Ph.D. Student Financial Support

Most PhD students are supported throughout the year (including summer) by teaching and research assistantships. TAs and RAs receive a competitive salary, a full tuition waiver, and a comprehensive medical/dental/vision plan (free to the student; 50% premium for dependents). A modest student activities fee is paid by students each quarter.

Teaching Assistantships

New graduate students are awarded teaching assistantships. These offer students an opportunity to gain teaching experience at the college level, to sharpen their understanding of fundamental chemical concepts, and to practice presenting technical material to a group. Graduate students often find teaching to be among the most meaningful experiences of their doctoral training.

Research Assistantships

Funds for research assistantships come from research grants awarded to individual faculty members and provide support for research in defined areas. Graduate students are often appointed to a research assistantship after formal acceptance into a research group.

Independent Fellowships

Some graduate students are independently awarded fellowships from funding agencies, such as the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF GRFP). For students who are applying to the NSF GRFP, the Department of Chemistry offers a writing course with feedback from peers and faculty mentors.

Predoctoral Instructors

Students who have demonstrated outstanding teaching ability may be offered the opportunity to have complete responsibility for an undergraduate course, with a concomitant increase in salary. This may be of special interest to students considering an academic career.

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