Master of Science
Research Assistantships

Each year, the Department of Biological Sciences awards a Research Assistantship. This assistantship is designed to give a graduate student additional time to work on some aspect of their thesis research (e.g., field or lab work, data analysis, or writing). To that end, the recipient(s) of the Research Assistantship receive the same stipend as other teaching assistants, but teach fewer labs (i.e., four fewer contact hours of laboratory teaching each semester). The duration of the award (one or two semesters) is at the discretion of the Graduate Affairs Committee.

To qualify for a Research Assistantship, a graduate student must:

• be a Teaching Assistant (part-time instructors cannot be awarded a Research Assistantship)
• be at least in their second semester of graduate work at the time of application
• submit a complete application to the Graduate Affairs Committee

A complete application includes:

• a completed application form (forms can be also obtained from the Graduate Coordinator; a Word version is also available)
• a statement of progress from the thesis advisor
• a copy of the thesis proposal
• a current curriculum vita

Completed applications are due by 1 April, and should be submitted to Gary Ritchison (Moore 237). Applicants (and their advisor) may be asked to meet with the Graduate Affairs Committee.