EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP): Empowering STEM doctoral education through cohort-based NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program

The National Science Foundation (NSF), NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP) supports EGFP designated institutions/programs in EPSCoR jurisdictions by providing funding for graduate fellowships for eligible applicants. Institutions receive a total of three years of stipend and associated cost-of-education (COE) allowance for each NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellow. This award at the University of South Carolina seeks to enhance research competitiveness and capacity through an investment in talent development. Fellow research topics will align with goals and programs supported by the NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG), Directorate for Geosciences (GEO), Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS), and the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences (SBE). Research topics and activities will focus on a cohort-based, research-driven, career-oriented graduate fellowship program that integrates cutting-edge research, academic skill development and success, and career readiness to prepare doctoral students to become competent STEM researchers and workforce leaders with advanced degrees across academia, industry and government in the future. This EGFP project will be organized in a cohort format and incorporate three pillars of research training, professional skill development, and career preparation to ensure both academic success and career readiness for doctoral students. It will be guided by two fundamental principles: (1) fellow-centered graduate experiences throughout which the students’ research interests, academic and professional needs, and career pathways are the primary considerations; and (2) ecologically-oriented programming that emphasizes creating a synergic learning environment that connects mentoring and advising from faculty, program, and graduate school, supported by various academic and service offices on campus for students’ success. Expected project outcomes will include world-class doctoral research training with a dynamic mentoring system, graduate experiences integrated with skills development and career-oriented training, best practices for today’s graduate education, and strengthened science and technology workforce development for South Carolina and the nation. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.