Fellowships and Assistantships

All applicants to the graduate programs in the Department of Biology are considered by the Graduate Programs Committee for financial awards and assistantships. Competition is very keen for financial awards. Applicants desiring a financial award are encouraged to have their application completed by: 15 January. Late applications (after 15 January) will be considered for financial awards if any are available.

Currently about 95% of the department's graduate students are supported by teaching or research assistantships, by fellowships, or by hourly employment.

Admission to the graduate program in the Department of Biology does not guarantee financial support. However, the Department of Biology will not normally accept a student without department support.

The following awards are available:

Fellowships

• President's Research Fellowship ($15,000)

  • The Graduate Programs Committee recommends one candidate for the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies' approval. Criteria include: academic and research potential, grade point average, GRE, and letters of recommendation.

• Vice-President for Research Fellowship ($15,000)

  • The Graduate Programs Committee recommends one candidate for the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies' approval. Criteria include: academic and research potential, grade point average, GRE, and letters of recommendation.
     

• Willard L. Eccles Foundation Science Fellowship ($22,000/per year for three years)

  • The Graduate Programs Committee nominates 2-3 candidates each year. One candidate is chosen from the College of Science each year. Selection criteria include: grade point average, GRE score, letters of recommendation, and evidence of strong academic and research potential in the discipline.

• USU Diversity Fellowship in Science and Engineering ($22,000/per year for two years plus $500 for travel/equipment)

  • This fellowship is jointly administered by the School of Graduate Studies, the College of Engineering, and the College of Science. Biology candidates are nominated by the Graduate Programs Committee. The award includes an annual stipend, full tuition remission, and a travel/equipment grant. Criteria include: academic and research potential, grade point average, GRE, and letters of recommendation.

Research Assistantships

• Research Assistantships are available from the grants of major professors.

• Research Assistantships are awarded by the individual faculty members. Contact faculty members in your area of interest for additional information.

Teaching Assistantships

• Annual Contract Teaching Assistantships

  • Teaching Assistantships are awarded competitively and competition is keen. All students admitted under matriculated status will be considered for a teaching assistantship.

  • Teaching Assistantship contracts are for one year only (Fall and Spring semesters) and require reapplication each year. Students making satisfactory progress are normally appointed for 2-3 years for the MS degree or 4-5 for the PhD.

  • Current academic year (9 months) wages: $1,500 per month for Master's students and $1,666 per month for PhD students. A full-time assignment equals 20 hours per week.

  • Teaching Assistants will be required to sign a contract upon acceptance of the position. The contract will be sent to the applicant with notification of the award.

  • Teaching Assistants are required to attend the Teaching Assistant Workshop in the Graduate School AND the Biology Department Teaching Workshop before beginning their initial assignment.

• Semester Teaching Assistantships

  • Semester teaching assistantships are assigned by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies and are approved by the Department Head.

  • Semester teaching assistantships are awarded for one semester at a time. 

  • Very few semester teaching assistantships are available. Semester teaching assistantships are awarded based on departmental need, student's time in the program, student's progress, student's teaching evaluations, instructor preference, and special circumstances.

  • Teaching assistants are required to attend a Teaching Assistant Workshop before beginning their assignment.

• Summer Term Assistantships

  • A limited number of summer term teaching assistantships are available.

  • Summer term teaching assistantships are assigned by the Coordinator of Graduate Studies and are approved by the Department Head. 

  • Summer Term teaching assistantships are awarded based on departmental need, student's preference, and special circumstances.

  • Summer term stipends are $4,267 for Master's students and $4,470 for PhD students. A full-time assignment equals 20 hours per week for the 8-week term.

Remissions, In-State Tuition Grants, Nonresident Tuition Waivers

The “Tuition Waiver/Remission Request Form” must be completed, signed, and submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies for approval prior to 1 June each year. A student will not receive a nonresident tuition waiver or instate tuition remission unless an approved “Tuition Waiver/Remission Request Form” is submitted by the deadline.  A student admitted after the deadline will be given sufficient time to submit a request form.

To qualify for remissions, tuition grants, or tuition waivers a student must also have an approved “Program of Study” on file by the end of their second term for MS students, or by the end of their third term for PhD students.

Doctorial Tuition Remission

• Doctoral students meeting criteria may receive a tuition remission.  A tuition remission waives the in-state portion of tuition.  A remission may be combined with an out-of-state tuition waiver for nonresident students.  In addition to meeting other criteria, students must be registered full-time and be on a fellowship or assistantship to qualify.  Students are responsible for fees each semester.

Master's In-State Tuition Grants

• Master's meeting criteria may receive an in-state tuition grant.  An in-state tuition grant waives the in-state portion of tuition.  A grant may be combined with an out-of-state tuition waiver for nonresident students.  In addition to meeting other criteria, students must be registered full-time and be on a fellowship or assistantship to qualify.  MS Students below 30 total credits are given preference. Grant recipients are nominated by the Graduate Programs Committee. Students are responsible for fees each semester.

Nonresident Tuition Waivers

• When funds are available and when the student meets the criteria, tuition waivers for the out-of-state portion of tuition are usually awarded to non-resident students who receive fellowships or assistantships. Out-of-state tuition waivers are approved by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.

• In addition to the out-of-state tuition waivers, the department may have up to 4 semesters of in-state tuition waivers to award to new or current students during the academic year. The Graduate Programs Committee recommends students for these waivers; final approval is made by the Dean of the School of Graduate Studies.