NSF Rejects Prestigious Fellowship Applications, Leaving Students and Faculty Perplexed

Concerns raised over potential bias in the selection process for the National Science Foundation's Graduate Research Fellowship Program.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The National Science Foundation (NSF) has returned numerous applications for its prestigious Graduate Research Fellowship Program without review, leaving students and faculty across the country confused and concerned. Kulindu Vithanachchi, a University of Arizona undergraduate and aspiring microbiologist, was among those whose application was rejected, with the NSF citing proposed research that made him ineligible for the program. This decision has sparked broader questions about potential bias in the selection process, as the 2025 award pattern saw no life science recipients, despite the field historically being a leader in applications and awards.

Why it matters

The NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program is a highly competitive and prestigious award that provides financial support and recognition for promising young researchers. Rejections without review raise concerns about fairness and transparency in the selection process, potentially disadvantaging certain fields like the life sciences, which have historically been strong performers in the program. This could have far-reaching implications for the development of scientific talent and innovation in the United States.

The details

According to the report, when Kulindu Vithanachchi, a University of Arizona undergraduate, received an update from the NSF about his application, he was hopeful for good news. However, the agency informed him that his application had been returned without review, citing proposed research that made him ineligible. The NSF's decision was final, and the agency did not provide further explanation. This pattern has been observed more broadly, with the 2025 award cycle seeing no recipients from the life sciences, even though the field has historically been a strong performer in the program. In contrast, students in computer science and physics had better odds of success, aligning with the Trump administration's focus on artificial intelligence and quantum information science.

  • In 2025, the NSF announced a second batch of 500 GRFP recipients, with none in the life sciences.
  • In February 2026, the NSF returned numerous applications for the GRFP without review.

The players

Kulindu Vithanachchi

A University of Arizona undergraduate and aspiring microbiologist whose application for the NSF's Graduate Research Fellowship Program was returned without review.

Corbin Schuster

A microbiologist at Oregon State University who had been hopeful that a Ph.D. student in his lab would receive the GRFP award, but the student's application was also returned without review.

National Science Foundation (NSF)

The federal agency that administers the Graduate Research Fellowship Program, which has faced criticism for its apparent bias in the 2025 award cycle.

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What’s next

The former program directors recently performed a statistical analysis suggesting that the 2025 award pattern was the result of selection bias, raising further questions about the fairness and transparency of the GRFP selection process.

The takeaway

The NSF's decision to return numerous GRFP applications without review has sparked concerns about potential bias in the selection process, particularly against the life sciences. This could have significant implications for the development of scientific talent and innovation in the United States, as the GRFP is a highly prestigious and valuable program for young researchers. The situation highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the administration of such important funding initiatives.