First-Year Financial Support
During the first academic year in the graduate program, students are fully supported through Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) with the Interdisciplinary Life Sciences (ILS) Graduate Programs. This provides an annual stipend at the rate of $40,000/year ($3,333/month), full tuition and fees for full-time enrollment, and access to university health insurance.
Continuing Student Support
Beginning in the summer after the first year, students must select a faculty advisor and are responsible for joining a permanent lab to ensure continued funding. Financial support is then coordinated with the permanent laboratory and may take the form of research assistantships, teaching appointments, or university fellowships. Continuing students receive a level of support that is consistent with the first-year stipend rate and benefits.
Continuing students are also eligible for competitive university and external fellowships that are awarded on the basis of teaching performance or academic excellence. Funding for travel to professional conferences and professional development is also available.
Please review the Graduate Program Handbooks for additional information about graduate student stipends and academic employment.
Resources for Academic Employees
Student employed as Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) or Teaching Assistants (TAs) may find information about policies and benefits via the UT Human Resources website and the Resources page.
Fellowship Opportunities
A number of both internal UT fellowships and external fellowships are available for graduate students pursuing a doctoral degree at UT Austin. Many university awards are based on nominations from the graduate programs.
MBS Committee Bridge Grants (for new students experiencing financial hardship)
UT Austin Graduate School Fellowships
ConTex-CONACYT Doctoral Fellowships
Resources for Graduate Student Fellows
Fellowship recipients may find practical information related to their awards via the UT Austin Graduate School website and the Resources page.
Interdisciplinary life sciences graduate programs Excellence Fellowship
The Interdisciplinary Life Sciences Graduate Programs Excellence Fellowship is for matriculated students who have achieved high academic merit, as evidenced by the receipt of prestigious external fellowships. Students who receive this fellowship will be awarded a single award of $1,000.
Any matriculated student who receives a prestigious external fellowship is eligible and may be considered to win this fellowship without additional application.
Eligible students may contact Justine Meccio, the Graduate Program Administrator, with questions and for more information.
Recent Fellowship Announcements:
2022-23 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program REcipients
Awardees:
- Brianna Flynn, Cell and Molecular Biology, Narasimhan Lab
- Olivia Smith, Cell and Molecular Biology, Narasimhan Lab
- Antonio Cordova, Biochemistry, Contreras Lab
- Jacquelyn Wright, Biochemistry, Taylor Lab
- Valeria Garcia, Biochemistry, Lu Lab
Honorable Mentions:
- Ryan McCool, Biochemistry, McLellan Lab
- Laila Philips, Microbiology, Moran Lab
- Kendra MacLaine, Cell and Molecular Biology, Havird Lab
