Fwd: Support for UMM seniors to apply to the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program

[Ellen Hostert]

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Jennifer Swalec <jennife...@maine.edu>
Date: Tue, Sep 30, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Subject: Support for UMM seniors to apply to the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program
To: M Kraus <gkr...@maine.edu>, Sherrie Sprangers <sspr...@maine.edu>, Megan Walsh <megan....@maine.edu>, Ellen Hostert <ehos...@maine.edu>, Eric Jones <eric....@maine.edu>

Dear Megan, Sherrie, Ellen, Eric, and Gayle,

I hope that you are all enjoying a terrific fall term! I am reaching out in hopes of offering support to current UMM seniors who would like to apply to the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP) in November 2025.

My office has created a Google Classroom space filled with resources to help UMaine students apply to the NSF GRFP that we would like to share with interested UMM students. We would also like to hold an online workshop (ca. 90 minutes) where we can introduce the NSF GRFP opportunity and provide students with writing prompts to start drafting their applications. We'd love to do this next week (Oct 6-10) or early the following week (maybe Tues. Oct. 14th?) for current seniors who are applying to STEM graduate degrees. If you think this event would work well for your students, could you please suggest the best days of the week/times of day for it? Here's a bit more information about the GRFP:

What is the NSF GRFP?

• The NSF GRFP pays students to spend 3 years pursuing research-based graduate (M.S. or Ph.D.) degrees in STEM fields
• Each year of funding provides the awardee with an annual stipend of $37,000 (for rent, food, car payments, etc.) plus a separate allowance to pay for their graduate tuition, fees, and health insurance. The award is $53,000/year, or $159,000 total.
• Students who receive this award must be US citizens, nationals, or permanent residents ("green card" holders) by the application deadline (November 2025).

How can I win this award?

• Write a 3-page personal statement that describes your motivation for pursuing a STEM graduate degree, your future career goals, and your past and/or current research experiences (this can include undergraduate courses in STEM).
• Write a 2-page research plan that describes a possible research project that you could pursue during a STEM graduate degree. You will not be expected to carry out this exact project. 
• Request and upload copies of your undergraduate transcript(s).
• Request at least 3 letters of reference to support your application. 
• Fill out basic information (your name, education history, etc.) in an online application portal.  

When is the NSF GRFP due? 

• Letters of reference (minimum of 3) are due by 5 pm Eastern Time on Friday, November 7, 2025.
• Student applications are due November 10-14, 2025, determined by the student's major field of study.

Best wishes,
Jen

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Jennifer Swalec, Ph.D. (she/her)

Proposal Development Associate for Special Projects

Office of Research Development

University of Maine, 63 Stodder Hall

Email: jennife...@maine.edu 

Office: (207) 581-3230

Website: https://umaine.edu/research-development/

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Important!  I check email once a day, and often not at all on weekends.  I will respond to your message.  Thank you for your patience.

Ellen E. Hostert, Ph.D. (she/her)
Professor of Biology
University of Maine at Machias
116 O'Brien Avenue
Machias, ME 04654
(207) 255-1301
ehos...@maine.edu