GWIS National Fellowship Application Portal INSTRUCTIONS

Graduate Women In Science (GWIS) uses an online website to conduct the annual National Fellowship Program selection process. More than 1,200 people use the GWIS National Fellowship Program Application Portal each year. All application materials, including letters of recommendation are submitted using our online application portal.

To submit your application please visit our online application portal here.

• Create an account: All users, including first time and returning applicants, will need to create an account with the application portal. GWIS membership is not required to create a user account. To begin the process, select the button “ Sign Up”.  

• Note: You must be a GWIS members. Please upload a copy of your membership payment before you submit. Become a member or renew your membership today by visiting the member center (here).
  

• Once you have created and logged into your account, you can begin the application process by creating your online profile. Begin by selecting the button Create a Profile to Get Started.
  

• You are required to provide your First Name, Last Name, Email Address, and Career Level information. We recommend using the same email address used to create your account. To complete your profile, select the Create Profile button. Once you have completed your profile, you can update your profile using the Edit button. Note: If you select “Save Draft” instead of “Create Profile” you will not be able to start your application. 

• After completing your Profile, select +Get Started  to begin your 2026/27 fellowship application. If you’ve already started or completed an application, select the block to view your application.
  

  

   

• From here, two actions are available: 1) Application Form - complete the fellowship application and 2) Letters of Recommendation - request two letters of recommendation from reference writers directly using the application portal. Applicants can choose which action to complete first.
  
  

   

   

  • Application Form: Complete the application form including the three short essays, project abstract, and attachments (including the project description, budget and budget justification, and protocols and permits and a letter from host scientist *if applicable). Submit supplemental documentation in PDF form. Please review the updated guidelines here. Note: applications that do not adhere to the guidelines stated on the program page will be returned without review.

  • To save your progress, select the “Save Draft” option on the Application Form. You will not be able to finish your application form until all required fields are completed. Select the Mark Complete button to complete your form. Once the application is saved, the Application Form status will be updated from Action Required to Complete. To preview or print your completed Application Form, select the yellow arrow on top of the Application Form. The Application Form can be edited (by selecting the “Edit” button) anytime until the application is submitted. Note: Changes cannot be made once the application has been submitted. GWIS will not reopen an application once it has been submitted.

  • You will need to "Save" your application at least once to enable the portal to send a confirmation email message to your letter of recommendation providers.
    

    

     

  • Letters of Recommendation: You can request letters of recommendation from letter writers directly using the application portal. When you send a new request, your letter writer will receive instructions by email with the information to upload the letter. Select “Open” to get started. You can input contact information for up to two Letters of Recommendation writers. To begin, select the button + New Request.
    
    

    

     

  • Letters of Recommendation (continued) : Please provide your referees' information including their Title, First and Last Name, email address, and a brief message to your reference writers. You can save your progress by selecting “ Save Daft” or Send your request by email.
    

    

     

  • Letters of Recommendation (continued) : Once you have sent your request, the application portal will be updated with the following information 1) timestamp of when the automated email for the request was sent to the Letter of Recommendation provider (shown as “Sent Month/Date/Year 00:00 am/pm EDT”), OR 2) confirmation timestamp of the letter submitted by the Letter of Recommendation provider (shown in green, “Completed Month/date/Year 00:00 am/pm EDT ”). You can check the status anytime by returning to the Letters of Recommendation section, even after you have submitted the application. Note: You have the option to contact the program (nfp@gwis.org) and confirm the letter submissions. You will need to "Save" your application at least once to enable the portal to send a confirmation email message to your letter of recommendation providers.
    

    
  • Reminder emails can be sent to your Letter of Recommendation providers once every 24 hours. You can change your recommendation writer information by selecting the “Delete” option and creating a new request. Once a letter is submitted, the status of the request will be marked as Complete along with a timestamp.

  • All reference letters must be submitted electronically using the application portal, and received by the deadline of Monday, January 12th, 2026 by 5:00:00 pm Eastern Time. Letters will not be accepted by email and late letters will not be accepted under any circumstances. 

  • Once your Application Form is complete and you have requested your Letters of Recommendation (regardless of the recommendation writer submission status), you need to submit the completed application by selecting the green Submit button located at the top right corner. 

• • All application materials, including letters of recommendation, must be received by Monday, January 12, 2026 by 5:00:00 pm Eastern Time.

  • Late applications or applications with missing letters of recommendation will be disqualified and returned without review.