RESCHEDULED- Workshops and peer review sessions for applicants to the 2026 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
RESCHEDULED – NEW DATES BELOW!
The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program is a prestigious fellowship opportunity for early-stage STEM graduate students, including PhD students in the biosciences. The NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Fellowships provide 3 years of funding for graduate education in a STEM field, and PhD students must apply no later than fall of the second year in their PhD program.
The BRET ASPIRE Program is hosting three informational workshops about the NSF GRFP, and facilitating a peer review of draft application essays for biosciences PhD students who plan to apply this fall. **NEW** this year, former NSF GRF fellow Sarah Glass will also be facilitating an NSF GRFP Writing Group that will meet weekly to discuss and share personal statement and research proposal drafts. Attendance at the informational workshops (either this year or in 2024) is required for applicants to participate in the peer review process.
P.S. If you miss the workshops, you can still take advantage of the compendium of NSF GRFP resources we’ve compiled on the ASPIRE Funding Resources website, to help support you in your application. This includes examples of successful NSF GRFP applications donated by previous VU fellows that are available to view in the ASPIRE Grant Repository.
Workshop #1 – Overview of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)
Wednesday, August 13, 3:00-4:00p
Light Hall 202
In this session, VU NSF Graduate Research Fellow Leah Oswalt will give an overview of the NSF GRFP and strategies for developing a competitive application, followed by a Q&A panel with recent GRFP award recipients from life science-related disciplines. Topics will include eligibility criteria, the application process, how to decide when to apply and which “field of study” to choose, writing compelling essays, and resources for becoming a competitive applicant and writing your application. This event is part of the ASPIRE UP career and professional development series. All interested graduate students are welcome.
NSF GRFP Writing Group
Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:00pm, from August 14-September 25
Meet weekly to discuss and share personal statements and research proposal drafts. A previous NSF GRFP winner, Sarah E. Glass, PhD, will facilitate discussions and provide feedback. Breakout groups will allow for peers to improve your work.
Workshop #2 – Writing Compelling Essays for the NSF GRFP
NEW DATE!
Tuesday, September 16, 4:00-5:30p
Light Hall 407
In this session, NSF GR Fellow Jared Rhodes will dive deeper into the requirements for the NSF GRFP Personal Statement and Research Plan essays, including ways to address Broader Impacts and Intellectual Merit. Participants should bring an updated copy of their CV or resume to reflect on their activities and accomplishments to highlight in their essays. This event is part of the ASPIRE UP career and professional development series. All interested graduate students are welcome.
Workshop #3 – Q&A with NSF GRFP Fellows and Initial Review of Essay Outlines or Draft Essays
NEW DATE!
Thursday, October 9, 4:00-5:30pm
Light Hall 407
Applicants for the 2026 NSF GRFP will break into small groups for Q&A sessions with faculty and VU NSF GR Fellows. You may bring outlines or drafts of your Personal Statement and Research Proposal to this session to ask questions about your essays receive in-person feedback. This event is part of the ASPIRE UP career and professional development series, and moderated by NSF GR Fellow Sarah Glass.
Peer Review of 2026 NSF GRFP Applications
Vanderbilt applicants for the 2026 NSF GRFP program will be paired with a previous NSF GRFP Winner or Honorable Mention to receive written feedback on their draft personal statement and/or research plan essay. To be eligible to participate in peer review, applicants must be applying to one of the life sciences-related fields of study, or be in a PhD program affiliated with the Vanderbilt School of Medicine.
To participate in the peer review process facilitated by ASPIRE, we ask that 2026 applicants:
- attend the ASPIRE-sponsored NSF GRFP workshop(s) this year or last, or have completed a grant-writing course that addressed NSF GRFP.
- be enrolled in a BRET-affiliated PhD program, including the IGP or QCB; see list of BRET-affiliated programs here)
- have advanced drafts of their essay(s)
Peer reviewers will be assigned on a rolling basis beginning in September. Sign up here!