Integrative Biology Graduate Program Handbook-Funding and Financial Information
Funding and Financial Information
- Funding and Financial Information
Overview: Funding Landscape
Many MS and PhD graduate students in our department are funded during at least part of their graduate study with an appointment of 33% or higher as teaching assistants (10 year average approx. 43%). Many also serve as research assistants (approx. 31%), receive competitive fellowships from federal or internal sources (12%) or are funded as trainees or project assistants. Nearly 100% of our students are funded for the 1st 4 years of training.
We guarantee all incoming PhD students 5-years of support usually itsa teaching assistant appointments.
During the summer, the graduate student should be supported financially by their advisor many students are funded as research assistants. A few are funded as teaching assistants. Students in the Integrative Biology Graduate Program can apply for summer research awards these are limited funds available through the Department of Integrative Biology https://integrativebiology.wisc.edu/graduate-student-scholarships/. Funding for international students and domestic students is the same.
The Department’s payroll and benefits specialist, Javiera Derks javiera.derks@wisc.edu should be contacted with questions about funding.
Information on Guaranteed FundingÂ
Students should contact their advisor to get more detailed information on their appointment for the upcoming year. The advisor will make decisions depending upon available funds.
Finding Funding Without Guaranteed AppointmentÂ
If you do not have a (guaranteed) appointment and are looking for funding to support your graduate studies, the Graduate School provides information at https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/ Graduate Assistantships (Teaching (TA), Project (PA), Research (RA), Lecturer positions (SA))
Process for Awarding Graduate AssistantshipsÂ
Graduate teaching assistantships (TAs) are guaranteed for 5 years for PhD students, and (TAs) are available for MS students as well, the amount guaranteed is stated on their offer letter.
Graduate research assistantships (RAs) are typically funded by grants received by faculty in the department.
TA Responsibilities and Requirements
- TAs are salaried employees.
- TAs 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 24 instructor of record.
- TAs report to the instructor(s) of record of the course they are assigned.
- TAs are evaluated by students at the end of each semester.
- Each semester, TAs are required to go through necessary training during the welcome week to understand the teaching landscape. Activities also opportunities for being a part of the TA community.
- TAs whose native language is not English are required to take SPEAK Test. Academic Program Director schedules the test for them.
To hold a teaching assistant appointment, you must enroll in classes. If you do not have to maintain full time status, minimum enrollment for TAs is 2 credits (3 credits for dissertators) during the fall and spring semesters. If you have be full time due to loan deferment or immigration status, etc. non-dissertator TAs with at least 33.33% must be enrolled for 6 credits, or those who hold an appointment of at least 50% must be enrolled for 4 credits. Dissertator TAs are considered full-time with 3 credits directly related to their dissertation. Maximum enrollment for PAs and TAs is 15 credits during the fall and spring semesters. All courses graduate students enroll must be 300-level or above and graded. For comprehensive information please see https://grad.wisc.edu/acadpolicy/?policy=enrollmentrequirements.
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.
TA and PA Collective Bargaining
A contract between the state and the Teaching Assistant's Association covering TAs and PAs is no longer in force; however, the university is continuing to use the terms of the contract until final university policies are adopted. Since the TAA no longer represents TAs and PAs, sections of the contract referring to “union” rights and responsibilities are no longer in effect. TAs and PAs can find policies in the contract related to: grievance procedures; appointments; orientation, training, and evaluation; non-discrimination; termination; health and safety; and benefits, including sick leave, vacation, and leave of absence. http://taa-madison.org/
Stipend Levels and Paychecks
The RA and TA stipend rates are set by L&S and can be different for different departments. Current rates for TAs, PAs, RAs and LSAs can be found on the website for the Office of Human Resources: https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/graduate-assistantships/
RAs can never hold more than a 50% RA appointment but domestic students can have concurrent appointments of TA and/or PA up to 75% as per Graduate School policy. International students can only hold 50% appointments.
Graduate assistants are paid on a monthly basis and stipends are usually deposited directly into student’s bank accounts. You can authorize direct deposit by following the instructions on HR’s site (https://hr.wisc.edu/pay/direct-deposit/). If you have any questions please contact Javiera Derks the department’s payroll and benefits specialists.
Tuition Remission and Payment of Segregated Fees
TAs, PAs, RA, and Lecturers (Students Assistants) with appointments of 33.3% or higher (approximately 13 hrs/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 University Fee(s) describes charges in addition to instructional fees assessed to all students for services, programs and facilities that support the primary mission of the university. Segregated and other fee information can be found at https://bursar.wisc.edu/tuition-and-fees. These fees are reduced once a student attains dissertator status.
Health Insurance Benefits
TAs, PAs, RAs, and Lecturers (Student Assistants) with appointments of 33.3% or higher (approximately 13 hrs/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 at https://hr.wisc.edu/benefits/. Current monthly premiums can be found at https://www.wisconsin.edu/ohrwd/benefits/premiums/. Questions about health insurance and other benefits can be directed to Javiera Derks (javiera.derks@wisc.edu).
Maximum Appointment Levels
The Graduate School sets the maximum levels of graduate assistantship appointments. International students should be especially aware of maximum levels of employment. For more information on these policies, please visit https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/maximum-levels-of- appointments/.
Enrollment Requirements for Graduate Assistants
Students with graduate assistantships must be enrolled appropriately. Detailed information about enrollment requirements can be found in the Graduate School’s academic policies at https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/enrollment-requirements/.
Fellowships
There are many different 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.
Graduate School Fellowships
The Graduate School administers a number of different fellowships on campus and resources to f, including: the University Fellowships, Chancellor’s Fellowships, Mellon-Wisconsin Fellowships, the Dickie Fellowships, and a variety of external fellowships https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/fellowships/ (scroll down). 26 There are many different 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.
Departmental/Campus Fellowships
The Department of Integrative Biology has several funds that are used to support graduate student researchhttps://integrativebiology.wisc.edu/graduate-student-scholarships/. Proposals are evaluated annually, with a deadline of 1 March. Funds can be requested for research expenditures, travel expenses for research, and stipend support. Funds to support travel to meetings are available as John Jefferson Davis Travel Awards, which are applied for separately. 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 both summer and can be granted 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.
The funds that support our graduate students
- John Jefferson Davis Fund - The Davis fund supports graduate research by providing money for travel to meetings and seminars. (Note that JJD Travel Funds for meetings have a separate application.)
- Rita and Kenneth Hoots Graduate Student Scholarship - This scholarship was established to assist graduate students within the Department of 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.
External Funding/Fellowships
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). The Graduate School supports selected federal/private fellowships through the provision of tuition support and health insurance, list at https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/fellowships/.
The Graduate School also provides remission of the non-resident portion of students’ tuition (if applicable) to students who win external fellowships that are payrolled through the university and provide an academic year (9- month) stipend or an annual year (12-month) stipend.
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. Questions on external fellowships can be directed to the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Funding. https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/fellowships/
The following are some sources of information on external funding:
- Major external fellowships: https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/external-fellowship- database/
- The Grants Information Collection (GIC) on the 2nd Floor of Memorial Library https://www.library.wisc.edu/memorial/collections/grants-information-collection/
The GIC is a great collection of print and on-line resources to help students find external fellowships and scholarships. You can learn how to set up a personalized profile on several on-line funding databases, and get regular notices of relevant funding opportunities. PLEASE REMEMBER: 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.
Once you find a fellowship, scholarship, or award to which you want to apply, consider contacting the Writing Center (https://writing.wisc.edu/). The Writing Center staff can provide valuable advice on crafting your application.
A student’s advisory committee can also be a good source of information about funding opportunities.
Fellows with Concurrent Appointments
Students with fellowships payrolled through the university may hold concurrent graduate assistantships and/or student hourly appointments (current information available here https://grad.wisc.edu/documents/maximum-levels-of-appointments/). Concurrent appointment policies will vary across external agencies, so please be sure to review the terms and conditions for your award. If you have any questions about concurrent work along with your fellowship, please feel free to contact the Office of Fellowships and Funding Resources.
Funding for Study Abroad
The Institute for Regional and International Studies provides information about opportunities for international research, grants, scholarships and other funding.
Funding for Conference/Research TravelÂ
Loans
John Jefferson Davis Travel Awards are available from the Department of Biology This Fund provides support for graduate student travel to meetings. 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 national (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. For travel for research purposes, including field courses and visits to other institutions, applications should be made for a Graduate Research Grant; JJD Travel Awards are limited to 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).
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.
The Graduate School also provides a limited amount of funding for dissertators and final year MFA students whose research has been accepted for presentation at a conference. For more information about this funding, visit https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/grants-competition/.
In addition, the Graduate School runs the Travel Research Grants competition which provides funds to support travel related to your dissertation/thesis research. Students must be dissertators or final-year MFA students. For more information about this funding, visit https://grad.wisc.edu/funding/grants-competition/.
The Office of Student Financial Aid (OSFA) (https://financialaid.wisc.edu/) 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.