Course Syllabus

National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP)/Other Grad Fellowships Boot Camp

Annually run boot camp in September through early October for those interested in applying to NSF-GRFP. or other graduate and postdoctoral fellowships. The NSF-GRFP is a highly prestigious award that provides three years of full financial support for graduate training. The award may be applied for by US Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Naturalized Citizens that are entering their senior year of undergrad, first or second year of graduate training. The annual deadline for the NSF-GRFP had historically been in mid to end of October, but in 2025 was set for mid-November and will likely be in mid-November for Fall 2026. Other graduate and postdoctoral fellowships discussed include the NDSEG, NASA, and NIH fellowships, among others. Most of the other fellowships discussed are limited to US US Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Naturalized Citizens.

The NSF-GRFP/Other Fellowship boot camp provides critical information for students on the NSF-GRPF and other Fellowship applications, how to put together a competitive application, advice from current and former NSF-GRFP recipients, as well as general writing tips. Participants will receive both peer and faculty feedback on their applications in advance of submission. 

The 2026 NSF-GRFP/Other Grad Fellowships Writing Boot Camp will be run from 12 -1 PM on September 3, 10, 24, and October 1 in the Higgins House Great Room. The September 3 session will provide an overview graduate and postdoctoral fellowships and some general tips for fellowship and grant writing. The September 10 and 24 sessions will focus on NSF-GRFP, including how to put together a competitive GRFP application. The October 1 session will feature a panel session of current GFRP and other Grad Fellowship awardees at WPI along as guidance on how to improve your writing style to more clearly communicate in your fellowship application. Participants that will be submitting a fellowship in the Fall will be matched with a WPI faculty member to review their application ahead of submission. Resources, such as examples of successful applications are provided to boot camp participants.  Registration required.