Nij Fellowship: Eligibility For International Graduate Students

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) offers a Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program that supports doctoral students engaged in research that advances NIJ's mission. The program is open to Ph.D. students from all branches of science and engineering whose dissertation work is relevant to issues of crime and criminal justice. The NIJ has long supported the GRF program, which aims to increase the pool of researchers addressing challenges in crime and justice, particularly at the state and local levels. While the program is based in the United States, it is not clear whether international students can apply as the eligibility requirements do not specify citizenship status. However, the application process requires the student to be enrolled in a Ph.D. program and for the university to submit the application on their behalf.

Application process

The NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program is open to Ph.D. students from all branches of science and engineering whose dissertation work is relevant to issues of crime and criminal justice. The program has a two-step application process, and the deadline for applications is usually around September 30.

To apply, students must be enrolled in a Ph.D. program in any science or engineering field, and their dissertation topic must be relevant to criminal or juvenile justice. The proposed start date for the fellowship should be no earlier than January 1 of the year following the application submission, and the student must be enrolled full-time in the doctoral degree program.

The biggest piece of the application is the proposal narrative, which should include a title page, a table of contents, the main proposal body, and any necessary appendices. The main body of the proposal narrative should address the statement of the problem and research questions, project design and implementation, and the capabilities and competencies of the student, advisor, and academic environment.

In addition to the proposal narrative, students will need to submit a letter of support from their chair or advisor, enrollment verification, and transcripts. The university must submit the application on the student's behalf, and the student should get in touch with their university's Office of Sponsored Programs, Sponsored Projects, Sponsored Research, or Fellowships Office early in the process.

After applications are received, they go through a review process by independent external review panels. This process can take up to six months, and awards are typically announced by September 30. Notices of award and non-award are sent by email to the university Authorized Representative, Entity Administrator, and Application Submitter identified in the application.

Eligibility requirements

The NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program is open to doctoral students from all academic disciplines. However, there are a few eligibility requirements that applicants must meet to be considered for the fellowship.

Firstly, applicants must be currently enrolled in a Ph.D. program in any science or engineering field. The research conducted by the applicant must be relevant to the issues of crime, criminal justice, and juvenile justice. The NIJ particularly emphasizes research addressing the challenges of crime and justice in the United States, at both the state and local levels.

Secondly, applicants must ensure that their proposed fellowship start date is reasonable. The start date should be no earlier than January 1 of the year following the application submission, as the practical availability of funds may be delayed. Additionally, the student's academic institution must submit an official letter stating that the student is expected to be enrolled full-time in the doctoral degree program from the beginning of the academic term in which the fellowship activity is proposed to start.

Thirdly, applicants must submit a well-prepared application package. The biggest component of the application is the proposal narrative, which should include a title page, table of contents, the main proposal body, and any necessary appendices. The main body of the proposal narrative should address the statement of the problem and research questions, project design and implementation, and capabilities and competencies of the student, advisor, and academic environment. Additionally, a letter of support from the student's faculty advisor, department chair, or another appropriate individual, should be included, along with the student's enrollment verification and transcripts. It is important to note that students cannot apply as individuals; the application must be submitted through their university.

Lastly, the dissertation topic proposed by the applicant must be approved by the committee and remain similar to what was originally proposed in the fellowship application. If the doctoral student has already passed these milestones, the dissertation committee chair should indicate this in the letter of support. If the milestones have not been met at the time of application, the student's project timeline should include the dates by which they are expected to be accomplished.

Overall, the NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship program seeks to support doctoral students engaged in research relevant to the NIJ's mission, with the goal of increasing the pool of scholars addressing the challenges of crime and justice.

Proposal narrative

The NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program supports doctoral students engaged in research that advances the NIJ's mission. The goal of the GRF program is to increase the number of scholars conducting research on crime and justice issues in the United States, particularly at the state and local levels.

The proposal narrative is a crucial part of the application process. It should include a title page, resubmit response (if applicable), a table of contents, the main proposal body, and any necessary appendices. The main body of the proposal narrative is the most important part of the research proposal and should address the following:

Statement of the Problem and Research Questions

Begin by introducing the problem that your research aims to address and clearly state the research questions that your project will seek to answer.

Project Design and Implementation

Describe the methodology and approach you will take to conduct your research. Outline the steps you will take to carry out your project, including any data collection, experiments, surveys, or analytical techniques you plan to use.

Capabilities and Competencies of the Student, Advisor, and Academic Environment

Discuss your qualifications, skills, and expertise as a student, as well as the support and guidance you will receive from your advisor. Also, highlight the resources and facilities available in your academic environment that will contribute to the success of your research project.

It is important to note that while input from your graduate advisor is encouraged, you, as the student, should be the primary author of the research proposal. Additionally, if you are resubmitting a proposal that was previously submitted but not funded, your proposal narrative should include a resubmit response. This response should be no longer than two pages and should address the previous application's title, submission date, NIJ-assigned application number, and a summary of any revisions made based on feedback received from NIJ.

Finally, remember that the NIJ project should be a significant part of your dissertation, if not the central focus. Ensuring that your research aligns with the NIJ's mission and goals will strengthen your proposal.

Review process

The NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program supports doctoral students engaged in research that advances NIJ’s mission. The goal of the GRF program is to increase the pool of researchers working on problems relevant to NIJ's mission, specifically addressing the challenges of crime and justice in the United States. The program is open to Ph.D. students from all branches of science and engineering whose dissertation work is relevant to issues of crime and criminal justice.

The review process for the NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship involves several steps and requirements that applicants must meet. Here is an overview of the key aspects of the review process:

Application Requirements:

Firstly, applicants must ensure that their dissertation topic has been approved by the committee and is similar to what was proposed in the fellowship application. If the doctoral student has already passed these milestones, the dissertation committee chair should indicate this in the letter of support. If not, the student's project timeline should include the dates by which these milestones will be met.

Secondly, the proposed start date should be the estimated date on which the student can begin work on the dissertation research project. This date is subject to the formation of a dissertation committee and acceptance of the proposed dissertation topic. The proposed start date should be no earlier than January 1st of the year following the application submission.

Submission Process:

The application submission process requires students to submit their applications through their university. Individual applications are not accepted. The biggest component of the application is the proposal narrative, which should include a title page, table of contents, the main proposal body, and any necessary appendices. The main body addresses the statement of the problem, research questions, project design, and implementation, as well as the capabilities and competencies of the student, advisor, and academic environment.

Review and Evaluation:

Independent external review panels evaluate all responsive GRF proposals. These panels consist of reviewers from various fields, including the social, physical, and life sciences, as well as engineering. They are chosen for their scientific expertise and experience in advising graduate students. The external reviewers assess each application against the specific review criteria outlined in the notice of funding opportunity.

Decision-Making:

The peer review results are presented to the NIJ Director, who has the final authority to make award decisions. NIJ aims to fund as many quality fellowship applications as possible, given the available funding. The entire application review process, including peer review, decision-making, and other considerations, can take up to six months. Notices of award and non-award are sent by email to the university representatives, entity administrator, and application submitter identified in the application.

It is important to note that the NIJ cautions students and academic institutions not to depend on GRF funds until all the requirements have been met, as the practical availability of funds may be delayed pending the fulfillment of administrative award conditions.

Funding

The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) offers funding for doctoral students through its Graduate Research Fellowship (GRF) program. The fellowship is open to students enrolled in a Ph.D. program in any science or engineering field, including social work, with their dissertation research demonstrating relevance to criminal, juvenile, or social justice. The NIJ places emphasis on supporting research in the social and behavioral sciences (SBS) and science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.

The fellowship provides funding for up to three years, with an annual award amount of up to $180,000. The exact amount varies each year, and the total number of awards given out can differ. For example, in 2024, the NIJ awarded a total of $1,889,111 to 16 fellows, with individual awards ranging from $88,304 to $180,000. The program is open for applications once a year, with awards typically announced by September 30. The fellowship can start from January 1 of the year following the application submission.

The NIJ Graduate Research Fellowship program has specific requirements that must be met for funding to be released. These include full-time enrollment in a qualifying doctoral program, with the university being the official applicant and submitting the required documents. The dissertation topic must be approved, and the student's project timeline should include dates for meeting milestones. Additionally, IRB approval for human subjects research, along with a Human Subjects Protection (HSP) form and Privacy Certificate, may be required before accessing the funds.

To ensure continued funding, fellows are expected to meet annual requirements, including submitting performance reports, verifying continued enrollment, and providing a letter from their committee chair confirming adequate progress in their degree program. The NIJ also encourages, but does not require, public archiving of the full text of the final deliverables in its literature archive, the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS).

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