Zoology GSIS - Oct 9 – Proposals
Common Porgrams:
NSF GRFP – Graduate Research Fellowship Program -Deadline Nov. 19 for Life Sciences
EPA STAR – Science To Achieve Results – check http://www.epa.gov/ncer/rfa/#CurrentStar
NSF DDIG - Doctoral Dissertation Improvement Grant – Deadline Nov. 9
John Jefferson Davis Travel Award (UW-Madison Zoology only) – Deadline Nov. 1
What does a GRFP application consist of?
 Short research proposal (1-2 pages including references)
 Personal statement (1-2 pages)
 Previous research experience (1-2 pages)
 3 letters of recommendation
 GRE scores are NOT used (even if you want them to be)
NSF Criteria – http://www.nsfgrfp.org/how_to_apply/review_criteria
Review Criteria
Applications will be reviewed by panels of disciplinary and interdisciplinary scientists, mathematicians,
and engineers and other professional experts in graduate education. Applications will be assigned to panels
based on the applicant’s chosen field(s) of study and the discipline(s) represented. Thus, applicants are
advised to select the fields of study in the FastLane applicant module that are most closely aligned to the
proposed graduate program of study and research plan. Applications to interdisciplinary fields of study are
reviewed by interdisciplinary panelists based on the disciplines indicated by the applicant and review of the
application by the GRFP staff.
Each application, therefore, will be reviewed independently on the basis of merit using all available
information in the completed application. In considering applications, reviewers will be instructed to
address the two Merit Review Criteria as approved by the National Science Board – Intellectual Merit and
Broader Impacts. Applicants, therefore, must address each criterion in their written statements to provide
reviewers with the information necessary to respond fully to both.
Intellectual Merit
Panelists will consider factors including: the strength of the academic record, the proposed plan of research
and whether it is potentially transformative, the description of previous research experience, references, and
the appropriateness of the choice of institution relative to the proposed plan for graduate education and
research.
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How important is the proposed activity to advancing knowledge and understanding within its own
field or across different fields?
How well qualified is the proposer (individual or team) to conduct the project? (If appropriate, the
reviewer will comment on the quality of prior work.)
To what extent does the proposed activity suggest and explore creative, original, or potentially
transformative concepts?
How well conceived and organized is the proposed activity?
Is there sufficient access to resources?
Broader Impacts
The broader impacts criterion includes contributions that infuse learning with the excitement of discovery,
and assure that the findings and methods of research are communicated in a broad context and to a large
audience.
A strong application will encourage diversity, broaden opportunities, and enable the participation of all
citizens-women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities-in science and
research.
In addition to reaching a broad audience, a strong application must demonstrate how it will enhance
scientific and technical understanding, while benefiting society.
Applicants may provide characteristics of their background, including personal, professional, and
educational experiences, to indicate their potential to fulfill the broader impacts criterion.
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How well does the activity advance discovery and understanding while promoting teaching,
training, and learning?
How well does the proposed activity broaden the participation of underrepresented groups (e.g.,
gender, ethnicity, disability, geographic, etc.)?
To what extent will it enhance the infrastructure for research and education, such as facilities,
instrumentation, networks, and partnerships?
Will the results be disseminated broadly to enhance scientific and technological understanding?
What may be the benefits of the proposed activity to society?
For each criterion, panelists evaluate and comment on the applicant’s strengths and areas for improvement
on the rating sheet, assign an "excellent", "very good", "good", "fair" or "poor" rating for each criterion,
and determine an overall point value.
Tips for Applying - http://www.nsfgrfp.org/applicant_resources/tips_for_applying
NSF surveyed recent awardees and panel reviewers to ask for their input and advice to help applicants
prepare a high quality application. Here are their recommendations:
Top Tips from Awardees
2. Start early, taking significant time to
compose essays, and rewrite.
3. Demonstrate your personal motivation
and excitement for research.
4. Spend time to thoroughly research your
topic.
5. Integrate essays to create singular
theme, link the content together.
6. Keep essays clear and simple to read.
7. Give essays to many people for review.
8. Get input from professors or university
administration.
9. Get input from previous applicants or
winners.
10. Thoroughly address both Intellectual
Merit and Broader Impacts.
11. Be sure you adequately address the
Broader Impacts criterion.
12. Be sure to include all volunteer,
leadership, and extracurricular
activities.
13. Highlight the significance of your
research and how it will impact society.
14. Pay close attention to language in the
Program Solicitation.
15. Focus on getting strong
recommendation letters.
16. Mention what sets you apart from a
typical applicant - be unique!
Top Tips from Reviewers
1. Gain research experience, especially at
the undergrad level.
2. Become involved in leadership roles
and community service.
3. Write clear and scientifically-sound
essays.
4. Strive for scientific publications and
presentations.
5. Have a strong academic record.
6. Be sure to demonstrate the Broader
Impacts criteria well.
7. Select strong recommenders.
8. Link your teaching and research
experiences.
9. Ensure you display a history of
accomplishments.
10. Thoroughly address both Intellectual
Merit and Broader Impacts.
11. Highlight any international experience
you may have.
12. Display your passion and motivation in
the essays.
13. Be knowledgeable of your research
topic.
14. Demonstrate the significance of your
proposed work.
15. Make sure the proposed research is
realistic.
Tips not on the lists:
 Make sure a 1min skim of your proposal is clear and interesting enough to move past initial
consideration
o Sometimes formatting can help draw attention to crucial points of the essay
o Your proposal should stand alone as a 1min, 5min, and 10min read
 Reviewers “fund researchers, not the research.”
o The entirety of the application is important, not just the proposal
 Use your lab-mates to bounce ideas off of and review your proposal.
 Read other’s applications…but not too much
Important Resources:
http://www.nsfgrfp.org/
Writing Center Workshop: Writing Graduate Research Proposals
Mon. Nov 9, 1-2:30pm, 6176 Helen C. White Hall,
reserve a spot at http://writing.wisc.edu/Workshops/GraduateStudents_ResearchProposals.html
http://rachelcsmith.com/academics/nsf.htm
website with several examples of successful NSF proposals in the environmental sciences
Office of Fellowships and Funding Resources
http://uwoffr.wordpress.com/