Graduate Programs

Financial Assistance

A number of sources for fellowship support for particularly well-qualified students exist. Several federal agencies (e. g. National Science Foundation, Department of Defense) have competitive programs which usually require application early in the first-year of study. Various private institutions also fund fellowships, often in specific research areas. The University Graduate School, in addition to supplemental fellowships for entering students, sponsors a limited number of fellowships for advanced students. The Chemistry Department also awards annually several fellowships for advanced students, usually under the sponsorship of an industrial company. These may be either full fellowships or of the partial or supplemental type. Students will automatically be considered for departmental awards and the Chemistry Graduate Office will bring information concerning outside fellowships to the attention of qualified individuals whenever possible. The Chemistry Graduate Office will assist students with applications insofar as possible.

Most entering prospective Ph.D. students will be granted some form of financial support. If the recipient remains in good standing in the University Graduate School, this support will normally be continued. However, this is a limited commitment and only in special cases does support extend beyond a maximum of four semesters for M.S. candidates and eight semesters for Ph.D. candidates (Summers excluded). Financial assistance will generally be in one of the following three forms: (a) Associate Instructorship, (b) Research Assistantship, or (c) Fellowship or Traineeship.

Associate Instructorship

An associate instructorship not only pays the major initial cost of a student's education but also gives the individual experience in leadership and training in the fundamentals of chemistry. All Ph.D. candidates are thus expected to teach, at least part-time, for two semesters. Most associate instructorships are half-time appointments, requiring 8-10 contact hours or 12-15 hours of service (including preparation) per week. Entering students are offered financial assistance at slightly different levels, depending upon their undergraduate records and recommendations. Most students serve as associate instructors during their first two or three semesters of graduate work and are then transferred to research assistantships.

Research Assistantship

Research assistantships are awarded on the basis of good academic standing, experience, and the interest of recipients in research problems for which assistantship funds are available. Stipends are generally comparable to those of associate instructorships. Research assistants may work on their own research with the consent of their research advisor. Under certain circumstances a student may receive a research assistantship for work with a professor who is not his or her thesis advisor or a research problem which will not apply toward his or her thesis. In all cases, the specific terms of a research assistantship are decided upon recommendation of the individual faculty members responsible for the funds involved.

Fellowships

Women in Science Graduate Fellowship

Chancellor's Minority Fellowship

Dean's Minority Fellowship

McNair Graduate Fellowship

MEDIC-B Graduate Fellowship

Educational Opportunity Fellowship

National Fellowships

These fellowships are listed under the month applications are due.

Additional Fellowships

A number of other sources for fellowship support for particular well-qualified students exist. Several federal agencies have competitive programs which usually require application early in their first-year of study. The University Graduate School, in addition to supplemental fellowships for entering students, sponsors a limited number of fellowships for advanced students. The Chemistry Department also awards annually several fellowships for advanced students, usually under the sponsorship of an industrial company. These may be either full fellowships or of the partial or supplemental type. Students will automatically be considered for departmental awards and the Chemistry Graduate Office will bring information concerning outside fellowships to the attention of qualified individuals whenever possible. The Chemistry Graduate Office will assist students with application insofar as possible.