Graduate Visitor Program

The NSF NCAR Advanced Study Program Graduate Student (GVP) Fellowship is an excellent way for graduate students to spend time at NSF NCAR working on parts of their thesis, or final project equivalent, with guidance from NSF NCAR scientists and engineers. The GVP is also an opportunity to develop research collaborations at NSF NCAR and to participate in professional development workshops and seminars. The GVP sponsors travel costs and a housing allowance for visits from 2 to 6 months in length. The GVP also supports travel for the student’s advisor for a one-week visit during the time the student is at NSF NCAR.

Applications and nominations are now being accepted for visits in 2025. 

Application deadline: November 1, 2024
Nomination deadline: November 6, 2024

Requirements

1. Before submitting an application, the student must identify a NSF NCAR scientist or engineer who will serve as a host. The student will need to contact the scientist or engineer to confirm they are available to mentor the student on tasks related to the student’s thesis or final project. 
   
   If you need assistance with identifying a host, please contact the Graduate Visitor Program office via email at asp-gvp-program@ucar.edu. 
    
2. Students must complete a student application.
   Student application form preview, click here.

3. A nomination from the NSF NCAR host click here for form.  
    Nomination form preview, click here.

   Nominators should:

• Engage with the candidates before they begin the application process and provide suggestions/feedback on candidate’s ideas, laboratory research priorities and goals, NSF NCAR strategic priorities and goals. This could be done either via email or a virtual meeting. 
• Answer specific questions regarding the feasibility of a science project, ideas, or theory.
• Discuss the candidate's research interests and background. This may include reviewing figures/simulations/etc. Scientists may provide feedback on the student’s proposal but should not write any part of the proposal.

Selection Criteria and Eligibility

This opportunity is for advanced Masters and Ph.D. students in good standing at their home institution with focuses on atmospheric and related Earth and geospace sciences, space weather, engineering, social sciences, and scientific computing.

Students enrolled in degree-granting institutions in the U.S. (including U.S. Territories) are eligible to apply, as well as students with U.S. citizenship or permanent resident status enrolled at universities outside the United States. 

Students enrolled at universities outside the U.S.:
Applications from universities outside the U.S. are only considered if the applicant is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident (Green Card holder). 
The student will receive the same Living Allowance as domestic students. 
The NSF NCAR host laboratory or the student’s home institution are asked to provide co-sponsorship to help offset additional international travel expenses. 
All students from international universities are required to have health insurance for their stay in the U.S.

Note: Due to visa wait times and increased cost, non-U.S. Citizens or non Green Card holders at universities outside the U.S. are no longer eligible to apply for the GVP. A full list of student opportunities can be found here, https://edec.ucar.edu/students

The student’s work must be a programmatic fit to NSF NCAR. The visit must be part of the student’s thesis or final project work. 

The GVP strives to have diverse representation of universities and student backgrounds in the graduate student cohort each year and encourages applications from individuals who are members of a group that is historically underrepresented in the atmospheric and related sciences, including students who are Black or African American, American Indian or Alaska Native, Hispanic or Latino, female, first generation college students, students with disabilities, students who identify as LGBTQ+, and Veterans. Alumni of NSF NCAR/UCP undergraduate internships and the GVP Bridge are encouraged to apply. 

Length of the Award

Visits can be between two and six months. Extensions beyond six months can be granted if you have additional funding from your home institution or the host lab. The length of the visit needs to be justified in the student’s application and must be appropriate for the proposed project. Most awards are three to six months. Personal circumstances that require a stay less than two months should be discussed with GVP before submitting an application.

Visits for this round of applications can’t start earlier than March 2025 and MUST BEGIN before January 2026.

Financial Support

The award includes:

1. One trip to/from Boulder and a Living Allowance of $2500/month to cover duplicate housing expenses. Students living within a 50-mile radius of Boulder are not eligible for travel support or per diem. Please note that the living allowance may be taxable.
2. Travel expenses for the student's advisor for a one-week visit (typically Monday - Friday) during the time the student is at NSF NCAR. A visit by an advisor is not required. The GVP cannot pay for the travel of federal employees.

Not included are:

1. Support for the student's salary or benefits.  GVP requires that the student visitor is adequately supported through a salary from their home institution
2. Health insurance: While not required for U.S. students, we recommend it.
3. Trips back home during the student’s stay at NSF NCAR [except for emergency situations].
4. Personal circumstances that require additional travel support should be discussed up front with the GVP to see if an exception can be made.
5. Workshops and conferences. While students are welcome to apply to and participate in workshops while at NSF NCAR, the GVP will not cover the workshop costs.
6. Support for computing, engineering laboratories and calibration facilities. The GVP does not manage any facilities, nor does it have sufficient supercomputing allocations. Support for the student’s project, such as laboratory facilities, computers and supercomputing allocations, should be arranged in advance of the visit with the NSF NCAR Host and their laboratory.

Support for computing, engineering laboratories and calibration facilities

ASP does not manage any facilities, nor does it have sufficient supercomputing allocations. Support for the student’s project, such as laboratory facilities, computers and supercomputing allocations, should be arranged in advance of the visit with the hosting NSF NCAR laboratory.