The following is a special contribution to this blog by Tracy Kimbrel, Program Director in the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations (CCF) at the National Science Foundation.  

The NSF-wide 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.

I encourage the CISE community to inform its eligible graduate students and graduating seniors about this program and to urge them to apply. 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.

Starting this year, there is a significant change in the limit on the number of times an individual can apply. From the solicitation (emphasis added):

Effective as of the 2017 competition (Fall 2016 deadlines), 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. An exception is provided for first-year graduate students who applied to the 2016 GRFP competition in Fall 2015; these individuals may apply a second time in Fall 2016, if they are otherwise eligible. See Section IV – Eligibility Information for additional details.

Applications for CISE fields are due October 25, 2016. The solicitation and the pages available via the Applicants tab on the GRFP site contain the necessary details.

GRFP also needs qualified reviewers. Review panels are conducted by videoconference—no travel required! Please see the panelist information page and consider volunteering.