Dear Colleague Letter - NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) -
Graduate Research Internship Program (GRIP)
April 16, 2018
Dear Colleagues:
The Division of Graduate Education announces the continuation of the Graduate
Research Internship Program (GRIP). GRIP provides professional development to
NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellows (referred to as
"Fellows") through internships developed in partnership with federal agencies
(see https://www.nsf.gov/grip for a current list of partner agencies). Through
GRIP, Fellows participate in mission-related, collaborative research under the
guidance of host research mentors at federal facilities and national
laboratories. GRIP enhances the Fellows' professional skills, professional
networks, and preparation for a wide array of career options. The sponsor
agencies benefit by engaging Fellows in applied projects, helping to develop a
highly skilled U.S. workforce in areas of national need.
Through GRIP, Fellows benefit from partnerships developed by NSF and other
federal agencies to provide internship opportunities. Internship details for
each partner agency differ and are available through links to agency websites.
As additional agencies develop internship partnerships with NSF, updates will
be made to the GRIP website (https://www.nsf.gov/grip).
Eligibility
GRIP is open to active Fellows (both "on tenure" and "on
reserve")[1]<https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18069/nsf18069.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_179#[1]>
who have completed at least one year of their graduate program at the time of
application and will retain their active status for at least 12 months
following the application submission deadline. They must be certified by the
GRFP Institution to be making satisfactory progress towards their degrees, and
have fulfilled all GRFP reporting requirements. For some agencies, Fellows must
be U.S. citizens.
Fellows are encouraged to consult the GRFP Administrative Guide for questions
related to their fellowship. This is accessed through the following link:
https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf16104
GRIP internship allowances are awarded to Fellows based on a twice-yearly
competition. The maximum number of Fellows to be supported by GRIP in each
fiscal year is 75. All GRIP awards are subject to the availability of funds,
merit review, and acceptance by both the National Science Foundation and NSF's
partner agencies.
A Fellow may submit one (1) application per partner agency and may apply to a
maximum of two (2) partner agencies for each submission deadline. A Fellow may
receive only one (1) GRIP internship per fellowship year. Previous GRIP
recipients may reapply to conduct internships with the same partner agency as
their original award, or propose a new internship project, as long as they meet
the general eligibility requirements.
All internship applications are subject to: 1) confirmation by the Fellow's
advisor that the Fellow is making satisfactory progress in her or his graduate
degree program and that participation in GRIP will enhance the Fellow's
graduate education; 2) the availability of funds from NSF and appropriate
resources from partner agencies; and 3) review of the applications and
acceptance by the National Science Foundation and the partner agency. In some
cases, Fellows will be required to pass a background and/or security clearance
check before they may begin an internship position. Background and/or security
clearance checks will be conducted by the individual agencies. Interested
Fellows should check with the partner agency contact to see if they meet the
clearance criteria for the agency to which they are applying.
Fellows will not be employees and will not conduct inherently governmental
functions. Fellows must not act in a manner that would lead anyone to believe
s/he is an employee of, or a representative of, NSF or the partner agencies.
Please see the Guiding
Principles<https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf14084> for
Fellows and partner agencies.
GRIP Internship Funding and Allowable Costs
Fellows will receive an internship allowance of $5,000 through their GRFP
institution to cover travel and research costs associated with the GRIP
internship project (see the Budget and Budget Justification section below for
restrictions on use of NSF funds). Additional support to cover expenses while
the Fellow is conducting the GRIP internship differs among partner agencies.
Further information, including links to the partner agencies' GRIP websites, is
available on the NSF GRIP website (https://www.nsf.gov/grip). The internship
allowance provided by NSF may be used to fund multiple trips to the partner
agency within the award period, subject to the approval of the partner agency
and the Fellow's research advisor and GRFP institution.
Fellows "on tenure" selected for GRIP will receive a GRIP internship allowance
in addition to their NSF GRFP stipend through their GRFP institution. The NSF
GRFP stipend remains subject to U.S. tax laws. Fellows "on reserve" for any or
all of the GRIP research experience period will not receive the NSF GRFP
stipend during the period they are on "on reserve" but will receive the GRIP
internship allowance and associated support from the partner agency.
GRIP funding is an internship allowance to the Fellow for the current
fellowship year or subsequent fellowship year. Fellows must complete their GRIP
internship and associated travel before the end of August of the subsequent
fellowship year or by the end of the Fellow's GRFP Fellowship
Period[1]<https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2018/nsf18069/nsf18069.jsp?WT.mc_id=USNSF_179#[1]>,
whichever occurs first. GRIP funds may not be transferred to another Fellow
and may not be used to support travel for spouses or dependents.
The NSF internship allowance is for use by the Fellow during the internship
experience identified in the application. The institution will disburse the
$5,000 internship allowance to the Fellow. Proposed internship projects must be
a minimum of 2 months, and may be up to 12 months. Extensions are subject to
the approval of the Fellow's GRFP institution, NSF, and the partner agency.
GRIP Application Submission and Review Schedule
Please note that the information presented is current at the time of
publishing. See the GRIP website<https://www.nsf.gov/grip> for any program
updates.
* GRIP is announced to Fellows and GRFP Institutions. Fellows review
available GRIP opportunities on agency websites and may contact possible host
researchers to develop their applications. GRIP applications are due December 4
and May 6.
* Fellows submit GRIP applications through the GRFP FastLane module,
adhering to the NSF submission guidelines specified in the GRFP FastLane
module. The GRFP Coordinating Official must approve the submission before NSF
receives the application. Applicants are encouraged to check with their GRFP
Coordinating Official regarding institutional policies and deadlines for
submitting GRIP requests. GRIP applications that are incomplete or do not
comply with the submission guidelines will be returned without review.
* GRIP applications are reviewed internally by NSF using the National
Science Board-approved Merit Review Criteria and additional criteria described
below (GRIP Application Review). Meritorious GRIP applications are forwarded to
the GRIP contact person at each partner agency for review and approval by the
partner agency.
* Fellows and their Coordinating Officials are notified via email and NSF's
Fastlane system of the outcome of the selection and review process. GRIP
internship allowances are provided to the GRFP institutions as part of the
summer or fall funding increment. The GRFP PI and Financial Official provide
administrative and financial oversight of the GRIP internship allowance(s) of
Fellows selected for GRIP as part of the GRFP award to the institution.
* GRIP internships must be initiated in the fellowship year following
announcement of the award. GRIP Fellows must complete their internship and
associated travel before the end of their GRFP Fellowship Period.
Instructions for Preparing GRIP Applications
1. Applications for GRIP are submitted by Fellows through the "GRFP
Additional Funding Opportunities" link in the GRFP FastLane module. The GRFP
Coordinating Official approves the GRIP application in the GRFP FastLane module
and through this action submits the application to the NSF.
2. GRIP applications include all of the following elements (in the order
they appear below),
* The name of the Fellow, Fellow ID, Project Title, Start Date of
Graduate Program, Proposed Partner Agency, Host/Sponsoring Researcher(s),
Proposed Dates and Duration of Internship. The host researcher(s) and partner
agency must be identified.
* Project summary. (Limit: 1 page). A summary consisting of an overview
of the internship project and collaboration and separate statements of the
Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts of the proposed internship activities.
Each section must be formatted with separate headings (i.e., Overview,
Intellectual Merit, and Broader Impacts. The Professional Development plan
should be summarized in the Broader Impacts section. The Project Summary should
be informative to other persons working in the same or related fields and,
insofar as possible, understandable to a broad audience within the scientific
domain.
* Project Description. (Limit: 2 pages, including references; single
spaced). A concise, substantive description of the proposed plan for the
internship research and general interaction between the Fellow and the proposed
host research partner(s), including a justification for the duration of the
proposed internship visit(s), project timeline, and the expected mutual
scientific/engineering benefits and outcomes of the project.
The Project Description must describe how the Fellow will:
* Integrate the proposed internship activities into the Fellow's
graduate degree program and future career goals.
* Benefit from mentoring and specialized expertise, equipment,
facilities, field sites, data, and/or other resources.
* The Professional Development Plan (Limit: 1 page; single-spaced)
The Professional Development Plan must describe how the Fellow will:
* Build professional skills and collaborations that will enhance and
contribute to the Fellow's professional development, professional network, and
future career goals.
Applications submitted by previous GRIP awardees must include a section labeled
"Results of Prior GRIP Support." The section must include a summary of the
outcomes and accomplishments of the GRIP internship and, if the application is
for renewed support with the same internship partner(s), a description of the
relation of the completed work to the proposed work.
* Budget and Budget Justification: (Limit: 2 pages). The budget should
consist of a $5,000 internship allowance request for the Fellow's costs
incurred as a result of the internship project. Anticipated expenses should be
itemized and reported in tabular format. Allowable expenses include, but are
not limited to, travel to host site and agency, visa applications (if
applicable), field permits, research supplies, excess luggage, travel and
health insurance, per diem, and other travel-related costs. Support for Fellow
stipends, major pieces of equipment, large amounts for materials and supplies,
and spouse and dependent travel are not allowed. Travel to specific conferences
and workshops may be included, but relevance to the internship project must be
justified. Applications may not consist primarily of conference or workshop
travel; internship host researcher engagement is required. The Budget
Justification should include a reference to airfare (estimated) and other
travel, relocation, and project costs (the remainder of the amount requested)
for the project.
Fellows are responsible for making their own travel arrangements, as well as
for obtaining health insurance, travel insurance, passports, visas, and any
other required travel documents, if applicable. Fellows traveling to foreign
countries also must adhere to the requirements contained in the NSF Proposal &
Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) Chapter
XI.F<https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappg18_1/pappg_11.jsp#XIF>. Travel
that fails to comply with these requirements cannot be reimbursed with federal
funds.
* Biographical sketch of the NSF Graduate Fellow: (Limit: 2 pages). A
biographical sketch is required and must be submitted using the NSF guidelines
for senior personnel [see NSF PAPPG Chapter
II.C.2.f<https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappg18_1/pappg_2.jsp#IIC2f>].
Applicants should not include personal information, such as home address,
telephone, fax, date of birth, or drivers' license number.
* Letter of Endorsement from the Fellow's Research Advisor: (Limit: 2
pages). The letter should be written on organization/institution letterhead and
should describe the anticipated research benefits of the internship project for
the Fellow's graduate program and the anticipated impact on her/his career. The
letter must also indicate that the Fellow is making satisfactory progress in
her or his graduate degree program.
GRIP Application Review
GRIP applications will be reviewed by NSF using the National Science
Board-approved Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts.
In addition, the following criteria will be used in evaluating the applications:
* The potential opportunities for effective research collaboration;
* The potential for effective professional development for the Fellow;
* The potential for effective career development/opportunities;
* Any agency-specific criteria (see proposed host agency website).
NSF and agency partner program officers will review internship applications.
Approval by NSF and the sponsoring partner agency is required before GRIP
internships are announced. NSF will notify Fellows and the Coordinating
Officials via email and NSF's GRFP FastLane Module regarding the status of GRIP
applications, within 3 months of the application deadlines.
Reporting Requirements
* Fellows who receive GRIP internship allowances must submit a report by
May 1 of the following year through the GRFP FastLane Module that details the
experience and accomplishments of the GRIP internship activities. The report
should highlight publications, presentations, and other products or
achievements that are outcomes of the GRIP activities. The report should also
highlight any professional development achievements such as gaining proficiency
in professional skills (e.g., communication, technical writing, project
management, etc.) and expanding professional networks.
* All reporting must be approved for "Public Release" by the partner
agency. In some cases, Fellows may have to submit an internal report to the
partner agency and a separate "cleared" report to NSF that does not contain
sensitive information but does report on the general accomplishments and
professional development of the Fellow through the internship opportunity.
* The GRFP Institution disburses the $5,000 internship allowance to the
Fellow and is responsible for reporting the expended GRIP allowance ($5,000)
for each Fellow on the GRFP Program Expense Report covering the time period of
the internship.
[1] Fellowship Tenure status is the period of time during which active Fellows
receive GRFP financial support. Fellowship Reserve status is the period of time
during which active Fellows do not receive GRFP financial support. An active
Fellow is within the five-year Fellowship Period; not Completed or Terminated.
National Science Foundation<https://www.nsf.gov>
Research.gov<http://www.research.gov>
Alison Mize
Director of Public Affairs
Ecological Society of America
1990 M Street NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
www.esa.org<http://www.esa.org>
ali...@esa.org<mailto:ali...@esa.org>
703.625.3628 (cell)
202.833.8773 ext. 205 (office)
