View on GitHub

grfp2020

An Open Letter in Response to NSF 20-587 (Graduate Research Fellowship Program)

An Open Letter Response to NSF 20-587 GRFP

July 30, 2020



To:

Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, Director National Science Foundation,

Dr. Ellen Ochoa (Chair), and the members of the National Science Board

CC: NSF GRFP Program officers: Drs. Jong-on Hahm, Christopher Hill, and Narcrisha S. Norman


Dear NSF Leadership and Program Officers of the Graduate Research Fellowship Program,

We write to you as members of the scientific community concerned about the recent Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) solicitation 20-587. Specifically, we are troubled by the identification of specific priority research areas:

“[I]n FY2021, GRFP will emphasize three high priority research areas in alignment with NSF goals. These areas are Artificial Intelligence, Quantum Information Science, and Computationally Intensive Research. Applications are encouraged in all disciplines supported by NSF that incorporate these high priority research areas.”

The GRFP is one of NSF’s most prestigious awards and has been the starting point for many of the US’s leading scientists. NSF’s stated purpose for the GRFP is to “help ensure the quality, vitality, and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce of the United States.” We, the signatories to this letter believe in this purpose and the concomitant obligation to the highest standards for scientific merit, inclusion, equity, and diversity. We are writing to you because this revision to the GRFP solicitation is both contrary to the program’s goals and harmful.

This revision amplifies existing inequity

The GRFP has already come under public scrutiny, with Science reporting that just 10 universities represented 31% of 2019 awards. [1] Preferring certain research areas will mean a movement away from the GRFP’s unique purpose in identifying and supporting the best scientists in any field and towards giving priority to one field over others. The change will also further contribute to the disproportionate awarding of the GRFP to students who attend schools with the most resources – a small handful of predominantly white, exclusionary undergraduate institutions. Contrary to the community’s request that NSF broaden participation in this program, the proposed change will further limit the potential for applications and awards from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).

The consensus of research and reports funded or written by NSF, National Science Board, and the US National Academies of Science Engineering and Medicine [2-12] make it clear that underrepresented students, including people of color, women and gender minorities of all races, rural, first-generation, and low-income students have differential access and exposure to the areas now prioritized by the GRFP. While we fully believe in the importance of computationally-driven technologies in the sciences, bringing this emphasis into the GRFP amplifies the digital divide. In addition, emphasizing these research areas as the entry point to research careers may further disenfranchise students from underrepresented communities who are more susceptible to bias and data privacy abuses from AI/ML-driven technologies (and who therefore have heightened concerns about data privacy and bias). These students might be better served through culturally-sensitive exposure and training as undergraduates to allow them to develop informed agency in their decision making on these technologies.

Altogether, the revision sends a clearly exclusionary message and potentially adds to the problems noted in the 2014 evaluation of the GRFP (79.9% of fellows are white). [2] This disparity continues to be reflected on the list of GRFP alumni highlighted by NSF which features only three women and two persons of color. [13]

Calling for equity and not a change in merit

Commentators on social media and more than 3,000 people have signed a Change.org petition [14] calling for the removal of this revision. Many expressed concerns that the revision imposes a new requirement and a barrier that they themselves could not have met as past trainees. The recent clarification via Twitter (see below) insufficiently addresses this concern. Only changing the solicitation text itself could partially remedy our concerns.

NSFTWEET

NSF Tweet (July 28, 2020) https://twitter.com/NSF/status/1288082834574409728

The issue of merit raised in the tweet is important. Newly suggested areas of emphasis may reduce application quality, as students try to craft their GRFP proposals to incorporate inappropriate or premature approaches.

Equitable ways to improve GRFP

We strongly urge NSF to eliminate the preference for a narrow set of research areas (including revision 4 and elsewhere in the text) from the solicitation.

NSF has in recent years changed GRFP eligibility requirements to encourage a greater number of undergraduate applicants, [15] but this has unfortunately only increased disparities in funding awardees. [1,16,17] The addition of priority areas runs counter to NSF’s effort to diversify and expand the applicant pool. One of the GRFP’s greatest strengths is that it encourages trainees to develop their own research ideas pathways on the way to becoming independent investigators. This reflects NSF’s intent for GRFP of “investing in the person”. Avoiding preferences for specific fields of science would allow the GRFP to better align with NSF’s basic research mission. Eliminating the preferences sends the message that all modes of investigation (computationally-intensive or not) have the promise of advancing knowledge.

Instead of reserving some of the GRFP awards for priority areas, we suggest that NSF instead build capacity in the US science and engineering workforce by creating complementary programs. For example, the GRFP could create opportunities for award recipients to develop computational skills similar to the Graduate Research Internship Program (GRIP) and Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide (GROW) programs. NSF could also expand XSEDE access in undergraduate education. NSF could also consider adopting initiatives to address potential issues related to ethics of data policy, use, and stewardship at earlier stages of training, so that all students, not just GRFP applicants, could benefit from this global contextualization.

We also encourage going above and beyond the high standard for NSF review by implementing a new level of transparency for the GRFP review process. This could include additional training of panelists for cultural sensitivity and bias. Community input into a new review process for GRFP could better ensure the students selected reflect the diversity we aspire to see within science.

There are many ways NSF can advance US research priorities without perpetuating disparities that exist for scholars at the beginning of their careers. The co-authors and other signatories extend an offer to share community perspectives to continue to improve access and inclusion in the GRFP. We look forward to a revised GRFP solicitation from NSF that meets its vision for inclusive science in the US.

Signatories

Add your name/organization by completing this form: GRFP Signature Form

Once we have reached 100 signatures we will send a physical copy to NSF and will continue collecting signatures and comments here. This list is not automatically updating so please be patient if your name does not appear right away!


Name/Organization Institution Discipline(s) GRFP Applicant/Awardee GRFP NSF-funded investigator Career stage Comments  
Jason Williams* Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Biological and life sciences   Academic staff/administrative    
Carrie Diaz Eaton* Bates College Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Education, Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Chelsea Hetherington University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty I am an NSF GRFP alum, awarded in 2013  
Alessandra Zimmermann* Proposal Analytics Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Research professional    
Matthew Cover* California State University Stanislaus Biological and life sciences, Education Academic faculty    
Yasmeen Musthafa* UC Irvine Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Elisah VandenBussche* University of Minnesota Engineering   Graduate student    
Jess Annai Millar* University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Terry McGlynn* California State University Dominguez Hills Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Christian Cazares* University of California, San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student Neurosciences Graduate Program  
Morgan W. Tingley* University of California - Los Angeles Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Mark Mandel* University of Wisconsin–Madison Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
David A Baltrus University of Arizona Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
George Iskander* University of Chicago Mathematical and physical sciences     Graduate student    
Rajini Rao* Johns Hopkins University Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Krystal S. Tsosie* Vanderbilt University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Graduate Student and Research Professional    
Holly (Helen) Beale University California Santa Cruz Biological and life sciences   Research professional 2004 honorable mention, mentor of 2020 awardee  
Christine Liu* UC Berkeley Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Carol Lushbough* University of South Dakota Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty    
Jeff Letourneau* Duke University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student We need greater diversity of GRFP awardees.  
Jonathan Puritz* University of Rhode Island Biological and life sciences Academic faculty I think that it would be great to add to the call for reviewer transparency. I think that we should also call for increasing the diversity and participation of reviewers, encouraging reviewers from multiple career stages (even graduate students) and from a variety of institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs).  
Sarah Tuttle* University of Washington, Seattle Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Dr. Alice Boyle* Kansas State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Chelsea Catania* Massachusetts Institute of Technology Engineering   Postdoctoral Associate    
Bill Wuest* Emory University Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty I have advised four NSF GRFs.  
Mark Silby* University of Massachusetts Dartmouth Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Karen G. Lloyd* University of Tennessee Biological and life sciences, Geosciences Academic faculty    
Murti Nauth UC Berkeley Mathematical and physical sciences, Astronomy   Graduate student Fisk University, Vanderbilt University  
Daniel I. Bolnick* University of Connecticut Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Craig Kaplan* University of Pittsburgh Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Massa Shoura* Stanford University Medical Center Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Engineering, Mathematical and physical sciences   Postdoctoral fellow Female, Syrian-American  
Benjamin Allen Oak Ridge National Laboratory Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Education     Academic staff/administrative    
Dan Chitwood Michigan State University Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Ivan Baxter Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
April Wright Southeastern Louisiana University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences Academic faculty I train students in one of the emphasized disciplines. I am nonetheless concerned that this language represents a shift that is antithetical to the mission of funding promising young scientists.  
Jeremy B. Yoder California State University Northridge Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Ruth Isenberg University of Wisconsin-Madison Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Peter Puleo Northwestern University Geosciences   Graduate student    
Brian Nord University of Chicago Computer, information, and data sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences     Research professional    
Anne Hilborn UC Riverside Biological and life sciences   Postdoc    
Ben Harris Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory School of Biological Sciences Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Graduate student    
Olivia Goldman* The Rockefeller University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Claire Teitelbaum University of Georgia Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Sarah Turner-Hissong Bayer Crop Science Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Research professional    
Sabine Stanley Johns Hopkins University Geosciences, Mathematical and physical sciences     Academic faculty    
Andrew Nelson Boyce Thompson Institute Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Daria Pidhorodetska UC Riverside Computer, information, and data sciences, Geosciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Maria E. Orive University of Kansas Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Laura Boykin* Cassava Virus Action Project Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Research professional TED Senior Fellow  
Científico Latino* SAME All of the above          
Nameer R. Baker Kellogg Biological Station LTER Biological and life sciences, Geosciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Research professional    
Debbie Gale Mitchell University of Denver Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Benjamin Soto Johns Hopkins University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Ellen L. Simms University of California, Berkeley Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Maria Sagot Suny Oswego Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Avery Russell Missouri State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Chelsea Weaver University of Kentucky Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Sarah Unruh Illinois College Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Michael W. Busch SETI Institute Mathematical and physical sciences Research professional    
Kelsey Yule Arizona State University Biological and life sciences   Academic staff/administrative    
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein University of New Hampshire Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Robert Schaeffer Utah State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Rubén Rellán-Álvarez North Carolina State University Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
John Morgan Christoph School of Earth & Space Exploration, Arizona State University Geosciences, Planetary science, materials science, astronomy/astrophysics     Graduate student    
Dr. Hannah Reich University of Rhode Island Biological and life sciences Postdoc    
William Brazelton University of Utah Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Tobias Schraink NYu School of Medicine Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Jenny Yang University of California, Irvine Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Acadia Kocher Yale University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Emily Rollinson East Stroudsburg University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Jay Forsythe College of Charleston Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
David Brown Washington State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Emily Rice CUNY Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Jed Brown CU Boulder Computer, information, and data sciences, Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty The present emphasis is favorable to students who might work with me, and yet I still sign this letter because of the inequitableThe present emphasis is favorable to students who might work with me, and yet I still sign this letter because of the inequitalbe cThe present emphasis is favorable to students who might work with me, and yet I still sign this letter because of the inequitalbe consequences.  
Jana U’Ren University of Arizona Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Allison Shultz Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County Biological and life sciences Research professional    
Ben Mansfeld Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Biological and life sciences   Post Doctoral Fellow    
Corrie Moreau Cornell University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Richard L. Brutchey University of Southern California Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Dylan Schwilk Texas Tech University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Laura Lagomarsino Louisiana State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Emily T. Baltz University of California San Diego Biological and life sciences Graduate student    
Kelsang Dolma Yale College Social, behavioral, and economic sciences, Ethnic studies     Member of the public    
Caren Barceló UC Davis Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Alyssa H. Sinclair Duke University Biological and life sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences, Cognitive Neuroscience   Graduate student 2019-2023 NSF GRFP fellow  
Katherine Bultman University of Wisconsin-Madison Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Kathryn Campbell-Kibler Ohio State University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty    
Yasha Duggal Pennsylvania State University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Naupaka Zimmerman University of San Francisco Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences Academic faculty Thank you for doing this. I was also concerned when I saw the announcement.  
Kevin Wright* Oregon Health & Science University Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Breanna Harris Texas Tech University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
G. Matt Davies The Ogio State University Biological and life sciences, Geosciences     Academic faculty    
Laura Sanchez University of Illinois at Chicago Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Emily Levesque University of Washington Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Natasha Strydom* University of California San Francisco Computer, information, and data sciences     Research professional    
Alex Rudolph Cal Poly Pomona and Cal-Bridge Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Karl Grieshop University of Toronto Biological and life sciences     Research professional    
Yan Xia Stanford University Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Dylan Craven* Universidad Mayor Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Koby Ljunggren Harvard University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Lucianne Walkowicz* The Adler Planetarium / The JustSpace Alliance Computer, information, and data sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences Research professional    
Melissa Drown University of Miami Biological and life sciences   Graduate student In addition to disparities in NSF GRFP Funding for underrepresented ethnic minorities I would like to raise concern regarding data collected by NSF to designate underrepresented status. Currently, data is not collected on LGBT or sexual and gender minority (SGM) status by the NSF. A lack of data available prevents the status of these groups in STEM, which have been shown to be underrepresented especially at the undergraduate and graduate level, from being known. A recent supreme court ruling now provides legal precedent preventing discrimination in the workplace for LGBT and SGM identifying individuals. It is time for the NSF to begin collecting data on LGBT and SGM representation in STEM fields to better understand the status of these groups within their funding infrastructure.  
Samantha Sison UC San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Jillybeth Burgado UC San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student Neurosciences Graduate Student; Lab at the Salk Institute  
Logan Pearce University of Arizona Steward Observatory Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Joshua Wythe* Baylor College of Medicine Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Grace Pold California Polytechnic State University Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Taylor Miller-Ensminger Loyola University Chicago Biological and life sciences   Graduate student NSF -GRFP 2020 awardee  
Nick Adams* Goodly Labs Computer, information, and data sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences Research professional While I support the academic data science movement, the NSF’s recent revision to the GRFP is yet another failure of order of operations. Hiring and tenure committees need to adopt alt metrics supporting data science before we ask even one more graduate student to sacrifice their career for it. Moreover, limiting grad student support to those who are already adopting these scientific approaches presumes that grad students enter their programs ready to do data science. Only the most privileged grad students are in that position. Let’s keep moving in the right direction, but order the incentive structures so more people can succeed as academic data scientists.  
John Serences UC San Diego Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Melissa Galinato University of California, Berkeley Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Research professional    
Rachel Cassidy University of California, San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Nicole Zampieri Florida State University Geosciences   Graduate student    
Jared Streich Oak Ridge National Laboratory Biological and life sciences     Postdoc    
Jeffrey A. Lewis University of Arkansas Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Matthew Chalkley University of California, San Francisco Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty Changes to the GFRP should be aimed at increasing diversity and inclusion, not at further narrowing the pool of eligible awardees  
Andrew Su Scripps Research Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty    
Shan Kothari University of Minnesota Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Sarah Knutie University of Connecticut Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Peter Whitehead Duke University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Anousheh Bakhti-Suroosh University of California San Diego Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Hilary McMillan San Diego State University Geosciences     Academic faculty    
Christopher Gonzalez University of California San Diego Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Graduate student    
Olubankole Aladesuyi Arogundade University of California San Diego Biological and life sciences Graduate student    
Paula Welander Stanford University Biological and life sciences, Geosciences Academic faculty    
Sophia Sánchez-Maes Harvard Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student Please also identify PBIs (predominantly black institutions) alongside HBCUs and other minority serving institutions in the letter.  
Erin de Leon Sanchez University of California, Santa Barbara Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Alynda Wood Emory University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Ted Laderas* Oregon Health & Science University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Education     Academic faculty    
Emily Wilkins Utah State University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Edgar Francisco Stanford Biological and life sciences     Undergraduate student    
Taylor Tobin University of Notre Dame, Dept of Physics Mathematical and physical sciences   Postdoctoral Research Associate    
Morgan Carter University of Arizona Biological and life sciences   Postdoctoral Researcher    
Paul Orwin* CSU San Bernardino Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Katherine Mueller University of Wisconsin-Madison Engineering   Graduate student    
Jennifer Jensen University of California, San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Seraphina Solders University of California, San Diego Biological and life sciences Graduate student    
Rosie Alegado University of Hawaii Manoa Biological and life sciences, Geosciences Academic faculty    
Mike Wilkins Colorado State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Seth Bordenstein* Vanderbilt University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Sarah Bonitatibus University of Oklahoma Biological and life sciences   Undergraduate student    
Dr. Michael MacFerrin University of Colorado, CIRES Institute Geosciences Research professional    
Jason Dinh Duke University Biological and life sciences, Geosciences   Graduate student    
Minerva Contreras University of California, San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Susan Baxter San Diego State University Biological and life sciences   Adjunct Professor/ Retired Administrator CSU I-Corps, BIO I-Corps  
Daniel Barton Humboldt State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty I was a GRFP fellow, I have advised GRFP fellows, and I am an NSF panelist.  
Oscar C González UC San Diego Biological and life sciences   Postdoctoral Fellow Department of Medicine  
Lauren Gonzalez Yale University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Matt Johnson Texas Tech University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Bradley Cardinale, Professor University of Michigan Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Julie K. Lundquist University of Colorado Boulder Geosciences   Academic faculty    
Nazeefa Fatima Concerned Scientist Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Graduated (MSc)    
Bethanny Danskin University of California: San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Rafael Guerrero North Carolina State University Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Hao Ye University of Florida Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty    
Julianne Davis UNC Chapel Hill Geosciences   Graduate student    
Beth Adamowicz University of Minnesota Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Research professional    
Nicholas Asby University of Chicago Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Ujjwal Panda BITS Pilani Mathematical and physical sciences     Undergraduate student    
Rebecca Leshan Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Biological and life sciences     Academic staff/administrative    
Karolina Heyduk University of Hawai’i at Manoa Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Abigail Cahill Albion College Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
James H. Peniston University of Florida Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Mark Levin University of Chicago Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty 2012 GRFP fellow, and adviser to a 2020 recipient  
Nichole Broderick Johns Hopkins University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Fenna Krienen Harvard Medical School Biological and life sciences     Postdoctoral Fellow    
Lauren Frankel University of Wisconsin-Madison Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Jessica Werk University of Washington Astronomy Department Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Katherine Wilkinson San Jose State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Madelon F. Case University of Oregon Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Desiree Chu UC San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Jeremy A. Gibbs* University of Oklahoma Geosciences   Research professional    
Laureano Gherardi Arizona State University Biological and life sciences     Research professional    
Charlotte Francoeur University of Wisconsin - Madison Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Pleuni Pennings San Francisco State University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty Promoting Inclusivity in Computing Program at SFSU  
Paul Vincelli University of Kentucky Plant Pathology     Academic faculty    
Daniel C Allen University of Oklahoma Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Tiffany Lowe-Power University of California, Davis Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
500 Women Scientists New Haven Pod same Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Education, Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematical and physical sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences        
Nicole Hoffner UC San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Andrew Saydjari Harvard Physics Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Chhaya Werner iDiv Biological and life sciences   Postdoctoral Fellow NSF GRFP recipient  
Benjamin Dickman The Hewitt School Education, I work as a math teacher at a K-12 institution; could be Education, could be Mathematics. My NSFGRFP award was in “STEM EDUCATION AND LEARNING RESEARCH - Mathematics Education.”   K-12 Teacher-Scholar    
Jessica Oehrlein Columbia University Geosciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Mariela Garcia Arredondo University of Massachusetts Amherst Geosciences Graduate student    
Rajiv McCoy Johns Hopkins University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty    
Bárbara Cruvinel Santiago Columbia University Mathematical and physical sciences     Graduate student Awardee of NASA’s FINESST, President of the Columbia Physics Graduate Council  
Catherine Rushworth University of Minnesota Biological and life sciences   Postdoctoral Fellow University of California Davis, University of California Berkeley  
Emmett Leddin University of North Texas Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Joseph D. Ortiz Kent State University, Dept. of Geology Geosciences Academic faculty    
Leia Stirling University of Michigan Engineering   Academic faculty    
Abigail Sisti Virginia Institute of Marine Science Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Katherine A. Corn University of California, Davis Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Giordano Lippi* The Scripps Research Institute Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Ashley McGuigan University of Hawaii at Manoa Biological and life sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Stephen D. Levene UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS, DALLAS Biological and life sciences, Engineering, Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Shayle Matsuda University of Hawaii at Manoa Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Summer Blanco Michigan State University Biological and life sciences   Post-bac    
Pratik Gandhi UC Davis Mathematical and physical sciences     Graduate student    
Jessica Rick University of Wyoming Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Angela Andersen Concerned Scientist Biological and life sciences     Member of the public    
Kenneth C Millett University of California, Santa Barbara Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Julia Willett University of Minnesota Biological and life sciences Postdoctoral Fellow    
Lori M. Pigue (Glaspie as awarded) Northern Arizona University Geosciences, Astronomy & Planetary Sciences   Graduate student    
Callie Oldfield University of Georgia Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Taylor Jacovich George Washington University Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student Center for Astrophysics Harvard & Smithsonian
Stephan Hoyer Google Research Computer, information, and data sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Research professional I won a GRFP award in 2010 and have focused on AI, QIS and CIR for my entire research career.  
Dr. Kate Laskowski UC Davis Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Mauna Dasari University of Notre Dame Biological and life sciences   Graduate student GRFP HM winner and first gen academic - I was lucky to have two chances to apply for the grfp since I started grad school in 2015. I had no idea what it was prior to starting grad school, and all the changes they’ve since made to the grfp will only increase its exclusivity to cis white academics at Ivy League institutions.  
Jacob Quinn Shenker Harvard Medical School Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Dr. Allison Bronson Humboldt State University Biological and life sciences, Geosciences   Academic faculty    
Claire Riggs Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School Biological and life sciences Postdoc    
Aida Behmard California Institute of Technology Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Jason E. Miller California State University Channel Islands Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Isabella Muratore Boston University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Matthew Bond University of Hawaii at Manoa Biological and life sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences postdoc    
Nolan Smyth UC Santa Cruz Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Megan Barkdull Cornell University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Jonathan Rivnay Northwestern University Engineering, Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
David Sherman University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty It is important to obtain consensus from the scientific community prior to setting these new guidelines.  
Oriana Fisher Lehigh University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Ryan Golden University of California, San Diego, Neurosciences Graduate Program Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Graduate student    
Caitlin Bumby University of New Orleans Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Reid Rumelt* Cornell University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Undergraduate student    
Annika Nelson Virginia Tech Biological and life sciences   Postdoctoral Associate    
Sarah Leinbach Auburn University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Matthew Ando University of Illinois Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Leno B Smith Jr University of Minnesota Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Melissa Moulton University of Washington Engineering, Geosciences Academic faculty    
Brianna Marsh University of California San Diego Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Graduate student    
Paul Carvalho University of Rhode Island Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Erik Brush University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Catherine Alves University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student I am a NSF-GRFP grantee and I highly doubt I would have received the award if I applied this year due to the new guidelines.  
Schuyler Borges Northern Arizona University Geosciences, Astrobiology   Graduate student    
Joshua T Atkinson University of Southern California Biological and life sciences, Engineering Postdoctoral Researcher    
Kyle E. Coblentz University of Nebraska-Lincoln Biological and life sciences Postdoc    
Katherine Lo* Northwestern University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Mark McPeek Dartmouth College Biological and life sciences Academic staff/administrative    
Aaron Benjamin Regberg NASA Biological and life sciences, Geosciences     Research professional    
Mark Krzmarzick Oklahoma State University Engineering   Academic faculty    
Kevin Bird Michigan State University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Alex Ahmed Northeastern University (alum) Computer, information, and data sciences   Research professional    
Cady van Assendelft Stanford University Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Claire Evensen University of Wisconsin-Madison Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Brad Butterfield Northern Arizona University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Zachary Goldberg UC San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Ashley Hayden Baylor College of Medicine Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Lauren Levesque San Francisco State University Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Lisa Barrow University of New Mexico Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Brian Kron Bowling Green State University Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Caitlin C Conn University of Georgia Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Allen J. Moore University of Georgia Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Emily Jean Leptich Baylor College of Medicine Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Daniela Escontrela University of Hawai‘i Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Ryan Greenway Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology Biological and life sciences   Postdoctoral Researcher    
Beth Schultz Wittenberg University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Amy Lytle Franklin & Marshall College Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Gregory F. Grether University of California Los Angeles Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Annakate Schatz University of Georgia, Odum School of Ecology Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Abby Guthmann Universoty of Minnesota Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Mariana rocha UC Santa Cruz Biological and life sciences   PREP student    
David Vasquez Jr University of Georgia Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Daniel Robertson UCLA Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Rachel N Arey Baylor College of Medicine Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Breanna Putman PhD California State University San Bernardino Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Alex Thompson University of Vermont Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Madeleine Zuercher UCLA Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Naga Rama Kothapalli* University of Oklahoma Biological and life sciences, Education   Academic faculty Director of FYRE program at OU  
Tierney Shaible University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Van Savage UCLA Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Gabriella Kitch Northwestern University Geosciences Graduate student    
Ariel Starr University of Washington Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty    
Hilary Palevsky Boston College Geosciences Academic faculty    
Alison Lipman UCLA Ecology     Academic faculty    
Eduardo Cotilla-Sanchez Oregon State University Engineering   Academic faculty    
Nathan Kraft University of California, Los Angeles Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Kelsi Marie University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Keduse Worku Yale University Mathematical and physical sciences   Undergraduate student    
Carole L. Hom University of California, Davis Biological and life sciences Academic staff/administrative    
Michelle Muzzio* Brown University Mathematical and physical sciences   Research professional NSF GRFP Alum 2016  
Nicholas Rolston Stanford University Engineering Graduate student    
Cuong Tran University of Hawaii at Manoa Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Jess Shamek Portland State University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Marcel Carita Vaz Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, UCLA Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Kyle Niemeyer Oregon State University Engineering Academic faculty    
Luca Beale Dept. of Astronomy, University of Virginia Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Alissa Matus UC Irvine Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student I’m a 2020 NSF-GRFP awardee and fully endorse the statements made in this open letter.  
Maggie R. Wagner University of Kansas Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Conor Broderick Macalester College Mathematical and physical sciences   Undergraduate student    
Timothy Greives North Dakota State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Jennifer Momsen North Dakota State University Biological and life sciences, Education   Academic faculty    
Marie van Staveren University of Maryland, Baltimore County Mathematical and physical sciences     Academic faculty    
Jeana Drake UCLA Biological and life sciences, Geosciences Research professional    
Katherine Conner The Ohio State University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Graduate student    
Chris S. Hulleman, Ph.D. University of Virginia Education, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty    
Cameron Tracy Union of Concerned Scientists Mathematical and physical sciences   Research professional    
Emily Mixon University of Wisconsin-Madison Geosciences   Graduate student    
Asmeret Asefaw Berhe University of California, Merced Biological and life sciences, Geosciences Academic faculty    
Sara Zlotnik University of Florida Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Amy Ryan University of California Davis Biological and life sciences     Postdoctoral Scholar This solicitation is antithetical to the mission of NSF to support scientists performing basic research in all fields from “astronomy to geology to zoology” (as you describe it).  
Catherine Hulshof Virginia Commonwealth University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Amy Dao Cal Poly Pomona Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty    
Holly Korthas Georgetown University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Leigh Anne Harden Benedictine University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Elizabet B. Watson Drexel University / Academy of Natural Sciences Geosciences Academic faculty    
William Thomas Ohio State University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Daniel Karp University of California, Davis Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Veronica Padilla Vriesman UC Davis Geosciences   Graduate student    
Conner Philson UCLA Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Michael Baym* Harvard Medical School Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences Academic faculty    
Gaurav Kandlikar University of California, Los Angeles Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Peggy Fong UCLA Biological and life sciences, Geosciences   Academic faculty    
Megan Westwood Missouri State University Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Talea Mayo Emory University Computer, information, and data sciences, Geosciences, Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Erika Marin-Spiotta UW-Madison Biological and life sciences, Education, Geosciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty    
Chris Soteros University Mathematical and physical sciences     Academic faculty    
Robert D. Cooper UCLA Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Acacia Ackles Michigan State University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student NSF GRFP recipient working in computationally intensive science  
Katie Inderbitzen Independent Scientist Geosciences   Postdoctoral Researcher    
Julie Miller University of California Los Angeles Biological and life sciences Postdoc    
Rachel Turba University of California, Los Angeles Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Madison Plunkert University of Maryland College Park Biological and life sciences   Undergraduate student    
Richard Hall* UGA Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Chelsie Romulo University of Northern Colorado Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Miguel Pacheco Johns Hopkins University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Desiree Narango University of Massachusetts Amherst Biological and life sciences     Postdoc    
Marissa Raskin University of Texas at Austin Biological and life sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Donald G. Buth University of California (UCLA) Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Sarah M Brown University of Rhode Island Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty GRFP recipient 2011  
Rosa M. McGuire University of California - Los Angeles Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Harim Won Harvard University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student Awarded in 2020  
Peter Homyak UCR Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Samuel Bressler UCLA Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Casey Youngflesh University of California - Los Angeles Biological and life sciences     Academic staff/administrative    
Nicholas Gladman Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Biological and life sciences   Postdoctoral Fellow    
Gabriele Rozenbergaite UCLA Ecology & Evolutionary Biology Biological and life sciences     Academic staff/administrative    
Lissie Connors University of Oregon Geosciences   Graduate student    
Joshua Shapiro, PhD Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Research professional    
Thomas B. Smith UCLA Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
John Hodge* Oklahoma State University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Graduate student    
Teamrat A Ghezzehei UC Merced Geosciences   Academic faculty    
Marianna Zhang Stanford University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Jim Havrilla Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Research professional Provide opportunities for diverse students to learn these things not give money to those who already know  
Jordan Dowell* University of Central Florida Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences     Graduate student    
Nicole Bournias-Vardiabasis CSU San Bernardino Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Peter Nonacs UCLA Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Rishi R. Masalia* LeafWorks Inc. Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Research professional    
Helen Winter Sung University of Hawaii at Manoa Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Meera Lee Sethi University of Washington, Seattle Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Breck Duerkop* University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Mara McPartland, M.S.* University of Minnesota Biological and life sciences, Geosciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Tyler Grambling University of Tennessee Geosciences   Graduate student    
Emma Simmerman Stanford University Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Alayna Mead University of California, Los Angeles Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Marta A. Jarzyna The Ohio State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Rebecca Morley The Ohio State University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Academic faculty    
Aradhna Tripati* UCLA Geosciences Academic faculty    
Aaron Westmoreland University of Colorado Boulder Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Rachael Bay UC Davis Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Alexander Lalejini Michigan State University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Graduate student    
Stephanie Baumgart University of Chicago Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Fritz Sedlazeck* Baylor College of Medicine Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Academic faculty    
Daren Card Harvard University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences Postdoc    
Gates Palissery Virginia Tech Biological and life sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Kasey Barton University of Hawaii at Manoa Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Nelson Hall Stanford University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Sonya Legg Princeton University Geosciences   Academic faculty    
Nathaniel Jue California State University, Monterey Bay Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Kimberly Hannula Fort Lewis College Geosciences Academic faculty    
Maribel Patiño University of California, San Diego Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Jennifer Nemhauser University of Washington Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Susan Tsang American Museum of Natural History Biological and life sciences Research professional    
Katherine T. Charton University of Wisconsin-Madison Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Blaire Van Valkenburgh UCLA Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Emily Conklin University of Hawaiʻi Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Molly Matty Salk Institute for Biological Studies Biological and life sciences Postdoc    
Johanna Teske Carnegie Earth and Planets Lab Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Caitlin Fisher-Reid Bridgewater State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Neha Prasad University of California, San Francisco Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Andrea Quattrini Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Monica Mugnier Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Dr. Ethan P. White University of Florida Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Mykle Hoban Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Michael Brawner Oregon State University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student 2016 NSF GRFP Awardee  
Sean Bruna Western Washington University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Academic staff/administrative    
Elizabeth G. King University of Georgia Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Abigail Descoteaux Boston University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Gina D’Andrea-Penna UC San Diego neurosciences   Graduate student    
Leon L Tran University of Hawaii at Manoa Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Michael Sullivan Not on behalf of an organization Biological and life sciences   Research professional This is my personal support as a career government scientist and does no represent the position of the agency I work for.  
Casey terHorst California State University, Northridge Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Mya Breitbart University of South Florida Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Stephanie Lim Stanford University Biological and life sciences, Geosciences   Graduate student    
Sydney Smith UC San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Hannah Young University of Utah Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Kerry J. Nickols California State University Northridge Geosciences Academic faculty    
Dr. Bryan Reiley* Illinois Natural History Survey/University of Illinois-Urbana,Champaign Biological and life sciences     Research professional    
Vasiki Konneh Colby College Mathematical and physical sciences   Member of the public    
Lani Gleason California State University, Sacramento Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Caroline Daws Stanford University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Sophia Lee Drexel University Engineering   Graduate student    
Sarah St. Pierrr Stanford University Engineering   Graduate student    
Dr. Lisa B. Whitenack Allegheny College Biological and life sciences, Geosciences   Academic faculty    
Ege A. Yalcinbas UC San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Jennifer Jaime University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Regina S Baucom Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Michigan Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Karen Mancera University of Georgia Engineering   Undergraduate student    
Kelsey Lucas University of Michigan Biological and life sciences Postdoctoral fellow    
Timothy (“Timber”) E. Burnette University of Montana Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Sean Huth Princeton Chemistry Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Ryan Jones The University of Hawaii Biological and life sciences Graduate student    
Nathan Emery Michigan State University Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Alison Moss University of Georgia Biological and life sciences, Geosciences   Graduate student    
Colors of the Brain UC San Diego Biological and life sciences     Signing as an organization/instiitution/society Organization Website: colorsofthebrain.com  
Joseph Curti University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Anika Agrawal Texas A&M University at Galveston Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Kiva Oken UC Davis Biological and life sciences, Geosciences   Academic faculty    
Claire Murray Johns Hopkins University Mathematical and physical sciences Research professional    
Vivian Ko University of California, San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Juliana Fan Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Medicine     Graduate student    
Alexander Strauss University of Georgia Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Chayton Pabich Danyla Yale University Education     Undergraduate student    
Tara Enders Hofstra University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Tai Michaels Yale University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Undergraduate student    
Zhian N. Kamvar The Carpentries Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Education     Research professional    
Jamie H. D. Cate University of California, Berkeley Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Lewis Charles Murtaugh University of Utah Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Dawn Y Sumner University of California, Davis Biological and life sciences, Geosciences Academic faculty Thank you for writing this compelling letter.  
Emily Aery Jones Stanford University Biological and life sciences   Postdoctoral Research Scholar    
Michael Gancz Yale University Arts     Undergraduate student    
Katrina Dlugosch University of Arizona Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Donovan Roediger University of Minnesota Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Jennifer Heemstra Emory University Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Irina Kopyeva University of Washington Engineering   Graduate student    
Anthony R. Chianese Colgate University Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Sunny Shin University of Pennsylvania Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty I have served as the thesis advisor to 5 NSFGRFP awardees.  
Neurocognitive Therapeutics, LLC, Dr. Jay Seitz Neurocognitive Therapeutics, LLC Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Research professional    
Alexa McKay Nature Communications Biological and life sciences Science editor My views here do not reflect those of my employer. I am writing as a former recipient of the GRFP to express my dismay over this change in priority areas. This restrictive focus will limit the creativity of a diverse pool of applicants and the ramifications will be felt for years.  
Seann P. Mulcahy Providence College Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Roger P. Levy Massachusetts Institute of Technology Computer, information, and data sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences Academic faculty    
Melissa Takahashi California State University Northridge Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Benjamin Johnson Iowa State University Geosciences   Academic faculty    
Alexandra Chasse Boston University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Shawn Barreiro The Ohio State University Linguistics   Graduate student    
Jeffrey Bartz Kalamazoo College Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Dr. Erin Becker The Carpentries Computer, information, and data sciences, Education   Research professional    
Magdalena Julkowska Boyce Thompson Institute Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Heather L. Urry Tufts University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Academic faculty Thank you!!  
Sarah Hokanson Boston University Biological and life sciences, Education Academic staff/administrative The NSF GRFP was transformative for my career and I would not be eligible under the current guidelines. This will significantly impact early career researchers and is a step backward from NSF’s commitment to equity and diversity in STEM.  
Rebecca Starble Yale University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Siobhan A Braybrook* UCLA Biological and life sciences, Engineering   Academic faculty    
Diana Jerome Northwestern University Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Audrey Miglietta University of California, San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student Neurosciences Graduate Program  
Hanna McCaslin Colorado State University Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Krissie Tellez Stanford University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Ellen Qian Yale University Computer, information, and data sciences     Undergraduate student    
Marina Michaud Emory University Mathematical and physical sciences Graduate student    
Jeff Hammond Intel Corporation Computer, information, and data sciences, Engineering, Mathematical and physical sciences Research professional    
Rebecca Atkins University of Georgia Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Tina Jeoh UC Davis Biological and life sciences, Engineering   Academic faculty    
Stephanie Carlson UC Berkeley Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Lindsay Waldrop Chapman University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty    
Ming Tang* Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Academic staff/administrative    
Erin N. Peterson North Carolina State University Biological and life sciences, Evolutionary genetics   Graduate student    
André Hudson* Rochester Institute of Technology Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Rongson Pongdee The University of the South Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Joshua Martin Department of Biology, Colby College Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Amar Bhardwaj Columbia University Engineering   Graduate student NSF GRF, Marshall Scholar, Goldwater Scholar, Stanford University  
Jessica Birky* University of Washington Mathematical and physical sciences Graduate student    
Loralee Larios University of California Riverside Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Justin Strickland Johns Hopkins University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Postdoctoral Fellow    
Emily Taylor California Polytechnic State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Kayla Clouse University of Kansas Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Christin Mujica University of Arkansas Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Lauren Wedekind University of Oxford/National Institutes of Health Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Joel Boerckel* University of Pennsylvania Biological and life sciences, Engineering Academic faculty    
Linxin Gu* Johns Hopkins University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Engineering     Member of the public TechConnect LLC; National Science Policy Network  
Scott V. Edwards* Harvard University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Philip Brisk University of California, Riverside Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty    
Suazette Mooring Georgia State University Education, Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Lorin A. Neuman-Lee Arkansas State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
George Gurgis Department of Ecology and Evolution at Stony Brook University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Theodore Pavlic* Arizona State University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Engineering, Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Jeff R. Havig University of Minnesota Geosciences     Research professional    
Krystal Vasquez Caltech Geosciences   Graduate student    
Orion Koleva Miami University Mathematical and physical sciences     Undergraduate student    
Matthew D. Bachman Duke University Biological and life sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Ryan Lumen Purdue Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Jariullah Safi Simbe Robotics Computer, information, and data sciences   Machine Learning Engineer    
Mithi Alexa de los Reyes California Institute of Technology Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Amy Geffre University of California San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Edward Marcotte University of Texas Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Jacob Malcom Defenders of Wildlife Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic staff/administrative    
Samuel Munoz Northeastern University Geosciences   Academic faculty    
Kelly Muckey Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory/Stony Brook University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
James Biardi, Ph. D. Fairfield University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Jared Meek Columbia University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Theron Sowers CSU Sacramento Education, Geosciences   Academic staff/administrative    
Eric J. Gangloff Ohio Wesleyan University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Dr. S.K. Morgan Ernest University of Florida Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Christine Dunham* Emory University Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Julie Huber Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Geosciences Academic faculty    
John Powers University of California, Irvine Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
James Watling John Carroll University Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Julia Driscoll University of Chicago Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
G. Andrés Cisneros University of North Texas Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Jorge Mena-Ali Franklin & Marshall College Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Christa Ventresca University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
John Maerz University of Georgia Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Lana Ruck Indiana University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Kelly L. Sovacool University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Graduate student    
Jiahao Chen* MIT CSAIL Mathematical and physical sciences   Research professional NSF fellowships are not open to non-US citizens or PRs, but are often used as a merit signal by hiring committees. This petition is a step in the right direction for inclusivity, but the NSF should also reconsider its eligibility requirements given the prestige considerations given to its fellowships by academics and hiring managers.  
Jin Montclare* New York University Engineering, Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Jaeda Patton University of Chicago Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
S Brinkley* Texas A & M University Biological and life sciences, Agricultural Sciences     Graduate student    
Allie Schrock Duke University Biological and life sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Maria Strangas American Museum of Natural History Biological and life sciences   Academic staff/administrative I am an NSF GRFP and GROW alum, awarded in 2013 and 2015.  
Malvika Sharan Open Life Science Biological and life sciences, Education, Community     Research professional    
Aaron W. E. Galloway University of Oregon, Oregon Institute of Marine Biology Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Graham Montgomery UCLA Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Khrys Duddleston University of Alaska Anchorage Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Jo Anne Tracy Indiana University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematical and physical sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Academic staff/administrative    
Colleen Baublitz Columbia University Geosciences   Graduate student    
Adam Kirn University of Nevada, Reno Education, Engineering   Academic faculty    
Joshua Hall, PhD University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Biological and life sciences     Academic staff/administrative    
Patricia Clayton The University of Texas at Austin Engineering Academic faculty    
Alan Covich University of Georgia Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Alec Chiono University of San Francisco Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Spencer Nyholm University of Connecticut Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Evan Tjeerdema UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory Biological and life sciences, Geosciences   Research professional    
K. Ryder Fox University of Miami Geosciences   Graduate student I declined the NSF GRFP after being awarded it, in favor of a fellowship that would better support my underrepresented identity and direct my personal growth.  
Brandeis Marshall Spelman College Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty    
Elizabeth Reed Carnegie Mellon University Engineering   Graduate student    
Graham Throckmorton Vanderbilt University Biological and life sciences, Engineering   Graduate student    
Chad Zirbel University of Minnesota Biological and life sciences   Postdoctoral Associate    
Cody S. Bekkering University of California - Davis Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Sarah Roy University of California, Berkeley Biological and life sciences   Academic staff/administrative    
Grace Zhang University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Daniela Cassataro UC San Diego Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
David Glueck Dartmouth College Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Sidney Poon UC Berkeley Engineering   Graduate student    
Kristina Riemer University of Arizona Biological and life sciences   Academic staff/administrative    
Rachel Gatlin University of Utah Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Megan G. Massa UCLA Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Jesse Livezey Lawrence Berkeley National Lab Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Postdoctoral Researcher I’d suggest adding postdoc to the career stage  
Brian Cheng University of Massachusetts Amherst Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Jason Marvin Chang Cornell University Biological and life sciences, Engineering   Graduate student    
Steph Guerra Harvard University Biological and life sciences   Research professional NSF GRFP Alum 2013  
Andrés R. Vindas Meléndez University of Kentucky Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Donald Winford The Ohio State University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty    
Kayla Miguel Northwestern University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Brian M. McSkimming University at Buffalo, SUNY Education, Engineering   Research professional    
Helen McRae Salk Biological and life sciences     Postdoc    
Melody V Wu Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Erik Zornik Reed College Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Jennifer B. Glass* Georgia Institute of Technology Biological and life sciences, Geosciences Academic faculty    
William W. Booker Florida State University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Yvette Fisher Harvard Medical School Biological and life sciences   Research professional Assistant Professor UC Berkeley starting 2021  
Elizabeth Schaeffer Metropolitan State University of Denver Geosciences   Undergraduate student    
Ellie Armstrong* Stanford University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Dr. Sandy Kawano The George Washington University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Paul Bloom Columbia University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Katelyn Yu University of California, Berkeley Engineering, Geosciences   Graduate student    
Amy Belfi Missouri S&T Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty    
Jas Brooks University of Chicago Computer, information, and data sciences   Graduate student    
Tvetene Carlson University of California Berkeley Engineering   Graduate student Alaska Native Science and Engineeting Alum  
Denyz Melchor University of California, Los Angeles Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Gitanjali Gnanadesikan University of Arizona Biological and life sciences   Graduate student GRFP Recipient  
Christy Visaggi Georgia State University Geosciences   Academic faculty    
Jessica Velez University of Tennessee Knoxville Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Brooke Wolford University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Graduate student    
Paulina Jaramillo Carnegie Mellon University Engineering   Academic faculty    
Tejas Gokhale Arizona State University Computer, information, and data sciences, Engineering     Graduate student    
Institut Français de Bioinformatique (IFB), ELIXIR-FR SAME Computer, information, and data sciences, Education     Research professional    
Max Castorani University of Virginia Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Nathan Rigel Hofstra University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Noah Fahlgren Donald Danforth Plant Science Center Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Stephen P. Cohen The Ohio State University Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Lauren Simkins University of Virginia Geosciences Academic faculty    
Caroline Owens University of California, Santa Barbara Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Alice Hsu University of California, Berkeley Engineering, Geosciences   Graduate student    
Mike Covington Amaryllis Nucleics Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Research professional    
Elizabeth Forbes University of California Santa Barbara Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Daniel T. Blumstein University of California Los Angeles Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Daniel K Okamoto Florida State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Brian D. Joseph The Ohio State University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty    
Peter R. Hoyt, PhD Oklahoma State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Evan Gora Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Caroline Saouma University of Utah Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Zeena M G Rivera UCLA NSIDP Biological and life sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student I’m an NSF GRFP 2020 recipient  
Faith Rovenolt University of Pittsburgh Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Gabriel Reyes Columbia University Biological and life sciences, Education   Graduate student    
Jess Du UCSD Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Christina Gremel University of California San Diego Biological and life sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Academic faculty    
Molly Grace University of Oxford Zoology Department Biological and life sciences   Research professional Previously University of Central Florida (US citizen working in academia abroad)  
Keith Doelling Institut Pasteur Computer, information, and data sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences Research professional I was a GRFP Fellow at NYU during my PhD. I learned the computational skills that would be required by this prioritization during my Fellowship not before I applied. It was not a direction that I highlighted in my application. If this prioritization existed then, I might not have been a Fellow and I might not have learned the skills that GRFP is now hoping to emphasize. The NSF is clearly working against its own goals and hindering diversity in science at the same time.  
Colleen McGee Defenders of Wildlife Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Laura Cruz Castro Purdue University Computer, information, and data sciences, Engineering     Graduate student    
Rebecca Van Hoeck University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Anna McPherran Stony Brook University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Mae Rennick University of California, Santa Barbara Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Diana Hazard Taft UC Davis Biological and life sciences     Postdoctoral Research Fellow    
Elliot Douglas University of Florida Education, Engineering   Academic faculty    
Marjorie S. Zatz University of California, Merced Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Education, Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematical and physical sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty    
Christopher T. Kello University of California Merced Computer, information, and data sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty    
Shalanda Grier University of California Los Angeles Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Rebecca Santorella Brown University Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Blanca Alvarez Caraveo University of California, Los Angeles Geosciences   Graduate student 20 GRFP Awardee  
Martha Johnson The Ohio State University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Graduate student    
Brenda Bloodgood University of California, San Diego Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Danielle Hoague UCLA Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Graduate student I am an NSF Trainee in the Innovations in Food, Energy, and Water Systems Program.  
Akilah Miller California State University, Los Angeles Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Lacey Hughey Self Biological and life sciences Research professional    
Renée Fonseca University of Chicago Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Miguel Guardado* University of California, San Francisco Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Maria Napoli UC Santa Barbara Biological and life sciences, Engineering     Academic staff/administrative It seems narrow minded to double down on investing in few select areas that at present look promising: what about unexpected discoveries that will feed innovation in the future?  
Shawn McEachin UCLA Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Lauren Kuehne Omfishient Consulting Biological and life sciences   Research professional University of Washington, GRFP Alumni 2010-2012  
Tanner Dulay University of California, Los Angeles Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Victoria Quennessen Oregon State University Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences Graduate student    
Curtis C. Cain, Ph.D. Howard University Computer, information, and data sciences, Engineering Academic faculty    
Natasha Stepanova University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Courtney Collins University of Colorado Boulder Biological and life sciences Postdoc    
David JP Moore School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Nicole Gregorio University of Washington Biological and life sciences, Engineering   Graduate student    
Samantha Sedor Harvard Medical School Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
David Nicholson Emory University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Education, Mathematical and physical sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Research professional Carpentries  
Judith Canner California State University, Monterey Bay Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Michael Disare University of Chicago Biological and life sciences, Chemistry   Graduate student    
Rachel Woods-Robinson UC Berkeley Engineering, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student Thank you for spearheading this! We need to fund the next generation of scientists, not the priorities of the federal government  
Amalie Trewartha Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Mathematical and physical sciences   Postdoc    
Alycia Crall National Ecological Observatory Network Biological and life sciences, Geosciences   Research professional    
Jessica Dudoff University of Colorado, Boulder Engineering Graduate student    
Emma Regan UC Berkeley Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Daniel S. Katz University of Illinois Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty    
Caren Cooper North Carolina State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Evan Walter Clark Spotte-Smith University of California, Berkeley; Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory Engineering, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Murry Burgess North Carolina State University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Elizabeth Karan UCLA Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Luis Barroso-Luque UC Berkeley Engineering, Mathematical and physical sciences Graduate student    
Nicholas Mancuso USC Computer, information, and data sciences     Academic faculty    
Serina Huang University of California, Los Angeles Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Clint Miller University of Virginia Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty Non citizens and visitors on academic Visas should be eligible as well  
Adele Tamboli* National Renewable Energy Lab & Colorado School of Mines Mathematical and physical sciences Research professional    
Weston Anderson IRI, Columbia University Geosciences   Research professional    
Rachael Skye Cornell University Engineering   Graduate student    
Osase Omoruyi Harvard University Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
C. Titus Brown UC Davis Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty    
Austin Park Stanford University Computer, information, and data sciences     Member of the public    
Academic Data Science Alliance SAME Computer, information, and data sciences   Signing as an organization/instiitution/society    
Dawit Mengistu University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Marissa Renardy Universty of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences     Research professional    
Zena Lapp University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Graduate student    
Aurelia Allen University of Michigan Biological and life sciences          
Anat M. Belasen Cornell University Biological and life sciences   Postdoctoral Fellow    
Henry Gong University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Cooper Stansbury Department of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences     Graduate student    
Christopher Castro University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Graduate student    
Eli Olson University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Johanna Fleischman University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Michael Rankin University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Alexa White* University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Madison Fitzgerald University of Michigan Biological and life sciences     Graduate student NSF-REU Participant  
Justin Colacino University of Michigan Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Kelly Carnahan University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Jessica Switzenberg University of Michigan Biological and life sciences     Academic staff/administrative    
Mitch Cruzan Portland State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Nebat Ali University of California, San Francisco Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Natalia Harris University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences     Graduate student    
Erin Shortlidge Portland State University Biological and life sciences, Education Academic faculty    
Alxandr Kane York University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Anthony Dang University of Michigan Public Health     Graduate student    
Mena Davidson University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Collin McCarty Marshall University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Catherine Emery University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Savannah Boerger University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences, Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Research professional    
Emily Bowers University of Michigan Biological and life sciences     Post-doctoral Fellow    
Jillian Myers University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student I was a 2014 GRF awardee. I had not yet received the training to know about, much less write a proprosal for, computationally intensive research. However, in my graduate training I have come to appreciate and rely heavily on the bioinformatic skills I’ve gained. The new GRFP research priorities are antithetical to it’s purported mission and must be removed.  
Catherine Badgley University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Geosciences   Academic faculty    
Nicole Zambrana Garcia University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Leah Renwick University of California, Davis Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Kaitlin Weskamp University of Colorado Biological and life sciences   Postdoctoral Fellow    
Ariel McShane University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Vincent Denef University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Dylan DeBaun University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Daril Brown II UC San Diego Engineering   Graduate student I am a NSF GRFP recipient.  
Sierra Nance University of Michigan Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Hector Fox University of Michigan Computer, information, and data sciences, Education, Engineering   Graduate student    
Maureen Sartor University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Academic faculty    
Michael Brito University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Olivia Alge University of Michigan Computer, information, and data sciences     Graduate student    
Alexander Hostetler University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Engineering   Undergraduate student    
Peijin Han University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Graduate student    
Natalia Crystal Ubilla University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
John P. Ross Ohio State University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Graduate student    
Kristel Sanchez University of Michigan Ecology and Evolutionary Biology   Graduate student    
Suzanne Estes Portland State University Biological and life sciences, Education   Academic faculty    
Elizabeth D Tidwell (PhD Candidate) University of Michigan Department of Biophysics Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Parmvir Bahia University of South Florida Biological and life sciences     Research professional    
Denise Kirschner University of Michian Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Sarah DuRant U of Arkansas Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Minh Chau N. Ho University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Adam Miller Northwestern University Mathematical and physical sciences Research professional    
Michael Bartlett Portland State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Kelly Sovacool University of Michigan Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Bioinformatics   Graduate student    
Stephen Ellner Cornell University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Meredith A. Holgerson Cornell University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Liam Zarri Cornell University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Maren Vitousek Cornell University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Patricia Garay University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Jacquelyn Roberts University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Meryl C. Mims Virginia Tech Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Monica Geber Cornell University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Erin Larson Alaska Pacific University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Jennifer Spillane University of New Hampshire Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Susan Masta Portland State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Angela Strecker Western Washington University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Chelsea C. Clifford Iowa State University Biological and life sciences, Engineering, Geosciences   Research professional The GRFP (awarded 2013) allowed me to go to grad school following a serious injury, and to do more creative, self-directed research than I probably would have otherwise, had I been admitted without it the following year..  
Sonya Royzenblat University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Morgan Gallagher University of Maryland College Park Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Katherine Holmes Cornell University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Maya Martirossyan Cornell University Engineering   Graduate student NSF GRFP 2019 awardee  
Jeanne McDonald Cornell University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Dana Morton UC Santa Barbara Biological and life sciences     Post doc The limitation on when students can apply during their education severely limits students who were not coached during their undergraduate educations. Many students who are first generation or went to undergraduate institutions without strong research experiences for undergraduates may not know about the GRFP, or have any idea who to go about applying for one. Many of these students must get MS degrees in order to be competitive for PhD programs, and then are ineligible, or need a couple of years to figure out their project once they get to graduate school.  
Katherine Eisen Cornell University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Gabrielle Roberts University of Chicago Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Jane Zavisca University of Arizona Social, behavioral, and economic sciences Academic faculty    
Anand Gnanadesikan Johns Hopkins University Geosciences Academic faculty As an Earth Sytem Modeler computation is at the heart of my research. But computation and AI are two tools among many to gain understanding of the physical world, not ends in themselves.  
Stepfanie M. Aguillon Cornell University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Carolina Rojas Ramirez The University of Michigan Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Audrey Drotos University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Nicholas A. Barber San Diego State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Jennifer Houtz Cornell University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Katie McBride University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Biological and life sciences     Research professional    
Kailyn Jessel University of Michigan Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Laura A. Stevens University of Oxford Geosciences Academic faculty NSF GRFP alum, awarded in 2012  
Cristina E. Maria Rios University of Michigan Biological and life sciences Graduate student    
Twila Moon University of Colorado Boulder Geosciences Academic faculty There is no doubt that receiving an NSF GRFP was a defining moment of my early career, and helped lead to the successful science career I have today. I’m concerned that the recent changes propagate a view that the techniques and styles of science are limited. We should instead be encouraging students to think broadly about the many ways in which science can be conducted and how to creatively solve (using many tools) the major scientific challenges of today.  
Elise Larsen Georgetown University Biological and life sciences   Signing as an organization/instiitution/society    
Anja Payne UCSD Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Seth Spawn University of Wisconsin-Madison Biological and life sciences, Geosciences Graduate student    
Moiya McTier Columbia University Mathematical and physical sciences Graduate student    
Evelynn Henry University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Rebecca Tarnopol UC Berkeley Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Niema Moshiri University of California, San Diego Computer, information, and data sciences Academic faculty    
Hannah Freund University of California Riverside Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Graduate student    
Teresa Pegan University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Deise Goncalves Umiversity of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Sara Gosline Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Research professional    
Kevin Lehner Colorado State University Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Leona Flores Salk Institute Biological and life sciences     Research professional    
Nelson E. Sepúlveda-Ramos* Georgia Institute of Technology Engineering   Graduate student    
Samuel Mehr* Harvard University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Academic faculty    
Amanda Iglesias University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Catherine Dang Wu University of California, Los Angeles Biological and life sciences   Post-Bacc applying for graduate school    
Ali Farhat University of Michigan-Ann Arbor Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences     Graduate student    
Arianna Kazez UC Berkeley Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Amanda Gibson University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Kerry Mauck University of California, Riverside Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Karina Brocco French University of California, Irvine Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Brianna Mims University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
William F. Burkholder CZ Biohub Biological and life sciences   Academic staff/administrative    
Sarah Carey Auburn University Biological and life sciences   Postdoc    
Jasen Liu University of California, Davis Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Olga Botvinnik Chan Zuckerberg Biohub Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Research professional Thank you for doing this, Jason!  
Jennifer Robison Manchester University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Christine Olson UCLA Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Corey Welch Iowa State University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematical and physical sciences     Academic staff/administrative I co-run a multi-institution Grant Writing workshop through SACNAS chapters.  
Ameet Pinto Northeastern University Engineering   Academic faculty    
Thomas Houpt Florida State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
John Fonner Texas Advanced Computing Center Biological and life sciences   Academic staff/administrative    
Jaime Hibbard The University of Texas at Austin Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Margaret Frank Cornell University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Matthew Clark Bucknell University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Paul Hohenlohe University of Idaho Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Dmitry Kondrashov University of Chicago Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences     Academic faculty    
Courtney Leisner Auburn University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty    
Noah Dukler Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Post-doc    
Jonathan M. Jacobs* The Ohio State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Jordan Sosa Harvard University Engineering, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Fernando Nieto SUNY Old Westbury Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Aman Husbands The Ohio State University Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Lauren Eserman Atlanta Botanical Garden Biological and life sciences   Research professional    
Brad Nelms University of Georgia Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Louis Prahl University of Pennsylvania Engineering   Postdoc    
Brandi Cannon Black Botanists Week Biological and life sciences, Education   Member of the public I left academia and I’m not sure if that option is truly available so I put member of the public though I’m a science educator.  
Maya Trotz University of South Florida Engineering Academic staff/administrative    
Ian Flores Siaca   Computer, information, and data sciences, Education   Research professional    
Kristen Loesel University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Florencia Orosz Hunziker University of Colorado, Boulder Mathematical and physical sciences     Academic faculty    
Mark Peifer UNC-Chapel Hill Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Buck Samuel Baylor College of Medicine Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences Academic faculty    
Mark Hagen University of Bristol Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic faculty    
Riley Mummah UCLA Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Kathleen Gray Ferris Tulane University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Enze Chen University of California, Berkeley Engineering, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student    
Amy Charles University of Iowa Mathematical and physical sciences   Academic staff/administrative    
Jennifer J Weber Southern Illinois University, Carbondale Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Gordon Fitch University of Michigan Biological and life sciences     Graduate student    
Michael Niemack Cornell University Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Zachary Sexton Stanford University Engineering Graduate student    
Amanda A. Lam Wittenberg University Education, Mathematical and physical sciences   Undergraduate student    
Caterina Profaci University of California, San Diego Biological and life sciences   Graduate student As a past recipient of the GRFP I would really hate to see the award change and become more exclusionary. The diversity of awardees is already problematic - the new priority subject areas will make the problem worse.  
Josiah Johnson University of Georgia Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Mark Fishbein Oklahoma State University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Patricia Kiley University of Wisconsin-Madison Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Ross Maddox University of Rochester Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences, Engineering   Academic faculty    
Thomas Meade Northwestern University Biological and life sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences Academic faculty    
Serena G. Lotreck Michigan State University Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Graduate student    
Didier Stainier Max Planck Society Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Deborah Bird University of California Los Angeles Biological and life sciences   postdoctoral fellow    
Michael Hoffman* Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences   Academic faculty Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto; Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto; Vector Institute  
Kaia Mattioli Brigham & Women’s Hospital Biological and life sciences Postdoctoral Fellow    
Kelly Stevens University of Washington Engineering   Academic faculty    
Kristyn Masters University of Wisconsin-Madison Engineering   Academic faculty    
Allison E Radwick Allison E Radwick Biological and life sciences          
Terrance Haanen University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
William J. Etges* University of Arkansas Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Catherine Propper Northern Arizona University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Zachary S. Klukkert, Ph.D. Central Michigan University College of Medicine Biological and life sciences     Academic faculty    
Anna Jaffe Harvard Medical School Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Cristina M. Tato CZ Biohub Biological and life sciences     Research professional    
Krissy Lyon Harvard University Biological and life sciences Graduate student    
David Brann Harvard University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Ya’el Courtney Harvard University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Matthew Collie Harvard Medical School Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Bonnie A.B. Blackwell, Ph.D., F.G.S.A., F.G.A.C. Dept of Chem., Williams College; Director, RFK Science Research Institute Education, Geosciences, Archaeology, Paleoanthropology, Paleontology, Geochronology   Research professional    
Jacqueline Linnes* Purdue University Engineering   Academic faculty    
Sami Douba McGill University Mathematical and physical sciences     Graduate student    
Melanie Jackson Unity College Biological and life sciences     Research professional    
Katherine Moore Arcadia University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences Academic faculty    
Reva Johnson Valparaiso University Engineering   Academic faculty    
Anthony Edgington The University of Texas at Austin Geosciences   Undergraduate student Current GRFP applicant.  
Kara Morgan-Short University of Illinois at Chicago Social, behavioral, and economic sciences   Academic faculty    
Ngoc Tran Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Biological and life sciences, Computer, information, and data sciences     Graduate student    
Rosalyn Price-Waldman Princeton University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Society for the Study of Evolution Society for the Study of Evolution Biological and life sciences     Signing as an organization/instiitution/society    
Pamela A. Raymond* University of Michigan Biological and life sciences   Academic faculty    
Tyler Chen* University of Washington Computer, information, and data sciences, Mathematical and physical sciences   Graduate student Current GRFP Fellow  
Dr. Zsuzsa Kaldy* UMass Boston Social, behavioral, and economic sciences     Academic faculty    
Ari Berkowitz University of Oklahoma Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Tracy Yang Harvard University Biological and life sciences   Graduate student    
Carolina Patterson Seigler Princeton University Social, behavioral, and economic sciences Graduate student 2018 NSF GRFP awardee in sociology  
Bonnie Bartel Rice University Biological and life sciences Academic faculty    
Botanical Society of America           Heather Cacanindin - Executive Director  

* This individual is a co-author of this letter

Last updated 8:00 PM Eastern, Friday August 14, 2020.

Diversity Word Cloud

This word cloud reflects a poll of signatories asking them to identify their relevant communities.

wordcloud

Corresponding author : Jason Williams, williams@cshl.edu

To request an edit to this signature list email williams@cshl.edu. Signatures will be updated at least once every 24 hours. Signatures will be added at least until August 15th, 2020.

Citation

Please cite this work using the following DOI:

DOI

Suggested citation:

Jason Williams, J. , Nick Adams, Ellie Armstrong, Michael Baym, Jessica Birky, Joel Boerckel, Daniel Bolnick, I. , Seth Bordenstein, Laura Boykin, Alice Boyle, Siobhan Braybrook, A. , S Brinkley, Chelsea Catania, Christian Cazares, Jiahao Chen, Tyler Chen, Matthew Cover, Dylan Craven, Carrie Diaz-Eaton, Jordan Dowell, Breck Duerkop, Christine Dunham, Scott Edwards, V. William Etges, J. , Jeremy Gibbs, A., Jennifer Glass, B. , Olivia Goldman, Linxin Gu, Miguel Guardado, Richard Hall, John Hodge, Michael Hoffman, André Hudson, George Iskander, Jonathan Jacobs, M. , Zsuzsa Kaldy, Craig Kaplan, Naga Kothapalli, R. , Ted Laderas, Jeff Letourneau, Jacqueline, Linnes, Giordano Lippi, Christine Liu, Karen Lloyd, G. , Katherine Lo, Carol Lushbough, Mark Mandel, Rishi Masalia, R. , Terry McGlynn, Mara McPartland, Samuel Mehr, Jess Millar, A. , Jin Montclare, Yasmeen Musthafa, Michelle Muzzio, Paul Orwin, Theodore Pavlic, Jonathan Puritz, Rajini Rao, Pamela Raymond, A. , Bryan Reiley, Reid Rumelt, Fritz Sedlazeck, Nelson Sepúlveda-Ramos, E. , Massa Shoura, Mark Silby, Natasha Strydom, Adele Tamboli, Ming Tang, Morgan Tingley, W. , Aradhna Tripati, Krystal Tsosie, S., Sarah Tuttle, Elisah VandenBussche, Lucianne Walkowicz, Alexa White, Kevin Wright Bill Wuest, Joshua Wythe, Alessandra Zimmermann. An Open Letter Response to NSF 20-587 GRFP. DOI 10.5821/zenodo.4014061

FOOTNOTES AND REFERENCES

  1. Hu. Jane C. (2019, August 26). NSF graduate fellowships disproportionately go to students at a few top schools. Science AAAS.https://www.sciencemag.org/careers/2019/08/nsf-graduate-fellowships-disproportionately-go-students-few-top-schools
  2. Bartolone, J. B., Halverson, M. L., Hoffer, T. B., Wolniak, G. C., Setlak, L., Hedberg, E. C., Nielsen, E., Nhuan-Le, V., & Yisak, M. (2014). Evaluation of the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSFDACS08D1596).
  3. Byars-Winston, A., Gutierrez, B., Topp, S., & Carnes, M. (2011). Integrating Theory and Practice to Increase Scientific Workforce Diversity: A Framework for Career Development in Graduate Research Training. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 10(4), 357–367. https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.10-12-0145
  4. Chemers, M. M., Zurbriggen, E. L., Syed, M., Goza, B. K., & Bearman, S. (2011). The Role of Efficacy and Identity in Science Career Commitment Among Underrepresented Minority Students: Efficacy and Identity in Science Career Commitment. Journal of Social Issues, 67(3), 469–491. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-4560.2011.01710.x
  5. Committee on Closing the Equity Gap: Securing Our STEM Education and Workforce Readiness Infrastructure in the Nation’s Minority Serving Institutions, Board on Higher Education and Workforce, Policy and Global Affairs, & National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2019). Minority Serving Institutions: America’s Underutilized Resource for Strengthening the STEM Workforce (L. L. Espinosa, K. McGuire, & L. M. Jackson, Eds.; p. 25257). National Academies Press.https://doi.org/10.17226/25257
  6. Committee on Envisioning the Data Science Discipline: The Undergraduate Perspective, Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, Board on Mathematical Sciences and Analytics, Committee on Applied and Theoretical Statistics, Division on Engineering and Physical Sciences, Board on Science Education, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, & National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2018). Data Science for Undergraduates: Opportunities and Options (p. 25104). National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25104
  7. Committee on Increasing the Number of Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Medicine (STEMM), Committee on Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine, Policy and Global Affairs, & National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. (2020). Promising Practices for Addressing the Underrepresentation of Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine: Opening Doors (R. Colwell, A. Bear, & A. Helman, Eds.; p. 25585). National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/25585
  8. Expanding Underrepresented Minority Participation: America’s Science and Technology Talent at the Crossroads (p. 12984). (2011). National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/12984
  9. James, S. M., & Singer, S. R. (2016). From the NSF: The National Science Foundation’s Investments in Broadening Participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Education through Research and Capacity Building. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 15(3), fe7.https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.16-01-0059
  10. Whittaker, J. A., & Montgomery, B. L. (2012). Cultivating Diversity and Competency in STEM: Challenges and Remedies for Removing Virtual Barriers to Constructing Diverse Higher Education Communities of Success. Journal of undergraduate neuroscience education : JUNE : a publication of FUN, Faculty for Undergraduate Neuroscience, 11(1), A44–A51.
  11. Williams, J. J., Drew, J. C., Galindo-Gonzalez, S., Robic, S., Dinsdale, E., Morgan, W. R., Triplett, E. W., Iii, J. M. B., Donovan, S. S., Fowlks, E. R., Goodman, A. L., Grandgenett, N. F., Goller, C. C., Hauser, C., Jungck, J. R., Newman, J. D., Pearson, W. R., Ryder, E. F., Sierk, M., … Pauley, M. A. (2019). Barriers to integration of bioinformatics into undergraduate life sciences education: A national study of US life sciences faculty uncover significant barriers to integrating bioinformatics into undergraduate instruction. PLOS ONE, 14(11), e0224288.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224288
  12. Wong, B. (2016). Minority Ethnic Students and Science Participation: A Qualitative Mapping of Achievement, Aspiration, Interest and Capital. Research in Science Education, 46(1), 113–127.https://doi.org/10.1007/s11165-015-9466-x
  13. https://www.nsfgrfp.org/resources/about_grfp/grfp_alumni
  14. Catania C. Petition · Remove priority research areas from NSF GRFP · Change.org. (n.d.). Retrieved July 30, 2020, from https://www.change.org/p/national-science-foundation-remove-priority-research-areas-from-nsf-grfp
  15. https://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2016/nsf16051/nsf16051.pdf
  16. Lucas, K. (n.d.). The Graduate Research Fellowship Program favors elite schools – again. Massive Science. Retrieved July 30, 2020, from https://massivesci.com/articles/grfp-disparity-nsf/
  17. Telis, N. (2018, April 3). The price of a GRFP, part 1. Natalie Telis.https://telis.blog/2018/04/03/the-price-of-a-grfp-part-1/

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.