A few graduate student stipends are available from the Office of Graduate Studies, the Department, and individual research grants in the department. These awards are competitive, based on grade point average, GRE scores, past academic and research experience, and commitment to science.
Office of Graduate Studies
Graduate Assistant, Teaching (GAT) or Non-Teaching (GANT) - restricted to students enrolled for the first time as graduate students at Texas A&M University. Effective September 1 through May 31 or August 31. Nominations are requested in the month of February preceding the Fall Semester of intended enrollment. Nominees should have completed applications (including GRE scores) by March 1.
Merit Fellowships and Minority Merit Fellowships - restricted to students enrolled for the first time as graduate students at Texas A&M University. These funds are effective September 1 through August 31 for 24, 36, or 48 months. Completed applications (including GRE scores) must be received at Texas A&M University by March 1, preceding the Fall Semester of intended enrollment. Students must have been admitted to an authorized degree program by this date.
Department
The Department offers a small number of GAT and GANT stipends which are 9- or 12-month appointments. In addition, Veterinary Clinical Associateships (VCAs) are offered to qualified graduate students holding the D.V.M./V.M.D. degree. Contact the Department Head for information. Fellowships are also available for the various interdisciplinary programs on campus (Molecular and Cell Biology, Genetics, Toxicology, etc.). Consult the directors of these programs for current details.
Individual Research Grants
Researchers within the Department receive substantial funding from the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Defense, private foundations, and private industry. Funds from these grants and contracts support many of the graduate students in the Department. For information, contact the Department Head or Graduate Advisor.
Competitive Graduate Student Fellowships
Ph.D. candidates who receive stipends directly from the Department (as opposed to funds from grants or University fellowships) are expected to document good-faith effort to secure an alternative extramural source of funding. Such students should work with their major professor to obtain grants that include budgeting for graduate student support. Students should also apply to the student support programs of NIH, NSF, foundations, and other such sources. These efforts should begin as soon as the major professor is selected, but in no case should they be delayed beyond the second semester. Renewal of stipend support beyond the first year will be influenced by the level of effort the student and the major professor make toward securing outside funding. The paid teaching duties will be reduced proportionately to the level of outside support that is secured.
