The future of the United States is in the classrooms of America and tomorrow's scientific and technological capabilities which are derived from today's investments in research. In 1980, NASA initiated the Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP) to cultivate additional research ties to the academic community and to support a culturally diverse group of students pursuing advanced degrees in science and engineering.
Students from traditionally underrepresented groups (African Americans, Native Americans, Alaskan Natives, Mexican Americans, Puerto Ricans, Native Pacific Islanders, women, and persons with disabilities) are strongly urged to apply. No applicant shall be denied consideration or appointment in the GSRP on the grounds of race, creed, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability.
Fellowships, of up to $22,000, are awarded for one year and are renewable, based on satisfactory progress and available funding, for a total of three years. Approximately 400 graduate students are supported by this program each year. Students may apply at any time during their graduate career or prior to receiving their baccalaureate degree. An applicant must be sponsored by his/her graduate department chair or faculty advisor. Other eligibility requirements are described in the "Administrative Procedures" section.
Each year approximately 150 new awardees are selected based on competitive evaluation of their proposal and academic qualifications. Usually sixty of the 150 new awards each year are sponsored by NASA Headquarters through the Office of Space Science (OSS), the Office of Life and Microgravity Sciences and Applications (OLMSA), and the Office of Mission to Planet Earth (MTPE) in the fields of structure/evolution of the universe, origins/planetary systems, solar system exploration, Sun-Earth connection, information systems, microgravity science and applications, life sciences, and Earth sciences.
Students applying for these fellowships are competitively evaluated on their academic qualifications, proposed research, and plan of study by NASA's discipline scientists. Fellows selected by NASA Headquarters conduct research at their respective institutions.
The remaining awards are distributed through NASA's Field Centers, each of which has specific research programs and facilities. Fellows selected by Centers must spend some period of time in residence at the Center, taking advantage of the unique research facilities of the installation and working with Center personnel. The projected use of Center expertise and facilities is an important factor, along with academic qualifications and research plans, in the selection of Center fellows.
Students applying for a Center fellowship are strongly urged to contact the relevant NASA Program Administrator prior to developing a proposal.
U.S. citizens who have been accepted as graduate students at an accredited U.S. college or university are eligible for awards in this program.
The application deadline is February 1, 1997, with award notification in early May 1997.
Updated Dec. 20, 1996
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Author: Dave Dooling
Curator: Linda Porter
NASA Official: Gregory S.
Wilson