NSF PR 00-14 - March 23, 2000
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Graduate Students Awarded Research Fellowships
The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded 850
three-year Graduate Research Fellowships to outstanding
college and university students for the year 2000.
The graduate fellowship program is one of NSF's oldest,
with roots in NSF's original 1950 charter, offering
support for graduate study in all scientific disciplines,
according to Susan Duby, director of NSF's graduate
education division.
"NSF has nearly 50 years of experience that shows
these fellowships make a big difference, not only
in the careers of the young scientists who receive
the awards, but to the nation," says Duby.
NSF graduate fellows are promising young mathematicians,
scientists and engineers who Duby says are expected
to pursue lifelong careers marked by significant contributions
to research, teaching and industrial applications
in science, mathematics and engineering. "Its recipients
go on to become our top researchers and educators.
They are a major force in maintaining the vitality
and excellence of American science, mathematics and
engineering," she says.
"Eighteen former fellows have won Nobel Prizes," Duby
says. "Historically, the recipients of these fellowships
have completed their Ph.D.s at a higher rate than
other graduate students, have moved on to top-notch
departments, and have won more postdoctoral appointments,
research grants, prestigious awards and other honors."
Among the year 2000 awardees, 89 (10.5 percent) are
members of traditionally underrepresented groups in
the sciences, mathematics, engineering and technology
fields. Women won 49.8 percent of the awards overall.
Awardees come from all 50 states, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico. The awardees received their
baccalaureate degrees from 236 colleges and universities,
including eight foreign institutions.
The fellowships currently provide a stipend of $16,200
per year for fulltime graduate study. NSF also provides
an annual cost-of-education allowance of $10,500 in
lieu of all tuition and required fees at U.S. institutions.
NSF graduate fellows may attend any appropriate non-profit
U.S. or foreign institution of higher education. The
three years of support may be used within a five-year
window, during which time students may suspend receipt
of their fellowship stipend in order to incorporate
teaching or work experience into their graduate education.
NSF also designated 946 individuals to receive honorable
mention in this annual graduate fellowship competition.
Those students plus the 850 awardees are eligible
to use supercomputer resources provided by the NSF-sponsored
Partnerships for Advanced Computational Infrastructure.
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