Review Criteria

In considering applications, reviewers will be instructed to address the two Merit Review Criteria:

1. Intellectual Merit
   1. Ability to plan and conduct research
   2. Excellence when working both independently and in a team
   3. Aptitude in interpreting and communicating research findings
2. Broader Impacts – Activities and projects that:
   1. Integrate research and education
   2. Communicate your methodology and findings to a diverse audience
   3. Encourage diversity and enable full participation
   4. Enhance global scientific and technical understanding
   5. Benefit your community

For each criterion, panelists describe the application’s strengths and areas for improvement on the GRFP Rating Sheet.

Intellectual Merit

Panelists will consider: the strength of the academic record, the proposed plan of research, the description of previous research experience, references, Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General and Subject Tests scores, and the appropriateness of the choice of institution relative to the proposed plan for graduate education and research.

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Broader Impacts

The broader impacts criterion includes contributions that infuse learning with the excitement of discovery, and assure that the findings and methods of research are communicated in a broad context and to a large audience.

A strong application will encourage diversity, broaden opportunities, and enable the participation of all citizens-women and men, underrepresented minorities, and persons with disabilities-in science and research.

In addition to reaching a broad audience, a strong application must demonstrate how it will enhance scientific and technical understanding, while benefiting society.

Applicants may provide characteristics of their background, including personal, professional, and educational experiences, to indicate their potential to fulfill the broader impacts criterion.

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Rating Sheets

Each application will be reviewed independently on the basis of  intellectual merit and broader impacts using all available information in the completed application.

Evaluations will be completed using the following rating sheet:

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