Freshwater and Marine Sciences Graduate Program Handbook-Funding Information and Resources
“Funding” refers to the financial support available to help students cover some or all of the costs of graduate education. Funding opportunities vary by program in type, amount, duration, and level of guarantee. There is a long tradition and expectation that students in the FMS program will be supported throughout their graduate studies. This may be achieved by appointments as teaching assistants (TAs, typically in the advisor’s home department), research assistants (RAs), traineeships, or through competitive fellowships from federal or internal sources. In rare cases, students may serve as project assistants. The high rate of student support has largely been possible because of the strength of FMS faculty and their ability to obtain research support, usually from state and federal agencies. Research funding can be ephemeral, however. If RA funding is threatened, FMS faculty will pursue all possible options to ensure continued support.
Guaranteed Funding
All FMS graduate students receive a funding commitment. PhD students are guaranteed five years of funding, and MS students are guaranteed two years of funding. This funding commitment includes a stipend, eligibility for comprehensive health care coverage, and full remission of tuition. The type of support you receive (e.g. RA or TA) may change over the course of your graduate career, but under this funding commitment you will be funded at least at the level of 50%. Students are encouraged to discuss their appointment(s) for the year with their advisor, as the advisor makes appointment decisions depending on available funds.
During the summer, the graduate student should be supported financially by their advisor, with many students funded as RAs. Few are funded as TAs.
Teaching Assistantships (TAs)
TAs are salaried employees that assist courses in many ways. They are instructors in lab or discussion sections of courses. They may need to attend lectures of a course; they are required to hold office hours and attend weekly meetings with the course instructor of record. TAs report to the instructor(s) of record of the course they are assigned. They are expected to attend training every semester to understand the teaching landscape. TAs are evaluated by students at the end of each semester. TAs whose native language is not English are required to take SPEAK Test. Department of Biology Academic Program Director Nazan Gillie (atilla@wisc.edu) schedules the test for them. Students are expected to apply for a position each semester they expect to be supported by a TAship and are encouraged to contact the Graduate Program Manager with any questions.
The Department of Biology works with teaching assistants to help them reach their full potential as instructors. If the faculty instructor or the coordinators see problems with the TA performance, these will be addressed after the TA evaluations. TAs will receive support and feedback to improve their performance. Well performing TAs are valuable assets to our department and we will reward their hard work with rehiring and award nominations.
TAs are required to enroll in classes according to the Graduate School’s Enrollment Requirements.
TA appointments in our program are often managed by the Department of Biology and paid biweekly. The TA stipend rate is set by the College of Letters & Science. For the 2026-2027 academic year, a 9-month 50% TA salary is $30,614. Students can find comprehensive policies covering TAs in Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures (GAPP). For questions related to payroll and benefits, TAs should contact biohr@biology.wisc.edu.
Research Assistantships
RAs are salaried employees that conduct activities primarily for the benefit of the individual’s course of study and research and applicable to the individual’s thesis or dissertation. RAs report to their faculty advisors. RAs are required to enroll in classes according to the Graduate School’s Enrollment Requirements.
RA appointments in our program are managed by the faculty advisor’s home department and paid biweekly. The RA stipend rate is set by the FMS Graduate Program. For the 2026-2027 academic year, a 12-month 50% RA salary is $40,819. Students can find comprehensive policies covering RAs in Graduate Assistantship Policies and Procedures (GAPP). For questions related to payroll and benefits, RAs should contact the HR Generalist for their faculty advisor’s home department. For students whose faculty advisor is in the Department of Biology, contact biohr@biology.wisc.edu.
Fellowships
There are many kinds of fellowships on campus. Some are awarded by the program, some are awarded by the School/College, and still others are awarded by the Graduate School. In addition, a number of students have applied for and won fellowships from federal agencies, professional organizations, and private foundations. The terms and conditions of fellowships across campus vary widely. If you have a fellowship, make sure you understand the obligations and benefits of that fellowship, including stipend, health insurance eligibility, eligibility for tuition remission, pay schedule, etc.
Tuition Remission and Payment of Segregated Fees
TAs, PAs, RA, and Lecturers (Students Assistants) with appointments of 33% or higher (approximately 13 hours/week) receive remission of their full tuition (in- and out-of-state, as applicable). Students with these appointments are still responsible for paying segregated fees. The term segregated fees describes charges in addition to tuition assessed to all students for services, programs and facilities that support the primary mission of the university. These fees are reduced once a student attains dissertator status.
Securing Health Insurance Coverage
TAs, PAs, RAs, and Lecturers (Student Assistants) with appointments of 33% or higher (approximately 13 hours/week) for at least the length of a semester are eligible to enroll in a health insurance program. Information about health insurance options can be found on the Human Resources website. Questions about health insurance and other benefits can be directed to the HR Generalist for your appointment department. For TAs and RAs with appointments in the Department of Biology, contact biohr@biology.wisc.edu.
Graduate students without an assistantship or fellowship who are currently enrolled can use the University Health Services (UHS) campus health clinic. Many services are provided at no extra cost, including outpatient medical care during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. UHS is located in the Student Services Tower at 333 East Campus Mall.
Prescription medications, emergency room visits and hospitalization are not included in UHS benefits. Therefore, supplemental insurance covering these drugs and services is recommended for all students and is required for international students. The UHS Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP) is an excellent option for many students.
Finding Funding without a Guaranteed Appointment
Campus-Wide and External Sources
To help you find resources to pay for costs related to graduate education, the Graduate School provides a comprehensive overview of the funding process on campus as well as descriptions of the types of funding available, sources of funding, minimum stipend rates and benefits, and links to applicable human resources policies (e.g. GAPP) at the Funding and Awards page.
See the Graduate School's Fellowships page, including the Funding Forward program from the Graduate School that equips and empowers graduate students to compete for external fellowships, for information and resources about fellowships (another source of financial support for graduate study).
We encourage all students to seek out and apply for funding from sources external to the university (e.g., federal agencies, professional organizations, private foundations). Please keep in mind that the timetable for identifying, applying for and receiving such external funding is generally quite long; plan on 9-12 months between the time you start your search and the time you may receive funding.
The Graduate School supports selected federal/private fellowships through the provision of tuition support and health insurance. Students should be aware that fellowships and awards from external sources will each have unique terms and conditions that you should take time to understand.
Loans
The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) assists graduate students whose personal and family resources are not adequate to cover the expenses involved in attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The office also provides counseling to help students manage their money effectively, information on other potential sources of financial assistance (such as employment), debt management counseling, and small short-term loans for emergency situations.
In Our Program/Department
Funds for student research
FMS students can apply for summer research support through the Anna Grant Birge competition administered through the Center for Limnology, as well as other small grant opportunities that may be administered through an advisor’s department. The Department of Biology has several funds that are used to support graduate student research. Proposals are evaluated annually, with a deadline of March 1st. Funds can be requested for research expenditures, travel expenses for research, and stipend support. The typical grants for research expenses and travel do not exceed $3,500, although requests should be made for the funds needed regardless of the amount. Stipend
support can be requested separately or in conjunction with funds for research expenses and travel. Stipend support can cover summer salary up to the level of RA support. Given the value of stipends, applications from students must provide compelling justification, and the letter from the advisor must explicitly address the request in the context of other funding sources that are available. Given the limited funds available, the Awards Committee tries to use funds to foster independent graduate research. The most successful proposals have both strong scientific merit and compelling justification for how funds will impact the graduate student’s research. Applicants must either be graduate students in the Department of Biology or have a faculty advisor with at least a 50%-time appointment in Biology.
- Rita and Kenneth Hoots Graduate Student Scholarship - This scholarship was established to assist graduate students within the Department of Integrative Biology who have financial need.
- Dr. Stanley Weinreb and Dr. Eva Lurie Weinreb Graduate Student Fellowship - The fellowship are for candidates whose research is primarily in the areas of cell biology and anatomy with the emphasis on structure (ultrastructure) and function of the cell utilizing the tools of microscopy.
- N. Netzer and B. Netzer Brouchoud Fund - N. Netzer and B. Netzer Brouchoud were interested in birds, and this fund specifically supports research on wild bird populations.
- William C. Burns and Lemuel A. Fraser Teaching Enrichment Scholarship - This scholarship was established to aid the Department of Integrative Biology in its support of graduate teaching assistants.
Funds for conference/meeting travel
John Jefferson Davis Travel Awards are available from the Department of Biology. This fund provides support for graduate student travel to meetings, seminars, and conferences. Requests for travel support are considered by the Awards Committee twice a year, with application deadlines of April 1 and October 1. Typically, the awards are limited to $900 for domestic (USA, Canada) and $1200 for international travel, and funds are only awarded once to the same individual per year. Applicants are generally expected to give a paper or poster at meetings. Although discouraged, funds may be requested after expenses are incurred, within 3 months following a meeting. Finally, we encourage group requests (e.g., for a university vehicle).
A student’s advisory committee can also be a good source of information about funding opportunities.