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We recognize that new and emerging degree programs may not yet be represented. If your degree or field of study does appear on these lists as appropriate (i.e., not classified under Humanities or Visual and Performing Arts), then it is eligible. If it is not listed and you are in doubt, please contact the OJP Response Center ([email protected]) for a determination of eligibility.
We cannot determine the eligibility of a specific research topic until reviewing the full proposal. All eligible applicants proposing research relevant to: (1) supporting law enforcement operations, (2) combating violent crime, (3) protecting American children, or (4) supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault, are invited to apply. The applicant should consider the appropriateness of the scope of their proposal when deciding whether to apply.
The earliest possible date that funds could become available is January 1 of the year following submission of an application. This is the official “start date” of the fellowship grant. But the practical availability of funds can in some cases be delayed until certain grant requirements are satisfied (e.g., dissertation topic approval; human subjects approval from an Institutional Review Board, if applicable). It is important that you work with your university Office of Sponsored Programs, or equivalent, to make sure all of these conditions are satisfied.
Successful institutional applicants must agree to comply with additional requirements prior to receiving grant funding. Learn more about these requirements.
The official applicant is the academic institution, not the student. Therefore, the student's citizenship does not affect eligibility. GRF awards are made only to degree-granting academic institutions in the U.S. and its territories. The sponsoring academic institution must be fully accredited by one of the regional institutional accreditation commissions recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education.
The GRF program funds dissertation research across a wide range of topics with relevance to criminal and juvenile justice. See a list of past and present GRF project titles. Applicants for FY 2026 must demonstrate relevance of their dissertation research to (1) supporting law enforcement operations, (2) combating violent crime, (3) protecting American children, or (4) supporting American victims of trafficking and sexual assault.
The GRF program has integrated two previously separate funding opportunities: the Graduate Research Fellowship in the Social and Behavioral Sciences (GRF-SBS), and the Graduate Research Fellowship in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (GRF-STEM). Since 2020, all applicants are invited to apply to the same, single funding opportunity.
The official applicant is the sponsoring academic institution. Students must contact and seek the assistance of the university’s Office of Sponsored Programs, or equivalent office. Working with the student and their dissertation committee chair (or intended dissertation committee chair), a representative from the university OSP must complete and submit the full application package online at Grants.gov and JustGrants by the deadline date. Refer to the notice of funding opportunity for a full list of required documents.
Because coordination with their university OSP is necessary, students are encouraged to make contact EARLY to express their intent to submit an application.
Yes, but a separate application must be submitted for each student.
The committee chair (or faculty advisor, department chair, departmental director of graduate studies, or individual with similar responsibilities, as applicable) is expected to write a statement of support to be included with the application package.
This statement may NOT be submitted independently by the committee chair, but must be included with the entire application package submitted by the university OSP administrator.
Failure to include the statement of support at the time of application will disqualify an application.
The student must work with a representative from the university’s Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP), or equivalent office, to assemble an application package.
The student is expected to author the program narrative and personal statement, as well as other necessary proposal elements, as specified in the notice of funding opportunity. These documents should be provided to the OSP administrator early enough to ensure that the application can be submitted before the deadline.
The university must provide verification of current enrollment in a qualifying doctoral program. As the official applicant, the university must upload all required documents and submit the application package in Grants.gov and JustGrants. See the most recent notice of funding opportunity for the list of required documents. Each file should be descriptively named according to what it contains (e.g., proposal narrative, statement of support, transcripts).
