Support

BioXFEL will be holding a NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) Proposal Writing Workshop after our NSF site visit on May 25th, 2017. It is our hope that this workshop will give our students essential training in proposal writing and enhance their chances of receiving an NSF Fellowship Award. A registration link for this event is at the bottom of this page.

 This will event will include:

1. Remote support in initial proposal writing (online webinars, instructional videos, writing assistance and advice).
2. Two NSF proposal writing webinars on Broader Impacts and Best Practices.
3. A live review event where your proposal will be reviewed by a committee of your peers and BioXFEL scientists.
4. Proposal reviews and feedback to enhance the quality of your applications.

Below we have gathered some useful information to help you get started with your proposal writing. Please check the information provided on the NSF website and watch the video below to help you get started.

Required Information

Please access the links below for more details on the NSF GRFP. These sites contain critical information on the proposal process, eligibility, and review criteria. Please review this information before registering with the link at the bottom of this page.

Official NSF Program Solicitation

NSF GRFP Site

Introductory Video on NSF GRFP Proposal Writing

The following video is presented by NSF GRFP Program Officers Joerg Schlatterer and Susan Brennan.

Eligibility

All BioXFEL students are welcome to register for the proposal writing workshop, but not all students will be able to submit their proposal to the NSF GRFP. The program restrictions are listed below:

1. Graduate students are limited to only one application to the GRFP, submitted either in the first year or in the second year of graduate school.
2. Individuals may apply as an undergraduate senior as well as post-baccalaureate, before beginning graduate training.
3. Applicants must not have completed more than 12 months of full-time graduate, post-baccalaureate graduate, and professional study by August 1, of the year the application is submitted. Pre-graduate participation in summer activities (e.g., bridge programs, field studies, lab rotations) offered by a graduate program prior to the start of the fall graduate program are not included in this total.

More GRFP Eligibility information: FAQs , NSF Dear Colleague Letter

Summary of Review Criteria

All proposals will be reviewed internally by a panel of students, postdocs and PIs using the NSF criteria described below. All applicants will be expected to participate in a review panel.

• Intellectual Merit: The Intellectual Merit criterion encompasses the potential to advance knowledge.
• Broader Impacts: encompasses the potential to benefit society and contribute to the achievement of specific, desired societal outcomes.

The following elements should be considered in the review for both criteria:

1. What is the potential for the proposed activity to:

a. Advance knowledge and understanding within its own field or across different fields (Intellectual Merit); and

b. Benefit society or advance desired societal outcomes (Broader Impacts)?

2. To what extent do the proposed activities suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially transformative concepts?

3. Is the plan for carrying out the proposed activities well-reasoned, well-organized, and based on a sound rationale? Does the plan incorporate a mechanism to assess success?

4. How well qualified is the individual, team, or organization to conduct the proposed activities?

5. Are there adequate resources available to the PI (either at the home organization or through collaborations) to carry out the proposed activities?

If you have reviewed the information above and are interested in submitting a GRFP or participating on a review panel, please register below.

Registration

The first 10 students who register for the workshop will receive free AAAS Online Courses on " Best Practices for NSF Grant Proposals" and "Broader Impacts for NSF Proposals" purchased by BioXFEL for this workshop. 

Register for the Workshop HERE

Download the Agenda Here

Please contact Bill Bauer with any questions or requests for additional information.