Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some of the most frequently asked reviewer questions. Please click here for the full list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
- How can I become an NSF GRFP Reviewer?
- Go to https://nsfgrfpreviewers.org to register your interest in serving as a reviewer for NSF GRFP. No obligation is assumed by registering. After NSF GRFP assesses the needs for the upcoming competition, invitations are issued to prospective reviewers in October and November. If you are invited to be reviewer, you will be expected to agree to:
- View all reviewer training materials;
- Participate online in a reviewer training webinar in November or December;
- Review approximately 20 applications;
- Submit all reviews online by the review submission deadline; and
- Participate in a virtual review panel via Zoom.
- Go to https://nsfgrfpreviewers.org to register your interest in serving as a reviewer for NSF GRFP. No obligation is assumed by registering. After NSF GRFP assesses the needs for the upcoming competition, invitations are issued to prospective reviewers in October and November. If you are invited to be reviewer, you will be expected to agree to:
- Who can serve for NSF GRFP?
- Reviewers typically have an advanced degree or equivalent work experience and/or advise undergraduate or graduate students. Reviewers come from academia, government, industry, and nonprofits with the ability to understand advanced scientific subject matter.
- What are the service requirements for NSF GRFP Reviewers?
- Reviewers should be able to: 1) evaluate early-career level applications on their demonstrated potential for significant achievements in STEM; 2) be willing to review applications in their field of expertise and related fields; and 3) impartially describe the merits of applications submitted by both undergraduate and graduate students.
- I do not have a PhD, am I eligible to serve as a reviewer?
- NSF welcomes reviewers who are professional graduate education experts. Such experts may serve regardless of having a PhD; however, reviewers cannot be current graduate students.
- I am a current post-doc, am I eligible to serve as a reviewer?
- No. Reviewers should not be current post-docs, but the program hopes you will consider serving after you have completed your post-doc position.
- I work at an institution or organization outside the United States; am I eligible to serve as a reviewer?
- Only individuals affiliated with United States-based institutions or organizations may serve as reviewers for NSF-GRFP. Individuals working for institutions or organizations based or headquartered in the United States, but who are appointed or employed abroad, are eligible to apply.
- I have served as an NSF GRFP Reviewer before. Do I need to view the training materials and participate in the orientation webinar again?
- Yes. All new and returning reviewers must attend training for the current application cycle before they can review applications. NSF GRFP updates training materials annually to reflect changes in review requirements and system navigation. All reviewers must be aware of the most current requirements of reviewer service.
- How many applications should I expect to review?
- Reviewers will receive, on average, about 20 applications. All reviewers should expect to receive 2-5 applications after initial assignments according to program needs.
- Are NSF GRFP Reviewers paid?
- NSF GRFP reviewers are paid after panel participation and completion of review assignments. Panel participation is required for payment. The flat rate fee paid to reviewers eligible to receive payment is $200. You are not eligible to receive the payment if you are not a US citizen/permanent resident or if you are employed by the Federal Government.
- How will I receive the flat rate fee?
- NSF uses an Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) direct deposit to your bank account using the NSF Guest Travel and Reimbursement System. An email will be sent to reviewers with information on how to register to receive reimbursement. No other forms of payment are used.
- Am I eligible to serve if my student is applying, or I have written a letter of recommendation for an NSF GRFP applicant?
- Yes, you are still eligible to serve as a reviewer. You may serve on the same panel as an application for which you have a conflict of interest (i.e., you are the applicant’s advisor, wrote a letter of reference for the applicant, etc.).
- You cannot participate in the evaluation or discussion of applications that pose a potential conflict of interest or the perception thereof. You must report any known conflict of interest you have with an applicant to the NSF GRFP program office when accepting an invitation to serve as a reviewer at https://nsfgrfpreviewers.org. You must report any conflicts of interest you discover with an application to the NSF GRFP program office via the Review Site when you first receive your application assignment.
- If you are not comfortable serving on the same panel as an applicant you know, please let us know, and we will attempt to place you on a different panel. If you feel you have a conflict of interest with an application, you may ask to have it replaced with a different application.