Office of Sponsored Programs

Graduate Student Funding

 

• Cornell Fellowships Database
• Graduate & Postdoctoral Extramural Support (GRAPES) | UCLA
• Graduate Student Fellowships | Multidisciplinary | PDF (Note:  this search was compiled with the qualifiers that the applicant is in Tennessee, or anywhere there's no sponsor restriction; the eligibility type is master's or doctoral; and sponsors are charities/U.S. Federal/foundations/industries and professional organizations.)

• NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program: Eligible fields of study include Life Sciences, Geosciences, Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Engineering, Materials Research, Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education and Learning, Chemistry, Mathematical Sciences, and Physics and Astronomy.  The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing full-time research-based master's and doctoral degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) or in STEM education. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant research achievements in STEM or STEM education. NSF actively encourages women, members of underrepresented minority groups, persons with disabilities, veterans, and undergraduate seniors to apply. The program solicitation (nsf21602.pdf), FAQs (nsf20114.pdf) and slides containing details of the program and the application process (grfpoutreach2020.pdf) are all linked here, and we encourage you to visit the program page for additional resources. In addition, you can review the following article for more information: NSF 101: The Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

  Applications for this program are submitted directly by the student in the research.gov GRFP Application Module (https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do); however, we ask that all students planning to apply contact Jamie Murdock at (jlmurdock@tntech.edu), so we can ensure that all applicable internal paperwork is prepared prior to submission. 

  Deadline Dates for specific fields of study:

  October 18, 2021 - Life Sciences

  October 19, 2021 - Computer and Information Science and Engineering, Materials Research, Psychology, Social Sciences, STEM Education and Learning 

  October 21, 2021 - Engineering

  October 22, 2021 - Chemistry, Geosciences, Mathematical Sciences, Physics and Astronomy

  To be eligible, an applicant must meet all of the following eligibility criteria by the application deadline:

  • Be a U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident

  • Intend to enroll or be enrolled full-time in a research-based master's or doctoral degree program in an eligible Field of Study in STEM or STEM education (See Appendix and Section IV.3 of solicitation for eligible Fields of Study)

  • Have never previously accepted a Graduate Research Fellowship

  • If previously offered a Graduate Research Fellowship, have declined by the acceptance deadline

  • Have never previously applied to GRFP while enrolled in a graduate degree program

  • Have never earned a doctoral or terminal degree in any field

  • Have never earned a master's or professional degree (see joint bachelor's-master's degree information below) in any field, or completed more than one academic year in a graduate degree-granting program, unless (i) returning to graduate study after an interruption of two (2) or more consecutive years immediately preceding the application deadline, and; (ii) are not enrolled in a graduate degree program at the application deadline

  • Not be a current NSF employee 

    Detailed eligibility requirements can be found on pages 6-8 of the attached solicitation (nsf21602). Please review carefully.

    Applicants must submit the following information through the GRFP Application Module: Personal Information; Education, Work and Other Experience; Transcript PDFs; Proposed Field(s) of Study; Proposed Graduate Study and Graduate School Information; the names and email addresses of at least three reference letter writers; Personal, Relevant Background and Future Goals Statement (limited to three pages) PDF; and Graduate Research Plan Statement (limited to two pages) PDF. These page limits include all references, citations, charts, figures, images, and lists of publications and presentations. 

Research & Economic Development encourages students interested in obtaining graduate funding to contact Mark Lynam at extension 3673 or mdlynam@tntech.edu.