and Planetary Sciences department. Broadly my work involves using numerical climate models and machine learning to better understand exoplanet habitability. I have wonderful peers and mentors helping me achieve my goals and I am thrilled to have the support of the NSF GRFP as well. I am eager to take advantage of the new tools accessible to me now due to the NSF and I am confident this will aid in my ability to contribute great work within my field.”  

Mikail Habib Khan:   

“I'm a senior in Purdue Computer Science, working on Programming Languages research with some Physics Education work on the side. I want to eliminate incidental complexity from software engineering to make programming more productive and accessible. For fun I like skating, reading sci-fi/fantasy, and playing video games. I worked with Associate Professor Tiark Rompf on CS research and Professor Sanjay Rebello for physics. Assistant Professor Ben Delaware has also given me a ton of advice and told me to apply for the GRFP in the first place. To me, the GRFP means that I'll have more freedom to pursue my interests in grad school. I won't have to worry about finding a funded project, and I might be able to leverage it to more easily find visiting scholar positions. I'm starting a PhD at CMU, where there are a ton of advisors I'd love to work with. I might work on WebAssembly, Program Synthesis, or Verification.”  

Abigail Soliven  

“I am a senior earning my degree in chemistry on the ACS track and a minor in english. When not in the lab, I spend my time involved on campus or reading, soaking up sunshine, and making playlists. The NSF GRFP is a vote of confidence in my abilities as a researcher and the impact I can make in my field as a graduate student and beyond. Through the GRFP, I will be able to focus entirely on my work and advancing chemical knowledge by knowing I have the financial support and resources to be creative and inventive. I am pursuing a PhD in organic chemistry at UC Berkeley post-graduation from Purdue. Boiler up and go bears!”  

Stephanie DeLancey  

“I am graduating from Purdue with a BS  degree in chemistry (ACS) and a minor in psychology. I have worked in the Ren lab for three and a half years, studying iron-based organometallic complexes with applications in the catalysis and materials fields. I look forward to starting my PhD at UNC Chapel Hill in the fall where I will continue to pursue research themes rooted in sustainable chemistry. Being awarded an NSF GRFP was an incredible honor that greatly validated my potential as a researcher. I am so grateful to have been recognized by a prestigious institution and provided the financial support to pursue my research goals with greater freedom and focus in grad school. However, receiving this honor has also made me all the more thankful for my mentorship in the Ren group that shaped me into the scientist I am today.  Starting this summer, I will begin working towards my PhD in inorganic chemistry at UNC Chapel Hill. I hope to conduct impactful research with relevance to energy storage and conversion, potentially with the CHASE Solar Hub at UNC. I cannot wait to start my next chapter knowing the NSF GRFP will allow me to more freely explore these interests.”  

Grace Crim  

“I am majoring in biochemistry (Department of Chemistry) and electrical engineering. During my time at Purdue, I have been involved in research, WISP, WIE, and SWE, as well as first-generation student honors and ambassador programs. I am passionate about interdisciplinary research and involving multiple STEM communities to solve big research problems. The GRFP is an accomplishment that everyone in research recognizes. I learned about the prestige of the NSF GRFP in sophomore year, when the graduate student I was doing research under won the award herself. I was lucky to have incredible research advisors that helped me through learning about the fellowship application process and graduate school as a whole. Coming from financial need, having the financial freedom to pursue research without worrying about funding is a relief. My plans are to pursue a PhD in electrical and computer engineering from Georgia Institute of Technology. My goal is to design micro-scale sensors with biological processes and chemical detection in mind, specifically for wildlife monitoring and astrobiology. Lab on a chip technology is new and promising. I am hoping to diversify applications of this tech ethically and responsibly to help fields other than ECE. My PhD will consist of a lot of time in the semiconductor cleanroom and collaborating with researchers from other universities and national labs in many different fields. Purdue has prepared me well for this type of research and I can't wait to get started!”  

Daniel Hristov  

“I am originally from Knoxville, TN with backgrounds from Bulgaria and Puerto Rico. I have been completing research with Professor Julia Laskin’s group the past four years working with electrochemistry and mass spectrometry-based techniques to better understand the fundamentals of ions and charged interfaces. I really enjoyed working with my graduate mentor, Hugo and having meaningful discussions about the molecular dynamics of our systems. I am truly grateful to the valuable mentoring provided by Dr. Hugo Samayoa and Professor Julia Laskin, and the scientists I interned for at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Dr. Grant Johnson and Dr. Venky Prabhakaran, that allowed me to broaden horizons in my projects and think critically about results. This award has meant a great amount not only to myself as a scientist, but every scientist who has mentored and supported me throughout my four years. I will start my PhD in physical chemistry in the fall at the University of California Berkeley.”  

Addison Curtis:  

“I am a queer, disabled geologist currently working towards my master’s in earth science. My research in the Thermochronology @ Purdue Lab under Assistant Professor Marissa Tremblay focuses on using radioactive isotopes in specific minerals to determine the ages and thermal histories of rocks in the North Cascades, WA to better understand regional tectonic changes about 50 million years ago! Outside of my research, I am extremely passionate about geoscience education and increasing representation for both disabled and Queer individuals in geology and academia as a whole. I am extremely grateful to have received the NSF GRFP to support me through the rest of my graduate school career. I am honored to join a cohort of other Fellows and continue to strive for excellence in both science and outreach. Graduate school is difficult for anyone but especially for someone who holds my identities, so having this support helps to relieve some of that pressure. It is also extremely validating and encouraging to receive such an award, showing that despite my additional challenges, I am still an intelligent, capable scientist with potential to significantly impact my field. Since I am currently a master’s student, I plan on using the GRFP as support in my future PhD program. While I don’t know where I will be going next, this award allows me to be able to pursue the specific research that I am interested in at another institution without having to worry about the logistics of future funding.”   

Meenakshi McNamara  

“I am graduating with a math and physics double major, and I plan to become a professor someday. I am passionate about conducting research in these fields, as well as helping build community as I have been doing through club leadership and mentoring programs. In my free time, I love to read, write, and draw. You may also find me rock climbing or playing board games with friends. I am honored to have been awarded the NSF GRFP. Winning this fellowship means that the committee felt that I have the potential to become a strong graduate student and researcher, and this is very meaningful because my goal is to have a research career. Further, communicating pure math research well can be difficult, and I certainly learned important skills during the application process. Thus, it was amazing to see that these efforts paid off and I have more confidence in my ability to communicate about my research and apply for similar things in the future.”  

About the College of Science  

Purdue University’s College of Science is committed to the persistent pursuit of the mathematical and scientific knowledge that forms the very foundation of innovation. More than 350 tenure-track faculty conduct world-changing research and deliver a transformative education to more than 6,000 undergraduates and 1,750 graduate students. See how we develop practical solutions to today’s toughest challenges with degree programs in the life sciences, physical sciences, computational sciences, mathematics, and data science at www.purdue.edu/science .  

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Student Advising Office: (765) 494-1771, Fax: (765) 496-3015 • Science IT , (765) 494-4488

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Archived funding opportunity

Nsf 05-601: graduate research fellowship program (grfp), program solicitation, document information, document history.

• Posted: July 28, 2005
• Replaces: NSF 04-615
• Replaced by: NSF 06-592

Program Solicitation NSF 05-601 Replaces Document NSF 04-615

Application Deadline(s) (due by 5 p.m. submitter's local time):

Deadline(s) are dependent on proposed field of study or specialization

November 02, 2005

Life Sciences

November 03, 2005

Psychology, Mathematical Sciences

November 04, 2005

Social Sciences

November 07, 2005

Chemistry, Physics and Astronomy

November 08, 2005

Engineering

November 09, 2005

Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE), Geosciences

Official Academic Transcript(s) (Required) due by deadline for Field of Study.

Reference Letters (Three Required) due December 31, 2005.

GRE Subject and General Test Scores (Optional) due December 31, 2005.

Revisions And Updates

Application deadlines have changed.

Eligibility Information has been updated and reformatted.

Three Reference Letters are now required rather than one.

The table of NSF Supported Fields of Study has been updated. Applicants are required to enter text for proposed fields that are not listed in the table.

Application preparation and submission instructions have changed. The text instructions for essays are revised in the Fastlane Application Module, and applicants are required to use a twelve-point font and comply with the page limitations for each section. The essays must be written using the standard 8.5" x 11'" page size.

The new Educational Testing Service address was added for applicants to mail the request for payment of the GRE subject test fee and the GRE subject test registration form.

The Undergraduate GPA Form is no longer required.

Summary Of Program Requirements

General information.

Program Title:

Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

Synopsis of Program:

The National Science Foundation aims to ensure the vitality of the human resource base of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics in the United States and to reinforce its diversity by offering approximately 1,000 graduate fellowships in this competition. The Graduate Research Fellowship provides three years of support 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. The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) invests in graduate education for a cadre of diverse individuals who demonstrate their potential to successfully complete graduate degree programs in disciplines relevant to the mission of the National Science Foundation.

Cognizant Program Officer(s):

• Please see the full text of this funding opportunity for contact information.

Applicable Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number(s):

• Eligibility Information

Fellowship applications must be submitted by the prospective Fellow. Applicants must register with Fastlane ( http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov ) prior to submitting an application and must affiliate with an accredited United States university, college, or non-profit academic institution or appropriate international institution of higher education offering advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics prior to activating the Fellowship award.

• Award Information

Application Preparation and Submission Instructions

A. application preparation instructions, b. budgetary information.

No indirect costs are allowed.

C. Due Dates

Proposal review information, award administration information, table of contents.

Summary of Program Requirements

• Introduction
• Program Description
• Application Preparation Instructions
• Budgetary Information
• FastLane Requirements
• NSF Application Review Process
• Notification of the Award
• Award Conditions
• Reporting Requirements
• Contacts for Additional Information
• Other Programs of Interest

I. Introduction

The purpose of the Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to ensure the vitality of the scientific and technological workforce in the United States and to reinforce its diversity. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students in the relevant science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines who are pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees. NSF Fellows are expected to become knowledge experts who can contribute significantly to research, teaching, and innovations in science and engineering. These individuals will be crucial to maintaining and advancing the nation’s technological infrastructure and national security as well as contributing to the economic well being of society at large.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program is designed to provide opportunities for advanced education that prepares students for a broad range of disciplinary and cross-disciplinary careers through its strategic investments in intellectual capital. Applicants, therefore, are urged to visit the NSF web page at https://www.nsf.gov for more information and guidance about current and emerging themes for the NSF directorates.

II. Program Description

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program awards fellowships for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) relevant to the mission of the National Science Foundation (See NSF-Supported Fields of Study) .

NSF Graduate Research Fellowships are intended for individuals in the early stages of their graduate study. All applicants are expected to have adequate preparation to begin graduate level study and research by Summer or Fall of 2006. In most cases, this will be demonstrated by a bachelor’s degree earned prior to Fall 2006.

Applicants may pursue graduate study at an institution in the United States or affiliate with a foreign institution. Prospective Fellows are responsible for all logistical arrangements required for affiliation with the foreign institution, including handling living arrangements and securing any necessary passports or visas.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program supports a comprehensive holistic plan for graduate education and takes into account the individual interests and competencies of the Fellows. Thus, an applicant must provide a detailed profile of his or her relevant educational and research experiences and plans for graduate education in such a way as to demonstrate the potential to become an emerging knowledge expert in STEM disciplines.

III. Eligibility Information

The three eligibility requirements for the Graduate Research Fellowship Program -- citizenship, degree requirements, and field of study -- are described below. Applicants are advised to read the entire program solicitation carefully to be sure that the requirements are interpreted properly. Applicants must exercise judgment in assessing eligibility.

The GRF Operations Center will respond to inquiries concerning these guidelines. However, eligibility will be determined only on the basis of a completed submitted application.

Citizenship

Applicants must be United States citizens or nationals, or permanent resident aliens of the United States.

The term "national" designates a native resident of a commonwealth or territory of the United States, such as American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, or the Northern Mariana Islands. It does not refer to a citizen of another country who has applied for U.S. citizenship.

Degree Requirements

Fellowships are intended for individuals in the early stages of their graduate study. Applicants must have completed no more than twelve months of full-time graduate study at the time of their application. Below are general guidelines for determining eligibility according to the degree requirements criterion.

• Part-time students: Nine (9) semester hours of part-time study are equal to a full-time semester, and six (6) semester hours of part-time study are equal to a summer session.
• Applicants are expected to have adequate preparation to begin graduate study and research by summer or fall 2006. In most cases, this will be demonstrated by receipt of a bachelor's degree earned prior to Fall 2006.
• Individuals are typically eligible to apply during the senior year of college or prior to or during the first year of graduate school.
• In four-year joint programs, applicants may apply in the fourth year and after the completion of the program. Completion of any further graduate study outside the joint program will disqualify an applicant.
• In five-year joint programs, applicants may apply in the fourth and fifth years of the program and after the completion of the program. Completion of any further graduate study outside the joint program will disqualify an applicant.
• Applicants may be considered eligible based on extenuating circumstances, such as a significant change of field, interruption in study to gain work experience, or career interruption due to family or medical reasons. The interruption must be for a period of more than two years prior to November 2005.
• Those who earned a Ph.D. in science, mathematics, or engineering or any medical degree, such as an M.D., D.D.S. or D.V.M. after October 1, 1999.
• Those who have already received and held tenure as an NSF Graduate Research Fellow.

Field of Study

Fellowships are awarded for graduate study leading to research-based master’s or doctoral degrees in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics supported by the National Science Foundation (See NSF-Supported Fields of Study ). The NSF welcomes applications for interdisciplinary programs of study and research. However, applicants are instructed to indicate the primary field of study for the proposed graduate program in the Fastlane Application Module so that the application can be assigned to the most appropriate review panel. The primary field of study also should be used to determine the appropriate application submission deadline. For example, applications with engineering as the primary field of study are due November 8, 2005. The guidelines below should be used to assess eligibility according to the field of study criterion.

• Research in bioengineering with diagnosis or treatment-related goals may be eligible for support if it applies engineering principles to problems in biology and medicine while advancing engineering knowledge. Bioengineering research to aid persons with disabilities may also be eligible. Applications emphasizing bio should be submitted under life sciences on November 2, 2005 while those emphasizing engineering should be submitted under engineering on November 8, 2005.
• Basic research may be eligible, notwithstanding long-term implications to the medical sciences.
• Research in a policy science is eligible only if applicants are pursuing research oriented master's or Ph.D. degrees.
• Clinical, counseling, business, or management fields, social work, education (except in science education Ph.D.), or history ( except in history of science).
• Practice-oriented professional degree programs, joint science-professional degree programs (MD/PhD and JD/PhD), and medical, dental, law, or public health programs.
• Medical sciences or research with disease-related goals, including work on the etiology, diagnosis or treatment of physical or mental disease, abnormality or malfunction in human beings or animals, animal models of such conditions, or the development or testing of drugs or other procedures for their treatment .

Women in Engineering and Computer and Information Science Awards

The Women in Engineering and Computer and Information Science awards are for women who intend to pursue graduate research degrees in Engineering or Computer and Information Science and Engineering. Additional funding for these awards is provided by the Directorate for Computer and Information Science and the Directorate for Engineering. Eligibility and review criteria are the same as for applicants in other fields.

IV. Award Information

The NSF expects to award 1,000 Graduate Research Fellowships under this program solicitation. The affiliated institution receives a $40,500 award for the costs described below. Fellows Abroad receive direct NSF grant awards up to the same amount.

The Graduate Research Fellowship stipend currently is $30,000 for a 12-month tenure period, prorated monthly at $2,500 for shorter periods.

The cost of education allowance currently is $10,500 per tenure year. For Fellows Abroad, all tuition and assessed fees will be reimbursed to the Fellow up to a maximum of $10,500 per tenure year. Refer to the Information for Graduate Fellows document for restrictions on the use of the cost-of-education allowance.

Fellows are allowed a one-time $1,000 International Research Travel Allowance.

All awards will be for a maximum of three years usable over a five-year period. The anticipated award date is late March 2006.

Honorable Mention

The NSF accords Honorable Mention to meritorious applicants who do not receive fellowship awards. Honorable Mention is considered a significant academic achievement nationwide.

V. Application Preparation And Submission Instructions

Fellowship applications must be submitted electronically using the NSF Fastlane Graduate Research Fellowship Program Application Module at https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp/ according to the field of study deadline. Thus, applicants must first register as a Fastlane user at that web site. The official transcript(s) is due at the same time as the field of study and must be submitted to the GRF Operations Center at the address shown in this section. See the Applicant User Guide for instructions on completing and submitting an application.

The Fastlane Application Module includes the following information: Personal Profile, Education and Work Experience, Planned Graduate Program, Personal Background Statements, Previous Research Experience, Proposed Plan of Research, and References. Do not send extraneous information or materials such as CDs, manuscripts, resumes, medical reports, or news clippings. These items will not be reviewed with your application.

Applicants must follow the instructions in the user guide and applicant module for completing each section of the application and adhere to the 12-point font and page limit requirements for all essays. Failure to comply with these requirements could eliminate the application from consideration by review panels. Applicants are advised to submit applications early to avoid possible Fastlane system delays on the deadline dates.

Supplemental Application Materials are described below.

• Official Academic Transcript(s) (Due by field of study deadline)

Applicants are required to have official transcript(s) from all undergraduate and graduate academic institutions attended, excluding Fall 2005 submitted to the GRF Operations Center in hard copy via postal mail, express service, or courier to:

GRF Operations Center Suite T-50, 1818 N Street NW Washington, DC 20036

• Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) Test Scores (Optional -- Due December 31, 2005)

It is recommended that applicants have both the GRE General and Subject Test scores reported.  To have GRE scores reported, applicants should use the Fellowship Sponsor Code 5140 on the request form.   Only GRE scores from tests taken between October 1, 2000 and December 31, 2005 submitted by ETS will be accepted for the 2006 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship competition. Applicants should NOT submit scores themselves directly.

• Three Reference Letters (Due December 31, 2005)

Applicants are required to submit three reference letters.  Reference writers should use letterhead, if possible, and include the following information:  Name and Title of reference writer, Department, and Institution or Organization. The reference letter should provide details explaining the nature of the relationship to the applicant, comments on the applicant’s academic potential and prior research experiences, statements about the applicant’s proposed research, and any other information to enable review panels to evaluate the application according to the NSF Merit Review criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts.

Graduate Record Examination Registration

NSF will pay Subject Test registration fees for applicants who register for the December 10, 2005 administration under two conditions: (1) the NSF Fellowship application is the primary purpose, and (2) the GRE registration form for the December test is received at ETS no later than November 5, 2005.

The following condition is imposed on the reporting of the December 10, 2005 GRE Subject Test scores when NSF pays the test fee. Prior to May 1, 2006 these scores will be reported only for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program, to the fellowship applicant, and to the applicant’s undergraduate institution.

Mail the Request for Payment of GRE Subject Test Fee form along with the GRE Subject Test registration form to:

ETS - GRE Box 382013 Pittsburgh, PA 15251-8013

Application Completion Status

The Fastlane GRFP Application module will display the completion status of the fellowship application. The status function will indicate whether the application and the supplemental information, such as transcripts, reference letters, and GRE scores, have been received. Applicants must use the Fastlane user ID and password to access this information.

Cost Sharing:

Cost sharing is not required by NSF in proposals submitted under this Program Solicitation.

Indirect Cost (F&A) Limitations:

Other Budgetary Limitations:

The NSF awards $40,500 to the affiliated institution for the costs described below. Fellows Abroad receive direct grant awards for up to the same amount.

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program fellowship stipend currently is $30,000 for a 12-month tenure period, prorated monthly at $2,500 for shorter periods.

The cost-of-education allowance currently is $10,500 per tenure year per fellow. For Fellows Abroad, all tuition and assessed fees are reimbursed to the Fellow up to a maximum of $10,500 per tenure year.

Proposals must be submitted by the following date(s):

D. FastLane Requirements

Applicants are required to prepare and submit all applications for this announcement/solicitation through the FastLane system. Detailed instructions for application preparation and submission via FastLane are available at: https://www.fastlane.nsf.gov/grfp . For FastLane user support, call the FastLane Help Desk at 1-800-673-6188 or e-mail [email protected] . The FastLane Help Desk answers general technical questions related to the use of the FastLane system. Specific questions related to this program announcement/solicitation should be referred to the NSF program staff contact(s) listed in Section VIII of this announcement/solicitation.

Vi. application Review Information

The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is designed to provide opportunities for pre-doctoral education that prepares students for a broad range of disciplinary and cross-disciplinary careers through its investment in intellectual capital. Applicants are expected to propose a holistic plan for graduate education that demonstrates the potential to successfully complete a research-based graduate degree and the potential to become an emerging knowledge expert in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

A. NSF Application Review Process

Applications will be reviewed by disciplinary panels of scientists, mathematicians, and engineers and other professional experts in graduate education. Applications will be assigned to disciplinary panels based on the applicant’s chosen field(s) of study. Thus, applicants are advised to select a field of study in the FastLane applicant module that is most closely aligned to the proposed graduate program of study and research plan.

Each application, therefore, will be reviewed independently on the basis of merit using all available information in the completed application. In considering applications, reviewers will be instructed to address the two Merit Review Criteria as approved by the National Science Board on March 28, 1997 – INTELLECTUAL MERIT and BROADER IMPACTS.  Applicants, therefore, must address each criterion in their written statements to provide reviewers with the information necessary to respond fully to both.  The following guidance is provided to interpret these requirements in the context of the Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Intellectual Merit

The intellectual merit criterion includes demonstrated intellectual ability and other accepted requisites for scholarly scientific study, such as the ability (1) to plan and conduct research; (2) to work as a member of a team as well as independently; and (3) to interpret and communicate research findings. Panelists will consider: the strength of the academic record, the proposed plan of research, the description of previous research experience, references, Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General and Subject Tests scores, and the appropriateness of the choice of institution relative to the proposed plan for graduate education and research.

Broader Impacts

The broader impacts criterion includes contributions that (1) effectively integrate research and education at all levels, infuse learning with the excitement of discovery, and assure that the findings and methods of research are communicated in a broad context and to a large audience; (2) encourage diversity, broaden opportunities, and enable the participation of all citizens-women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities-in science and research; (3) enhance scientific and technical understanding; and (4) benefit society. Applicants may provide characteristics of their background, including personal, professional, and educational experiences, to indicate their potential to fulfill the broader impacts criterion.

VII. Award Administration Information

A. notification of the award.

Notification of the fellowship award is made to the applicant by the Division of Graduate Education. Applicants whose applications are not selected for fellowship award will be advised as promptly as possible.

B. Award Conditions

An NSF Fellowship award consists of the award letter that includes the applicable terms and conditions and fellowship management instructions. All Fellowship awards are made subject to the provisions (and any subsequent amendments) contained in the document Information for Graduate Research Fellows .

NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program applicants will be notified in late March 2006 of their selection. The applicant must accept or decline the Fellowship within 30 days of notification by logging into the Graduate Research Fellowship Program link at ( http://www.fastlane.nsf.gov ) with the applicant User ID and password. Failure to comply with the deadline may result in revocation of the fellowship offer.

Other Opportunities for Fellowship Awardees and Honorable Mention Recipients

Fellows and Honorable Mention recipients may request computer time at one of the NSF supported Supercomputer Centers. The Centers consider requests for supercomputer use in support of the research project that is undertaken toward completion of the graduate program of study. (Refer to the Information for Graduate Research Fellows for additional guidance.)

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (students and faculty) to work on NSF-supported projects. Fellowship awardees and Honorable Mention recipients with disabilities may apply for assistance by contacting [email protected] .

C. Reporting Requirements

Annual Activity Report

Fellows are required to submit an Activity Report annually using NSF’s FastLane electronic fellowship management and reporting system. The system permits electronic submission and updating of activity reports, including information on research accomplishments and findings, presentations, publications, teaching and research assistantships, awards and recognitions, and other scholarly accomplishments.

Annual Tenure Declaration

Fellows must declare their intent to affiliate with an institution and to utilize the fellowship for the following year annually using the NSF FastLane fellowship management and reporting system. Failure to declare intent by the deadline established violates the terms and conditions for NSF fellowship awards.

Fellows Abroad

Starting Certificate: Fellows Abroad must submit the Fellowship Starting Certificate to initiate stipend payments and annually thereafter. The Starting Certificate must indicate the contact information for the Science Advisor at the affiliated institution.

ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form : Fellows Abroad must submit the ACH Vendor/Miscellaneous Payment Enrollment Form (SF 3881) to the Division of Financial Management at NSF in order for the U.S. Treasury Department to transmit payment data electronically to the Fellow’s U.S. bank account.

VIII. General Inquiries Regarding This Program Solicitation Should Be Directed To:

• Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center: Toll Free 866-NSF-GRFP (866-673-4737), International Phone 202-331-3542, E-mail: [email protected]

For questions related to the use of FastLane, contact:

FastLane Help Desk, telephone: 1-800-873-6188, email: [email protected]

IX. Other Programs Of Interest

The NSF Guide to Programs is a compilation of funding for research and education in science, mathematics, and engineering. The NSF Guide to Programs is available electronically at https://www.nsf.gov/cgi-bin/getpub?gp . General descriptions of NSF programs, research areas, and eligibility information for proposal submission are provided in each chapter.

Many NSF programs offer announcements or solicitations concerning specific proposal requirements. To obtain additional information about these requirements, contact the appropriate NSF program offices. Any changes in NSF's fiscal year programs occurring after press time for the Guide to Programs will be announced in the NSF E-Bulletin , which is updated daily on the NSF Website at https://www.nsf.gov/home/ebulletin , and in individual program announcements/solicitations. Subscribers can also sign up for NSF's MyNSF News Service ( https://www.nsf.gov/mynsf/ ) to be notified of new funding opportunities that become available.

• International Research Fellowship Program ( NSF 02-149 )
• Louis Stokes Alliances for Minority Participation (LSAMP) Program ( NSF 05-585 )
• Discovery Corps Fellowships ( NSF 05-593 )
• CEDAR, GEM, and SHINE Postdoctoral Research ( NSF 04-573 )
• NSF Directors Award for Distinguished Teaching Scholars ( NSF 04-594 )
• Integrative Graduate Education and Research (IGERT) ( NSF 05-517 )
• Research Experiences for Undergraduates ( NSF 04-592 )
• Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowships and Supporting Activities ( NSF 00-139 )
• GK-12: NSF Graduate Teaching Fellows in K-12 Education ( NSF 05-553 )

About The National Science Foundation

The National Science Foundation (NSF) funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering. Awardees are wholly responsible for conducting their project activities and preparing the results for publication. Thus, the Foundation does not assume responsibility for such findings or their interpretation.

NSF welcomes proposals from all qualified scientists, engineers and educators. The Foundation strongly encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to compete fully in its programs. In accordance with Federal statutes, regulations and NSF policies, no person on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin or disability shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from NSF, although some programs may have special requirements that limit eligibility.

Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) provide funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including student research assistants) to work on NSF-supported projects. See the GPG Chapter II, Section D.2 for instructions regarding preparation of these types of proposals.

Privacy Act And Public Burden Statements

NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION GRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIPS

NSF-Supported Fields of Study

5230 Analytical 5250 Bio-inorganic 5240 Bio-organic 5260 Biophysical 9994 Environmental 5290 Inorganic 5330 Organic 5350 Physical 5331 Polymer 5370 Theoretical 5399 Chemistry, other (specify)

COMPUTER AND INFORMATION SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING (CISE)

7240 Artificial Intelligence (including Robotics and Expert Systems) 7210 Computer Science - Languages and Systems 7200 Computer Science - Theory 7270 Computer Systems Design (including Signal Processing) 7230 Database Systems 7261 Graphics 7260 Human Computer Interaction 7250 Information Technology and Organizations 7290 Networks and Communications 7280 Scientific Computing and Informatics 7220 Software Engineering – Operating Systems and Middleware 0019 Software Engineering – Computer Architecture and Grids 0020 Software Engineering – Information Security and Assurance 7299 CISE, other (specify)

ENGINEERING

6210 Aeronautical and Aerospace 6240 Agricultural 6250 Bioengineering and Biomedical 6330 Chemical Engineering 6350 Civil Engineering 6388 Computer Engineering 6390 Electrical and Electronic 6741 Energy 6470 Engineering Mechanics 6532 Engineering Science 9996 Environmental 6580 Industrial Engineering 6476 Materials 6620 Mechanical Engineering 6660 Metallurgical 6740 Nuclear 6245 Ocean 6716 Petroleum 6480 Polymer 6585 Systems Engineering 6799 Engineering, other (specify)

GEOSCIENCES

5710 Aeronomy 5720 Atmospheric Chemistry 5750 Chemical Oceanography 5770 Climate Dynamics 5740 Geochemistry 5780 Geology 5800 Geophysics 5810 Hydrologic Sciences 5820 Large-scale Dynamics Meteorology 5830 Magnetospheric Physics 5840 Marine Geology and Geophysics 5850 Mesoscale Dynamic Meteorology 5870 Paleoclimate 5860 Paleontology 5880 Physical Meteorology 7799 Physical Oceanography 5890 Solar - Terrestrial 5889 Geosciences, other (specify)

LIFE SCIENCES

0399 Agriculture 0140 Agronomy 4510 Anatomy 4530 Animal Behavior 4531 Animal Science 0999 Biochemistry 1870 Biological Oceanography 1899 Biology 1299 Biophysics 1599 Botany (including Plant Physiology) 1820 Cell Biology 1860 Computational Biology 1840 Developmental Biology 1830 Ecology 4570 Entomology 9992 Environmental Sciences 1850 Evolutionary Biology 4590 Fish and Wildlife 0250 Forestry 2499 Genetics 0300 Horticulture 3293 Immunology 1874 Marine Biology 3299 Microbiology 1880 Molecular Biology 1829 Neurosciences 1890 Nutrition 2970 Pharmacology 3899 Physiology 1545 Plant Pathology 4540 Soil Science 1822 Structural Biology 3290 Virology 4699 Zoology 2299 Life Sciences, other (specify)

MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

7010 Algebra or Number Theory 7030 Analysis 7050 Applied Mathematics (including Biometrics and Biostatistics) 7110 Geometry 7130 Logic or Foundations of Mathematics 7140 Operations Research 7150 Probability and Statistics 7170 Topology 7199 Mathematics, other (specify) PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY

4999 Astronomy 4930 Astrophysics 8040 Atomic and Molecular 8050 Condensed Matter Physics 8160 Nuclear 8180 Optics 8110 Particle Physics 8200 Physics of Fluids 8210 Plasma 8220 Solid State 8260 Theoretical Physics 8299 Physics, other (specify)

4125 Cognitive 4120 Cognitive Neuroscience 0001 Computational Psychology 4130 Developmental 4150 Experimental or Comparative 4189 Industrial/Organizational 4155 Neuropsychology 4165 Perception and Psychophysics 4170 Personality and Individual Differences 0020 Psycholinguistics 4158 Physiological 4162 Quantitative 4190 Social 4199 Psychology, other (specify)

SOCIAL SCIENCES

0693 Biological Anthropology 0695 Cultural Anthropology 0694 Linguistic Anthropology 0696 Medical Anthropology 0697 Physical Anthropology 0610 Archaeology 0008 Cleometric History 0007 Communications 0003 Decision Making 9818 Demography 0006 Econometrics 8599 Economics (except Business Administration) 8799 Geography 9099 History of Science 9499 International Relations 0005 Law and Social Science 9299 Linguistics 9098 Philosophy of Science 9399 Political Science 9799 Public Policy 0004 Risk Analysis 0009 Science Policy 9599 Sociology (except Social Work) 9699 Urban and Regional Planning 9899 Social Sciences, other (specify)

Note: For further clarification of research areas supported by the NSF, see the National Science Foundation Guide to Programs at https://www.nsf.gov/pubsys/ods/getpub.cfm?nsf04009 .

• Warning: Individuals pursuing research in a policy science are eligible for funding only if they are pursuing research oriented Master’s or Ph.D. degrees.
• Warning: Research with disease-related goals is not eligible for support by NSF. Applicants in this field will be judged ineligible if their Proposed Plan of Research has disease-related goals and/or is insufficiently focused on basic research questions.
• Warning: Clinical and counseling psychology are generally not supported in this program; applicants in this field will be judged ineligible if their Proposed Plan of Research focuses on mental disease, abnormality or malfunction.

Ten Vanderbilt engineering students awarded prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

Brenda Ellis

May 16, 2024, 3:30 PM

Seven engineering graduate students and three undergraduates in the Vanderbilt School of Engineering are 2024 recipients of the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship.

“These fellowships are extremely competitive, so being selected as an NSF Graduate Fellow is a tremendous recognition of our outstanding students and our faculty mentors. In addition to these students who are already at Vanderbilt, the graduate student cohort that is matriculating this fall will include several additional NSF recipients,” said E. Duco Jansen, senior associate dean for Graduate Education. The School of Engineering currently has over 45 NSF GRF awardees.

The seven current engineering graduate student winners are:

• Emily Berestesky, Biomedical Engineering
• Austin Coursey, Computer Science
• Skyler Hornback, Chemical Engineering
• William Richardson, Computer Science
• Soren Smail, Interdisciplinary Materials Science
• Jacob Schulman, Biomedical Engineering
• Harrison Walker, Interdisciplinary Materials Science

The three engineering undergraduate winners are:

• Abigail Eisenklam, Computer Science/Mathematics
• Alexander Oh, Electrical Engineering/Computer Science
• Schyler Rowland, Biomedical Engineering

Each of those fellowships provides three years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000 along with a $16,000 cost-of-education allowance for tuition and fees, as well as access to opportunities for professional development available to NSF-supported graduates students. It is one of the most prestigious awards for graduate students, with about 16% of applicants awarded each year.

Begun in 1952, this fellowship program is the oldest and most prestigious of its kind; 42 recipients have gone on to become Nobel laureates, and more than 450 have become members of the National Academy of Sciences.

Contact: [email protected]

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Grad, research assistant awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowship

MACON — Mercer University graduate and current research assistant Caden Hamrick has been awarded the prestigious, oldest of its kind, NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (GRFP) , with a total award value of $159,000.  

GRFP says it recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who have demonstrated the potential to be high-achieving scientists and engineers, early in their careers. Applicants must be pursuing full-time research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education at accredited US institutions.

“I am honored and humbled to be offered this opportunity, and I am eager to begin my studies and research,” said Hamrick.

Hamrick, from Covington, graduated with a computer engineering degree in May 2023 and is currently working full-time as a research assistant in the lab of Dr. Anthony Choi, professor of electrical and computer engineering and director of machine intelligence and robotics.

“Caden is one of the most highly motivated and well-rounded students I have mentored in my 20 years in academia,” said Dr. Choi. “He has shown strong interest in research, particularly in machine learning, natural language processing and human computer interfacing. Advising him has been a delight as he is always ready to accept a challenge and has great dedication to his work.  He has a genuine enthusiasm for learning and research, and I am impressed by his thought-provoking questions that delve into the true nature of the problem rather than the obvious details. During the three years working for me as an undergraduate research assistant and one year as a full-time post-baccalaureate research assistant, he has grown from a mentee to someone who I now consider as a collaborator.” 

Hamrick will be starting his Ph.D. at the University of Utah in the fall, and he said he plans to pursue a career in academia as a professor, with the intent to “focus on providing opportunities for undergraduate research, as Dr. Choi and Dr. McNally, assistant professor of physics, provided for me.”

About the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)

The purpose of the NSF GRFP is to help ensure the quality, vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. A goal of the program is to broaden participation of the full spectrum of diverse talents in STEM. The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support.

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• Northwestern Engineering

Six Students Awarded NSF Graduate Research Fellowships

The five-year fellowship is awarded to outstanding students pursuing a graduate degree in stem.

Northwestern Engineering PhD students Mandi Cai, Melissa Chen, Lawrence Chillrud, Fiona Neylon, and Essien Taylor, and undergraduate student Carolyn Zou in Northwestern’s School of Communication, have been awarded National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships in recognition of their demonstrated potential for significant research achievements.

The highly selective Graduate Research Fellowship program awards a five-year fellowship to outstanding individuals pursuing a full-time, research-based graduate degree in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The students will receive three years of financial support, including an annual stipend.

Prior to joining Northwestern, Cai was a data journalist at The Texas Tribune . Her award-winning work with editors Darla Cameron and Chris Essig inspired Cai’s curiosity about data visualizations in the media and shaped her current research focus.

“This fellowship provides me with the support to investigate all the big, pressing questions I had while working as a data journalist — ‘how is data journalism supporting the public’s ability to understand and interact with data, data visualizations, and statistical models in news coverage around high-profile topics like COVID-19 and elections? How do audiences understand and trust this coverage?’” Cai said.

Leading up to the November elections, she is investigating public perceptions around the use of data and statistical modeling in elections coverage, with a particular focus on the communication of live election results and winner projections. Cai and her collaborators — Kay and Erik Nisbet , Owen L. Coon Endowed Professor of Policy Analysis, and Communication — aim to determine participants’ baseline level of understanding, points of confusion, and degree of distrust toward winner projections in US elections. Using this data, the team will design and test alternative explanations of projections to improve user understanding and synthesize techniques for newsrooms to effectively communicate data-driven models.

“Ultimately, I wish to empower data journalists to be data educators who can consider the unique needs of their reader populations,” Cai said. “I also seek to empower readers to understand data they encounter in everyday life. More public data and statistical literacy supports individuals in evaluating and interrogating data as it is used to guide decisions or fuel algorithms.”

Melissa Chen

Chen studies students’ self-efficacy — or a person's belief in their ability to complete a task or achieve a goal — in introductory computing courses.

Building on research by O’Rourke and Jamie Gorson (PhD ’22), a graduate of the joint PhD program in Computer Science and Learning Sciences , Chen is examining students’ self-assessments during the process of learning programming and the tendency for novice programming students to be self-critical. Chen wants to understand how students with lower self-efficacy are influenced by personal experiences and interactions with the computing community and aims to design scalable systems that help students adjust their self-assessment criteria to be more aligned with what is expected of them as computing learners.

“Self-efficacy has an impact on students’ decisions to persist in computing,” Chen said. “By gaining a better understanding of how to improve and build self-efficacy, I hope to be able to equitably support students so that they feel confident learning and using their computing skills in their everyday lives.”

Supported by a 2023-24 Design Cluster research fellowship, Chen is also working on a related project with O’Rourke and Duri Long , assistant professor of communication studies in the School of Communication and (by courtesy) assistant professor of computer science at Northwestern Engineering. The team is designing a socially situated, small-group intervention to help students reframe their self-assessments and improve their self-efficacy. They plan to work with students to determine how to make the interventions scalable.

Lawrence Chillrud

Chillrud is developing machine learning methods for applications in biomedical imaging. He aims to create robust uncertainty quantification techniques for medical imaging models and to design reliable algorithms that can assist doctors and patients in making informed decisions.

“Knowing when to trust these complex predictive models in high-stakes clinical settings is of critical importance,” Chillrud said. “If a model could reliably estimate its case-by-case uncertainty, clinicians could have a better understanding of how to integrate model predictions in data-driven decision-making, and patients could be better informed and in control of their disease and treatment plan.”

Chillrud is working on two research projects. In his radiological work, he is developing models that seek to predict the presence or absence of important brain tumor biomarkers in a patient’s MRI scan. In pathology, Chillrud is investigating computational techniques to help renal pathologists identify patients most at risk of kidney transplant failure.

Chillrud earned a bachelor’s degree in computer science from Columbia University in 2020. Prior to joining Northwestern, Chillrud was a senior programmer in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health. His research into the development of interpretable machine learning methods for assessing complex mixtures of environmental exposures in epidemiological studies with mentor Marianthi-Anna Kioumourtzoglou ignited Chillrud’s passion for research and inspired him to pursue a PhD.

“I feel tremendously lucky to have been awarded the fellowship and believe that it speaks more to the exceptional support and mentorship I have received over the years from advisers, colleagues, teachers, friends, and family, than it does say anything about me personally,” Chillrud said. “I am also hugely grateful to the NSF for their support during this early and exciting stage of my career.

Katsaggelos is the Joseph Cummings Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering and (by courtesy) professor of computer Science at Northwestern Engineering and professor of radiology at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine . Cooper is the director of the Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine’s Center for Computational Imaging and Signal Analytics in Medicine and associate professor of pathology and preventive medicine at Feinberg and (by courtesy) associate professor of electrical and computer engineering.

Fiona Neylon

Neylon’s research interests lie in human-robot interaction in the medical, rehabilitation, and assistive spheres. Drawing from her own prolonged rehabilitation experience during high school after a near-total spinal fusion, she aims to develop tools that clinicians and patients can use to improve overall quality of life.

“Having normal function one day and limited the next made me understand the importance of independence and improving the quality of life for all,” Neylon said. “I’m thankful for being in the unique position of pairing that experience with my technical training to make me the researcher I am today — one motivated to improve the lives of individuals through robotic and assistive solutions.”

After joining Argall’s Assistive and Rehabilitation Robotics Laboratory (argallab) at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in 2022, Neylon began working with the argallab’s assistive robotic arm project team on developing a body-machine interface for customized control. The group is studying the learning effects of individuals with spinal cord injuries to control a seven-degree-of-freedom robotic arm via a shared control training paradigm.

“Receiving the fellowship is an incredible honor and is not only validation of the dedication I’ve put into my academic and research pursuits, but also a testament to the support of my mentors,” Neylon said.

Essien Taylor

Taylor investigates computer architecture and aims to reduce energy consumption in power-constrained embedded systems, including electronic medical implants and mobile phones.

“Understanding the energy consumption of microprocessors requires detailed models that take a large amount of time and labor to create,” Taylor said. “My current work will generate these complex models in a fraction of the time and effort, allowing us to rapidly explore countless research avenues.”

In 2023, the financial support of his GEM Fellowship afforded Taylor the opportunity to intern with Cadence Design Systems Inc., which aided his approach to electronics design.

Taylor is also a member of the Karsh STEM Scholars Program at Howard University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering. The program provides full scholarships for undergraduate students in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics disciplines and support for underrepresented minorities completing graduate programs in STEM.

“My experience as a Karsh STEM Scholar at Howard University was crucial in developing my passion for research,” Taylor said.

Carolyn Zou

Zou builds AI tools that support the design of resilient social systems. Leveraging generative language models, her goal is to create ‘agents’ that faithfully represent the people that populate complex social systems.

“Simulations with these agents can reflect the contingent dynamics of social influence and interaction, and prototyping with populated systems allows decision-makers to assess the anticipated effects of, and iterate on, prosocial interventions,” Zou said.

This fall, Zou will join the PhD program in computer science at Stanford University, supported by both the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship and a Stanford Graduate Fellowship.

"I am immensely grateful for the NSF's support as I begin my graduate studies. This recognition is a testament to the incredible mentorship I've received at Northwestern and truly speaks to the opportunities afforded by the wide reach of human-computer interaction research across the University,” Zou said. “Northwestern's interdisciplinary environment allowed me to pursue HCI research from a starting point in the social sciences while developing the technical skills to prepare me for a PhD in computer science, and I look forward to bringing this unique perspective to my future work in human-AI interaction."

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NDSU graduate students receive prestigious fellowship award

Two NDSU graduate students were selected to receive the highly competitive and prestigious 2024 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Award. 

The students are:

• Madison Ashbach, electrical and computer engineering, advised by Sumitha George, NDSU assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering
• Matthew Pierce, psychology, advised by Jeremy Hamm, NDSU assistant professor of psychology

Additionally, Grace Tiffany, a graduate student in chemistry and biochemistry received an honorable mention. Tiffany is advised by Svetlana Kilina, NDSU professor of chemistry and biochemistry. 

The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program ensures the quality, vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce in the U.S., with the goal of supporting outstanding graduate students pursuing research-based master’s and doctoral degrees in NSF-supported science, technology, engineering and mathematics disciplines. 

The five-year fellowship provides three years of financial support inclusive of an annual stipend of $37,000. Fellows also have access to opportunities for professional development.

“I'm extremely grateful to have been chosen,” Ashbach said. “I am very thankful for all the help I received from my advisor Dr. George and everyone at the GRFP workshop who helped me succeed.”

Ashbach is currently working on research that entails designing memory architectures with emerging technologies. 

“It feels validating to know that the NSF is willing to put money behind my research,” Pierce said. “As with many other folks, I've struggled with imposter syndrome since becoming a grad student and earlier, but receiving this reward has alleviated some of that. It also makes me immensely proud of the people I work with and who helped me set up my application; science is a collaborative process, and I think my experiences putting together fellowship applications has driven that home.”

Pierce is thankful for the support he’s received from Hamm, along with Katherine Duggan, NDSU assistant professor in the psychology department, Laura Thomas, NDSU associate professor in the psychology department, and Odalis Garcia, a psychology doctorate student. 

Pierce’s research focuses on modifiable psychological factors that may impact cognitive decline, and specifically, how internal control and control over oneself might be used to slow cognitive decline. 

• May 14, 2024 NDSU and UND collaborative research projects announced Research , Awards

• May 3, 2024 NDSU staff awards announced Awards , Staff