National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowships Program (GRFP) Overview in Partnership with Sociologists for Women in Society (SWS) Career Development Committee
- LaNysha Adams, Outreach Manager for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Operations Center
- Heather Laube, SWS Career Development Committee Chair
- Barret Katuna, SWS Executive Officer
The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (https://www.nsf.gov/funding/pgm_summ.jsp?pims_id=6201&org=DGE&from=home) is one of the U.S. National Science Foundation’s oldest programs, launched in 1952. In fact, the first GRFP awards predate NSF’s first awards for research grants. Today, it is one of NSF’s most well-known programs, and recruits high-potential, early-career scientists and engineers and supports their graduate research training in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and STEM Education fields. Each year, the program receives nearly 14,000 applications and awards Fellowships to around 2,000 individuals.
A hallmark of GRFP is its contribution to increasing the diversity of the STEM workforce, including geographic distribution, as well as the participation of women, underrepresented minorities, persons with disabilities, and veterans. The thousands of fellows have made transformative breakthroughs in science and engineering, are leaders in their chosen careers, and have been honored as Nobel laureates and National Academies members.