Guidelines for NSF GRFP Reference Letters Submission

Discover key instructions for submitting reference letters efficiently for the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP). Learn about the requirements, deadlines, and detailed guidelines for reference writers and applicants to ensure a successful application process.

• NSF GRFP
• Reference Letters
• Application Guidelines
• Submission Deadlines
• Recommendation Writers

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1. Writing effective letters for NSF GRFP applicants 9-23-21

2. Brief introduction to ONSF General guidelines for NSF GRFP letters of reference Letters of Reference-Perspective of a NSF GRFP reviewer Overview Letters of Reference-Perspective of an advisor of successful NSF GRFP applicants Questions and comments

3. Office of National Scholarships and Fellowships (ONSF)- What we do Advises and mentors students at UConn who are competing for prestigious, nationally-competitive scholarships and fellowships Open to all graduate and undergraduate students at the University, including students at the regional campuses. National Fellowships Incentive Program $750 (faculty incentive) $250 (student incentive)

4. Applicants are required to provide the name and contact information for three (3) reference writers. General Reference Letter Guidelines Up to five (5) potential reference letter writers can be provided. Two reference letters from non-family members must be received by the reference letter deadline for an application to be reviewed. If fewer than two reference letters (one or none) are received by the reference letter deadline, the application will not be reviewed.

5. All reference letters must be received in the GRFP Application Module by 5:00 p.m. ET (Eastern Time) on the letter submission deadline date (October 29, 2021) No exceptions to the reference letter submission deadline will be granted. The GRFP Application Module allows applicants to request up to five (5) reference letters and to rank those reference letters in order of preference for review. If more than three reference letters are received, the top three letters according to ranked preference will be considered for the application. Reference writers will be notified by an email of the request to submit a letter of reference on behalf of an applicant. Reference writers will not be notified of the ranked preference for review provided by the applicant. No letters will be accepted via email. Letter writers will receive a confirmation email after successful upload via the GRFP Application Module. General Reference Letter Guidelines (cont.)

6. Applicant-nominated reference writers must upload their letters through the GRFP Application Module. Reference letter requirements include: Institutional (or professional) letterhead, if available Signed, including the name, professional title of the reference writer, department, and institution Two (2) page limit (PDF file format) Standard 8.5" x 11" page size 11-point or higher Times New Roman font and 1" margins on all sides Single spaced using normal (100%) single-line spacing General Reference Letter Guidelines

7. The reference letter should address the NSF Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and Broader Impacts. It should include details explaining the nature of the relationship to the applicant (including research advisor role) comments on the applicant's potential for contributing to a globally engaged United States science and engineering workforce statements about the applicant's academic potential and prior research experiences statements about the applicant's proposed research, and any other information to aid review panels in evaluating the application according to the NSF Merit Review Criteria. Support the student, not just the project General Reference Letter Guidelines

8. Strong grades, curricula, GRE scores Awards & honors Address Intellectual Merit Publications & presentations Communication skills Independence & creativity Significant research experience

9. Fostering diversity on all levels (across disciplines, gender, race, economical, etc) Address broader impacts Active community involvement Involvement with underrepresented groups Integration of research and education Diversity of experience - includes international experience

10. Reviewers Perspective How do reviewers read and use recommendations letters when reviewing GRFP applications?

11. Bad letter example To Whom It May Concern: It is with great pleasure that I recommend Alfredo A. to the graduate research fellowship program. Alfredo was an intern at Peruvian Sciences Corporation under the mentorship of myself and Mr. Francisco Pizarro. Over the course of his internship, Alfredo displayed numerous skills that will benefit his professional development. He was tasked with a critical project - investigating causes of potential contamination within a high demand testing area within the laboratory. Throughout the summer, he was engaged in designing experiments to determine the root cause and remediation. Beyond his scientific aptitude, Alfredo demonstrated teamwork, leadership, and collaboration across all areas of the business. If you have any further questions, I would be happy to discuss.

12. In what capacity do you know the applicant? How long? Potential Specific qualities Contributions

13. Scientific/intellectual merit Global engagement Potential Academic performance Broader impacts

14. In what capacity do you know the applicant? How long? Specific qualities

15. Scientific/intellectual merit Academic performance Potential Broader impacts

16. Scientific/intellectual merit Academic performance Broader impacts

17. Scientific/intellectual merit Potential

18. Upcoming Timely Topics Sessions Wednesday, 10/6 at 1pm - Supporting Graduate Students with Disabilities Wednesday, 10/20 at 1:30pm From Expectations to Evaluations: The Importance of Timely Feedback Wednesday, 10/27 at 1pm Using Annual Reviews to Help Graduate Students Succeed Detailed info, the full schedule, and links to sign up Upcoming GradSlate Sessions Thursday, October 21 at 2pm - Application Processing Wednesday, November 3 at 11am - Reading and Reviewing Applications Detailed descriptions of all the sessions being offered and links to sign up