Fellowships, Assistantships, and Awards
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Join a community of scholars and researchers working together to solve pressing global problems. We are accepting applications for the 2021-2022 academic year.
We are committed to recruiting the very best PhD students and preparing doctoral students for career success. UB features:
- World-class faculty experts mentor PhD students in a dynamic research and learning environment. Students can focus on their research and scholarship alongside renowned faculty while preparing for the careers and professions that await them after graduation.
- A city on the rise. Buffalo, N.Y. offers affordable housing, arts, culture and community. Learn more about Buffalo.
Incoming Graduate Students
PhD Funding Opportunities
- Academic year stipends of $20,000 for all full-time, funded PhD students on 10-month academic teaching assistant, research assistant or graduate assistant appointments.
- UB’s stipend levels are among the top five of public Association of American Universities (AAU) member institutions.
- Additional Fellowship Opportunities:
- Arthur A. Schomburg Fellowship Program: Offers support for students in doctoral programs across the university who can demonstrate that they would contribute to the diversity of the student body, especially those who can demonstrate that they have overcome a disadvantage or other impediment to success in higher education.
- Presidential Fellowships: To be eligible for Presidential Fellowships, candidates must meet the criteria listed on the Presidential Fellowship page. Both domestic and international students are eligible, if they meet these criteria. For any questions regarding funding for a specific academic year, contact the director of graduate studies or department chair.
Other Funding Opportunities
Graduate Teaching Assistant Positions
All incoming PhD students are awarded TA positions. These positions are renewed as long as students make satisfactory progress toward the degree. Incoming MS students are invited to apply for TA positions the summer before enrolling.
Tuition Scholarship
All incoming PhD students are awarded a tuition scholarship that covers tuition but not fees.
University Fellowships
The Biological Sciences admissions committee nominates outstanding PhD applicants for the University Presidential and Dean’s Fellowships. Outstanding PhD applicants are nominated for the Schomburg Fellowship. Applications must be received by January 20 to be considered for these fellowships.
Graduate Opportunity Program
The Graduate Opportunity Program (GOP) provides tuition scholarships to graduates of one of the following programs in New York State: Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), Higher Education Opportunity Program (HEOP), and CUNY Search for Education, Elevation and Knowledge (SEEK) programs
Current Graduate Students
We support our PhD students as long as they make satisfactory progress towards their degree. Advanced PhD students are often funded as research assistants through their advisor’s research grant. Others serve as teaching assistants. Additional support for research and travel is available to our students through Department and University Sources.
Mark Diamond Research Fund
This fund provides grants to graduate students for research expenses related to their thesis or dissertation.
College of Arts and Sciences Dissertation Fellowship
Dissertation Fellowships in the amount of $6,000 are available to assist advanced doctoral students in completing their dissertations.
Paul Pizzella and Marta Ayala Award in Biological Sciences
In July, 2012, Dr. Paul Pizzella and his wife Marta Ayala created the Pizzella award to codify their commitment and willingness to provide graduate students in the Department of Biological Sciences with financial support to enhance their educational opportunities in pursuing the Ph.D. degree. Through this award the Department of Biological Sciences offers funding to doctoral students who wish to:
- Present scholarly works at international conferences
- Attend workshops or short-term “sabbaticals” to learn essential laboratory techniques for a doctoral thesis project at a laboratory outside of the Western New York area.
The department recognizes these activities to be important for the professional development of graduate students pursuing the Ph.D. degree. Funded amounts will be determined based on the distance, receipt of prior support through this program, and any other current support. Awards are limited to $2000 per request.
To apply, interested graduate students must be in good standing in the Department, and be in their third year of research study or beyond.
Applications are due annually, June 1, for activities taking place in the period starting March 15 of the application year, through March 14 of the following calendar year.
The Graduate Affairs Committee is responsible for reviewing the applications and selecting recipients.
Past Recipients
2017
Rupkatha Banerjee (Gunawardena lab), to present research at the Annual Drosophila Research Conference, San Diego, CA
Richoo Davis (Yu lab), to present research at the American Society for Cell Biology Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, PA
Debarghya Dutta Banik (Medler lab), to present research at the Association for Chemoreception Sciences,Bonita Springs, FL
2016
Sukanya Basu (Cullen lab), to attend the “Cell Biology of Cancer Doorstep”, American Society of Cell Biology, San Francisco, CA
Dolonchapa Chakraborty (Koudelka lab), to present research at the American Society of Microbiology in Boston, MA
2015
Dolonchapa Chakraborty (Koudelka lab), to present research at the American Society of Microbiology in New Orleans, LA
Ashleigh Hanner (Rusche lab), to present research at the Abcam Chromatin meeting on Grand Cayman Island
Daniel Samorodnitsky (Koudelka lab), to present research at the Proteins Gordon Research Conference in Holderness, NH
2014
Hema Adhikari (Cullen lab), to present research at the Yeast Cell Biology Meeting in Cold Spring Harbor, NY
Pradeep Yerramsetty (Berry lab), to present research at the New Phytologist Symposium, Tahoe City, CA
2013
Yang Yang (Xu-Friedman lab), to learn the nucleated patch technique in Göttingen, Germany
Darrell Doyle Travel Award
Dr. Darrell Doyle served as professor and Chair of the Biological Sciences department from 1983 -1992. He was an invaluable colleague, leader, researcher, teacher, and mentor. Dr. Doyle was an enthusiastic supporter, motivator and mentor of Biological Sciences graduate students. To continue that legacy of graduate student support, the Darrell Doyle Travel Award is awarded to the three best platform presentations and to the three best student presentations at the Annual Departmental Research Symposium. Donations to support the Darrell Doyle Travel Award Fund can be made here.
Contact us for further information on graduate financial aid.