Funding-Dear Colleague Letter: NSF Graduate Research
Fellowship Program (GRFP) - Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW);
December 15, 2015
September 29, 2014
The purpose of this Dear Colleague Letter is to announce
the continuation of GRFP's Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW).
Through GROW, NSF Graduate Research Fellows are provided an opportunity to
engage in international collaborations with investigators in partner countries
around the world.
Through GROW, NSF Graduate Fellows can benefit from
partnerships developed by NSF with funding organizations in other countries.
The program is divided into two tracks: GROW and GROW with USAID. The standard GROW track offers research opportunities in the
following partner countries: Australia, Austria, Brazil, Chile, Denmark,
Finland, France, India, Ireland, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway,
Singapore, Sweden, and Switzerland. Opportunities with additional partners and
countries are announced on the GROW website (http://www.nsf.gov/grow)
as they become available.
Through a partnership between NSF and the US Agency
for International Development (USAID), the GROW with USAID track provides
opportunities to NSF Graduate Fellows to conduct research in developing
countries, which includes Brazil, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Philippines,
Senegal, and South Africa. GROW with USAID recipients have the opportunity to
work with non-government organizations, private sector companies, research
centers, universities, and government ministries to conduct research to help
solve important development issues in these countries.
GROW offers funding for international stays 2-12
months, with the duration varying by country and partner organization. Details
for each partner organization, including eligible institutions and
organizations, levels of in-country support, and restrictions on the duration
of stays, are available through links to their websites available at http://www.nsf.gov/grow.
ELIGIBILITY AND FUNDING
GROW is open to active NSF Graduate Research Fellows
(both "on tenure" and "on reserve")1 who
have completed at least one year of their graduate program at the time of
application and will retain their active status until at least May 2016. They
must be enrolled at U.S. institutions, making satisfactory progress towards
their degrees, and have fulfilled all GRFP reporting requirements. The
competition is open to MS- and PhD-seeking Fellows.
NSF Graduate Fellows are encouraged to consult the
GRFP Administrative Guide and FAQs for questions related to their fellowship.
These are accessed through the following links:
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf13084
http://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf13085
GROW international travel allowances are awarded to
Fellows based on an annual competition. The anticipated maximum number of Fellows
to be supported by GROW in fiscal year 2015 is 400. All GROW awards are subject
to the availability of funds, merit review, and acceptance by both the National
Science Foundation and NSF's partner organizations.
Only one (1) application per year per Fellow will be
accepted. Former GROW recipients may reapply to conduct research in the same
country as their original award or propose a new international collaborator as
long as they meet the general eligibility requirements.
GRFP GROW INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL ALLOWANCE INFORMATION
AND ALLOWABLE COSTS
GROW Fellows will receive an international travel
allowance of $5,000 through their home U.S. institution to cover travel and
research costs associated with the international research collaboration. See
the Budget and Budget Justification section below for restrictions on use of
NSF funds. Additional support to cover expenses while abroad differs among
partner organizations (including USAID). For further information, see the GROW
website (http://www.nsf.gov/grow)
and the partner organization's GROW website. The travel allowance provided by
NSF may be used to fund multiple trips to the partner country, subject to the
approval of the Fellow's GRFP research advisor, institution, and international
host.
NSF Graduate Fellows "on tenure" selected
for GROW will receive a GROW travel allowance in addition to their NSF GRF
stipend through their home U.S. institution. The NSF GRF stipend remains
subject to U.S. tax laws. Fellows "on reserve" for any or all of the
research experience period will not receive the NSF GRF stipend during the
period they are on "on reserve" but will be eligible to receive the
GROW travel allowance and associated support from the partner organization.
GROW funding is a travel allowance to the Fellow for
the subsequent fellowship year (e.g., awards announced April-May 2015 are for
use in the 2014-2015 or 2015-2016 Fellowship Years and travel must conclude by
August 31, 2016). Extensions are subject to the approval of the Fellow's GRFP
institution, international host, and the partner organization. GROW funds may
not be transferred to another NSF Graduate Fellow.
GROW REQUEST SCHEDULE AND CONSIDERATION
INSTRUCTIONS FOR PREPARING GROW APPLICATIONS
NSF Graduate Fellows interested in working as a
collaborative team on the same project with the same international host(s) must
submit separate applications that include descriptions of the specific nature
of the collaboration and the applicants' individual contributions to the joint
project. Separate letters of endorsement from the NSF Graduate Fellows'
research advisor(s) are also required.
GROW applications must be certified by the
Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) through the use of a signed AOR
Certification form (available at http://www.nsf.gov/od/iia/ise/grow-aor-certifications-form.pdf), which is submitted with the
application as part of the PDF file. GROW applicants should contact their GRFP
Coordinating Official to identify their institution's AOR for GROW proposals.
The GRFP Coordinating Official approves the GROW travel request in the GRFP FastLane module and submits the application to the NSF.
The Project Description must describe how the NSF
Graduate Fellow will:
Project Descriptions for applications submitted for
the GROW with USAID track are required to contain responses to the following
questions, in addition to those above:
Budgets for GROW with USAID track should also
include a request and justification for additional travel funds and in-country
support provided by USAID. For further information, see the GROW with USAID
website (http://www.nsf.gov/od/iia/ise/grow-country-details-usaid.jsp ).
NSF Graduate Fellows are responsible for making
their own travel arrangements, as well as for obtaining health insurance,
passports, visas, and any other required travel documents. Under the terms of
the Fly America Act, international air travel must adhere to requirements to
use U.S. flag air carriers [see NSF Award and Administration Guide, Chapter VI,
Subsection G, 1 (b-c);http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/policydocs/pappguide/nsf14001/aag_6.jsp#VIG1 ].
Travel that fails to comply with the Fly America Act cannot be reimbursed with
federal funds.
GROW APPLICATION REVIEW
GROW applications will be reviewed by NSF using the
National Science Board approved Merit Review Criteria of Intellectual Merit and
Broader Impacts. In addition, the following criteria will be used in evaluating
the applications:
Approval by the NSF and the partner funding
organization in the respective host county is required before GROW travel
allowances are awarded. NSF will notify Fellows and the Coordinating Officials
via email and NSF's GRFP FastLane Module regarding
the status of their application.
REPORTING REQUIREMENTS
NSF Graduate Fellows who receive GROW travel
allowances are expected to submit a report by May 1, 2016 through the GRFP FastLane Module that details the experience and
accomplishments of the GROW research activities. The report should highlight
publications, presentations, and other products or achievements that are
outcomes of the GROW activities. GROW partner organizations may have their own
reporting requirements as well.