Who is eligible for the DOE CSGF? (Top)

The DOE CSGF is open to U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents who are currently enrolled or will be entering full-time, uninterrupted study toward a Ph.D. at an accredited U.S. university by the start of fellowship in fall 2024.

Do you require proof of U.S. citizenship? (Top)

Proof of U.S. citizenship (a copy of your birth certificate or passport) will be required upon a formal offer.

I am a foreign student studying in the U.S. under a student visa (F1-visa). Am I eligible to apply? (Top)

No. You must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident to apply.

Should I make a copy of my lawful permanent resident (LPR) card or will you obtain this from the INS? (Top)

A copy of your current green card is required as part of your application. Krell Institute staff will contact you after the application deadline with instructions on sending a copy of your current green card.

I am a lawful permanent resident but my green card is expired or will expire by the start of fellowship. Will an I-551 stamp or letter suffice for proof of citizenship? (Top)

No. The DOE CSGF cannot accept an I-551 stamp or letter as proof of residency. Your status cannot be conditional, it must be permanent in order to be eligible for the fellowship. Only a current and non-expired green card can be accepted.

My department requires all graduate students to perform teaching to qualify for a doctoral degree. Am I eligible? (Top)

Your department must certify that no more than one term of teaching, grading or other departmental support activities are required of you, or that any requirements beyond one term will be waived for the DOE CSGF. You must obtain a waiver of this graduate requirement from your department chairperson to qualify for a DOE CSGF award. This certification will be sent upon formal offer of fellowship for your department chairperson to sign.

I am a part-time student. Am I eligible? (Top)

No. You must be a full-time student working toward your Ph.D. at a U.S. university (by fall 2024) to be eligible.

I am a second year graduate student. Am I eligible? (Top)

Undergraduate seniors, first-year graduate students and those matriculating into graduate school pursing a Ph.D. (by fall 2024) are eligible for this fellowship. If you have a question whether this applies to you, review the additional FAQs on this subject, or contact the DOE CSGF Program.

I have been in graduate school for a few years, but have not started my Ph.D. Am I eligible to apply? (Top)

At time of application, you cannot have completed more than one year of full-time graduate work towards your Ph.D. Review other FAQs on this subject or contact the program coordinator for specific questions.

I currently have another fellowship. Does this make me ineligible for the DOE CSGF? (Top)

You can apply to the DOE CSGF program, but if awarded the fellowship, you may have to give up your current appointment. The DOE CSGF cannot be accepted concurrently with another federal fellowship.

I currently have another federal fellowship. If awarded the DOE CSGF, can I defer the offer? (Top)

No. The DOE CSGF does not offer deferrals. If awarded, you will either have to accept and give up your current federal fellowship or decline the DOE CSGF altogether.

I have a master's degree in another field. Does this make me ineligible? (Top)

Having a master's degree does not affect your application to the fellowship as long as you plan to attend a different university for your doctoral studies.

I took time off from school to work. Am I eligible? (Top)

As long as you will be starting a Ph.D. degree program by the time the fellowship would begin (fall 2024), you are eligible.

I worked for a couple of years after receiving my master's and now want to return to school in pursuit of a Ph.D. Am I eligible? (Top)

Yes, you are eligible for the fellowship.

I am pursuing a MD/Ph.D. program. Am I eligible? (Top)

No. You must be pursuing a Ph.D. only in order to be eligible for the fellowship.

I am not sure if my field of study is eligible. How do I find out? (Top)

Students in engineering, computer science, mathematics, or the physical or life sciences are eligible for this fellowship. If you feel your area of study does not fit in these categories but does emphasize high-performance computing, you are encouraged to apply and convey to application reviewers that your work can be properly represented as computational science.

I am matriculating into graduate school and haven't yet decided which program I want to attend. How do I complete the doctoral institution information? (Top)

As someone matriculating into graduate school, you will list your top three choice institutions at time of application. We understand that this may change by the time fellowship awards are offered. You will be able to designate your institution of choice once offered the fellowship.

You will complete your program of study (POS) based on your top choice institution.

Why are you asking for department chairperson contact information? (Top)

As part of the application process, Krell Institute will contact the listed department chairperson(s) to confirm adherence with the DOE CSGF teaching policy which states that no more than one term of teaching is allowed while on fellowship. We do this ensure that any department listed is eligible to receive a DOE CSGF fellow. Krell Institute will have this information on hand by the time offers of award are made.

Please make sure to complete all requested department chairperson information.

Do I need to list every institution that I have ever attended, including high school? (Top)

In short, no, you do not need to list every institution you've ever attended. You will want to ensure that your education history is comprehensive of your background and speaks to your application. Please be aware that all institution's listed will also need a corresponding official transcript. You do not need to list your high school or GED information.

What are the appropriate computer science and mathematics/statistics courses for the POS? (Top)

For complete details, please refer to the 'Guidelines and Requirements' link on the application's POS page.

Can I email a listing of courses for approval prior to submitting my application? I am not sure where they fit in the POS. (Top)

Please do not ask about specific courses; we can only provide general guidelines for the POS. Please discuss your proposed POS with your advisor and arrange the courses as best you can with the goals of the fellowship in mind.

In planning out coursework, how long do I have to satisfy the POS requirement? (Top)

Those matriculating into a Ph.D. program have three years to complete their POS. First-year graduate students must satisfy this fellowship requirement within two years.

I have already completed some of the course requirements. How should this be recorded in the application? (Top)

Courses meeting POS requirements and taken for graduate credit during the academic year coincident with the time of application may be entered in your POS. That said, no more than half of the POS can be completed prior to starting the fellowship, with a limit of one such course in each area.

All other courses taken relevant to the fellowship can/should be listed in the Completed Courses section of the application.

What constitutes a 'graduate' course? (Top)

The course must be a graduate level course or accepted for graduate credit by your home department.

What if I change my university preferences after I submit my application? (Top)

This should not be an issue. If awarded the fellowship you will be asked to provide a new POS with your selected university that must be approved as a condition of acceptance. Please contact the DOE CSGF Program to provide an update to university selections after your application has been submitted.

I am a senior undergraduate. What if I am not accepted at the university where I plan to attend? (Top)

If offered the fellowship, we will ask that you submit a new POS for approval.

I am a senior undergraduate and I don't know what university I will be attending next fall. How do I fill out the POS? (Top)

Please assemble a POS for the university that you want to attend. If this changes once you receive the fellowship, you will need to submit a new POS at that time.

I am a senior undergraduate and do not have a graduate advisor yet. Do I need to find a graduate advisor to review my POS? (Top)

Ideally, the graduate advisor at your preferred university will review your POS. If this is not feasible, please have your current undergraduate advisor review your proposed POS.

My university course schedule isn't released until right before the semester. Many times they drop and add courses last minute. How do I put together a POS if I am not sure what courses will be available? (Top)

We understand that course schedules change. If offered a fellowship, you will have the ability to request changes to your POS based on course cancellations/changes. However, keep in mind that the POS submitted with this application must be to your best knowledge the courses you intend to take. All course changes must be approved by the fellowship's review committee.

I have been working for the past couple of years and plan to start as a Ph.D. graduate student in the fall. As I am currently without an advisor, who would best fit this role in terms of my POS? (Top)

Ideally, the graduate advisor at your preferred university will review your POS. If this is not feasible, your undergraduate advisor or trusted academic acquaintance should review your proposed POS.

Do you need a copy of my undergraduate and graduate transcripts? (Top)

We require an official transcript from all universities listed on your application. This includes the current fall term (if you are enrolled at a university).

My official fall 2023 transcript will not be available until after the application deadline. Is this a problem? (Top)

No, this is very common. Your application is considered complete and will sent to the review committee, yet we will require a copy of the official fall transcript once it becomes available.

There is no need to contact the program if your transcript will arrive by the end of January.

I attend graduate school at the institution that awarded my undergraduate degree. Do you need two transcripts, or can I submit one that includes all coursework at that university on it? (Top)

You may submit one transcript as long as it includes all undergraduate and graduate work.

I also applied for the DOE NNSA SSGF managed by Krell. Can I send one official transcript for both applications? (Top)

Yes, but notify the DOE CSGF Program.

Where should I have my official transcripts sent? (Top)

Krell Institute
Attn: DOE CSGF Program
1609 Golden Aspen Drive, Suite 101
Ames, IA 50010

Is it acceptable for my university to send an e-transcript in place of a hard copy? (Top)

Yes. This is the preferred route. You can request that your university send an e-transcript to csgf_trans@krellinst.org.

How are official transcripts accepted by Krell? (Top)

All official transcripts must be sent directly from the university in question either through the mail or through an e-transcript system to csgf_trans@krellinst.org. Transcripts emailed, mailed or faxed by the applicant will not be accepted as part of the application.

I went to an international institution and they are not able or are not willing to send an official copy of my transcript, but I have a copy that I can send. Will it be accepted? (Top)

In the instance of an international institution unwilling or unable to send an official copy of a transcript, please contact the DOE CSGF Program. In most cases a copy from the applicant will be accepted, but an email from the applicant explaining the situation will be required.

I have sent in my transcript and it is not flagged as received on my status page. (Top)

Transcripts are processed and entered into the online system daily, however, we ask that you allow up to three business days after your transcript has been received for it be reflected within your application. Please contact your university to see if your transcript request has been processed and the document sent. (If you submitted a transcript under a different name, please notify the DOE CSGF program.)

Once the university has confirmed that the transcript was sent, please call or email the Krell Institute to inquire further.

Alternatively, 1) please make sure you have added the university in question to the educational history section of your application. A transcript cannot be marked as received without a coordinating university, and 2) please make sure that the name on the application matches the name on the transcript. If the names are different, you will need to notify DOE CSGF of this so your transcript can be properly recorded.

We will check on this periodically, but please fill out the educational history section completely before sending in transcripts to ensure that it will get attached to your application correctly.

Are standardized test scores required to be considered for the fellowship? (Top)

No, as of 2016, standardized test scores are no longer requested of DOE CSGF applicants and will not be considered as part of the review and selection process.

Is there a minimum cumulative GPA required to be considered for the fellowship? (Top)

No, there is no minimum GPA score required to apply or be considered for the DOE CSGF.

Can I submit more than three reference letters? (Top)

The application allows you to list up to four references, all of whom may submit a letter on your behalf. While three letters are required of each applicant, all letters received will be reviewed as part of your application. There is no advantage given to those who submit four letters.

Can I use reference letters that were already written for other programs or fellowships? (Top)

It is preferred that you have new letters written that address the information requested on the reference form.

What happens when I 'Notify' my references requesting that they write a recommendation letter on my behalf? (Top)

(First and foremost, we recommend that you make a personal ask of these individuals prior to listing them in the application.)

When you 'Notify' your references, they will receive an email from the Krell Institute with a link to an online reference system where they can submit a letter of recommendation.

Can I move my reference order or change reference information after they have already been notified? (Top)

No. Each reference is given a unique token within your application according to the order you placed them in. After you notify your references, this token becomes fixed. Once references have been notified the order of reference information cannot be changed. Please make sure the references are in the order that you desire before notification.

Only in extenuating circumstances can a reference be modified or reordered after notification. If you feel you have such a circumstance, please contact the DOE CSGF Program.

How will I know if my reference received my request for a recommendation letter? (Top)

You will receive a confirmation email for each reference notified.

How will I know that a letter of recommendation has been submitted on my behalf? (Top)

Refer to the 'Application Status' section of the application. If you are concerned about a particular status, please follow up with the reference until their letter is marked as 'Submitted'.

My reference has questions about the reference process and/or the DOE CSGF program. Where should I direct him/her? (Top)

References may contact the DOE CSGF Program at csgf@krellinst.org

My reference would rather not submit his/her reference online. Is there another option? (Top)

Yes. Your reference may submit their letter via email or mail directly to the DOE CSGF Program.

When are the letters of recommendation due? (Top)

Letters of recommendation should be submitted by your references by January 24, 2024.

Can I save my application and come back to work on it at a later time? (Top)

Yes, you can save your application and work on it any time. Your application is not submitted until you press 'Final Submission' on the final submission page. Once this is done, you can no longer make changes to your application. However, even after your application is submitted, you can continue to use the online system to notify references that their letters have not yet been received, and check the status of your transcripts.

How can I confirm that my electronically submitted application was received? (Top)

After you press the 'Final Submission' button on the Final Submission page, you should receive an email confirming that your application has been submitted. If you do not receive this email within 24 hours, please contact the Krell Institute. There will also be a check beside 'Final Submission' on your online Application Status page.

I see that online submission of the application is expected. Should I also print it off and send it in? (Top)

No. Once you have pressed 'Final Submission' on the Final Submission page, no further action is required.

Can I check my status after submitting my final application? (Top)

Yes, you may check the status of your application materials at any time by logging in and selecting 'Application Status'.

Can you tell me if you have received my transcripts and/or references? (Top)

You may check the status of your application materials online at any time. Log into your online application and go to 'Application Status'. If for some reason the status on this page seems incorrect, please contact your university and/or references.

Why is my undergraduate and graduate university listed twice under the transcript status? Do I need to send two transcripts? (Top)

No. As long as all course work from the institution is listed on one transcript, we do not need a duplicate copy. When processing the transcript, the Krell Institute will populate a cumulative GPA for both your undergraduate and graduate coursework.

When is the application deadline? (Top)

The DOE CSGF application is due January 17, 2024.

All sections of my application are complete, however at least one of my supporting materials (i.e. reference letters and/or transcripts) is outstanding. Should I submit my application? (Top)

Yes. Please final submit your application by the application deadline, even if some of your supporting documents are outstanding. Letters of recommendation are due January 24, 2024 and official transcripts are due January 31, 2024.

Can I send supplemental materials such as publications or research results, with my application? (Top)

No. These types of supplemental materials will not be reviewed. Publications should be listed in the appropriate section of the application. Supplemental information can be included as 'Personal Statement', however you are not required to populate this section.

Can I update my application information after the application deadline? (Top)

No. Once the application system is closed and moved on for review, there is no way to make changes or updates to your application. Unfortunately, we will not accept university offers, university changes, supplemental material changes, or updates to publications/posters/talks, etc. If offered a fellowship, we can make updates at that time.

May I fax in application materials? (Top)

No. Please do not fax supplemental materials. Your application will not be considered complete until official documents are received.

I applied last year and was not accepted. Do you still have my application materials on file, or do I need to send them again? (Top)

We do not retain applications from year to year. You will need to submit a new application, including transcripts and letters of reference.

I would like to review the application in full; is this possible? (Top)

The printable version of the application can be found under the 'Help' tab in the footer of the application website. Please note that all applications must be submitted electronically via the online system.

When will I be notified if I did or did not receive a fellowship? (Top)

You will be notified whether or not you received a fellowship by mid-April.

When does the fellowship start? (Top)

The fellowship start date is September 1, 2024. It is renewable for up to four total years.