Research Fellowships for Graduate Students

Current graduate students supported by National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded projects or Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) Fellows can join EPA Researchers as a fellow at an EPA facility.  The NSF supports these fellowships for up to six months through supplemental funding provided directly to the academic institution of the graduate students and fellows.  Researchers at EPA are encouraged to host these pre-funded fellows at their research facilities.  

The EPA strongly encourages eligible graduate students to: review the 2023-2024 NSF-GRFP projects open for hosting fellows; communicate with the EPA researcher listed on the project; and work with their academic mentors to prepare and submit an INTERN supplemental funding application to the NSF.  These projects are solely awarded and funded by NSF.  There are no financial transactions between EPA and NSF, academic Institutions, or fellows.  Please review the link below for more details on eligibility, application process, funding request instructions, allowable budget, and submission guidelines: 

National Science Foundation INTERN Announcement 

Research Fellowships Areas− Please note that some projects may not be available, therefore, contact the listed researcher to confirm their participation in EPA's fellowship program.  Please contact the EPA’s Partnership and Fellowships Team for any questions about this program and the EPA Project Lead/Mentor with any questions about a specific project opportunity.

Supplemental funding requests under NSF’s INTERN must include a letter of collaboration from EPA’s authorized official that describes the fellowship opportunity and the mentoring that will be provided to the student during the fellowship.  The supplemental budget requests:

1. must not exceed $55,000 per student;
2. may support travel, tuition and fees, health insurance, additional stipend and temporary relocation costs for the graduate student;
3. may include up to $2,500 for materials and supplies;
4. may include up to $2,500 to cover travel of academic mentor to the host facility; and
5. may include indirect costs in accordance with their approved/negotiated indirect cost rate.

Funding requests may be submitted to the NSF at any time.  Application due date for each Fiscal Year (FY) is April 15.  Applications received after April 15 may not be reviewed or funded until the start of the following FY (October 1).  Additional information on the GRFP version of INTERN can be requested from GRF INTERN (GRFPINTERN@nsf.gov).

For more information, contact the EPA liaison. Please use the subject line EPA Graduate Student Fellowship opportunities.