The Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) has just released a solicitation update (NSF 23-605).  Be sure to have a look at these updates as you advise students planning to apply to the GRFP or are thinking of applying yourself.  In particular, portions of the eligibility criteria have been rewritten for clarity. 

Some important updates for the Life Sciences are below. Please visit the GRFP Program Page for additional information including upcoming Virtual Office Hours on this topic and GRFP Applicant Informational Webinars. 

Applicant Information:  

• Life Sciences Application Deadline: October 16, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. local time of the applicant’s mailing address. 
• Application submissions are only accepted on the Research.gov/GRFP registration site (https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do) via the GRFP Application Module. 
• Currently enrolled second-year graduate students are strongly advised to provide official Registrar-issued transcripts as part of their application.  
• NSF will continue to emphasize high priority research in alignment with the priorities described in pages 127-128 of the FY2024 budget.  

Reference Letter Writer Information: 

• Reference Letter Deadline: October 27, 2023 at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time (ET).  
• Reference letter writers must register and use the Research.gov/GRFP site (https://www.research.gov/grfp/Login.do) to submit reference letters through the Reference Letter System.  

Accessibility Accommodations: 

• Applicants and reference letter writers requiring accessibility accommodation are asked to notify the GRF Operations Center at least four weeks before the deadline to coordinate assistance with NSF in submitting the application or reference letter.