Sources of Funding

Assistantships

The typical CB student has a Graduate Assistant position – either as a Research Assistant (RA) or as a Teaching Assistant (TA). The pay range for Graduate Assistants varies by department but is typically $15,000 to $18,500/year for a 50% appointment. In addition, Graduate Assistants receive comprehensive health and dental insurance and are eligible for tuition benefits—a 50% assistantship (20 hours/week) results in a 100% tuition waiver. Out-of-state residents who have worked 2 semesters as a graduate assistant are eligible to receive a maximum of 4 semesters of resident tuition rate once they no longer are graduate assistants.

UM Fellowships

A few first-year and fourth-year CB students are nominated each year for University of Minnesota Graduate Fellowships . Recipients of this fellowship receive a $21,000 stipend comparable to a 50% assistantship for the academic year, full tuition, and comprehensive health insurance and dental care. The Graduate School also offers several endowed fellowships. Deadlines and forms for application are on the Grad School web page at www.grad.umn.edu/fellowships/. The MacArthur Program also offers fellowships for both incoming and current graduate students. See their web site at www.icgc.umn.edu/Fellowships/fellowover.htm.

CB Summer Fellowships

The Conservation Biology Graduate Program usually makes 4 awards for graduate student summer support. The priority for these awards is students who are in the early stages of their research – in the first two years of their programs. Each award will be $7,000 for summer salary (based on an hourly rate with no tuition).  These fellowships are intended for students to launch their research, making them more competitive for other support.
 

Process:  The DGS makes announcement for the fellowships on the first week of March and request proposals to be submitted by third week of March. Proposals are then send out for review by the faculty and decisions are made by first week of April.


Eligibility: Conservation Biology students in the first two years of his/her program, who are in good academic standing, have an approved degree program, and have met with their advisory committee within the past year are eligible. First-year students are eligible if they submit programs and receive preliminary approval by the proposal due date. Students cannot be supported by another fellowship or assistantship that covers summer salary while on this award. Proposals to cover research expenses (travel, supplies, technicians) will not be considered. A student can only receive a CB summer fellowship once during their program.
 
Proposal Format:  Students should submit via email:
1) A 1 page letter addressed to the DGS providing the rationale for the fellowship based on how this award will advance your degree progress, how you are currently funded, your advisor's participation in your program, your academic progress and accomplishments, and the status of your degree program and advisory committee (date of last meeting). Accomplishments that demonstrate professional potential are important and include awards, grants submitted or received, research presentations and publications relevant to conservation biology.
2) A one-page research plan describing work for the summer and how it will contribute to your thesis or dissertation. Figures and citations must also fit on the page.
 
Faculty advisors should submit via email a brief statement that specifically assesses the student's progress towards the degree (e.g., not general judgments like “good”, “excellent”), the quality of his/her research thus far, how this fellowship will affect his/her degree progress, and how this student will be supported in the coming year.

Outside funding

The ability to successfully obtain grant funds for research is extremely important for professional conservation biologists. Thus, all students are expected to actively seek financial support for their research with the help of their advisors. Each year, CB students apply for and are awarded fellowships from organizations outside the University of Minnesota . For example, in the past, CB students have been awarded fellowships from agencies such as the National Science Foundation, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Security Council. In addition, there are hundreds of smaller grant competitions. Students should seek advice about potential funding sources from their advisors, fellow graduate students, and the Program DGS. Grant competitions also are advertised through emails on the cb-student list server, posted fliers, in the CB newsletter, and on the internet.

Personal funds

Sometimes students enter the program on personal support. For example, some students are employed and want to continue to work part time and go to school. Occasionally, students enter the program using student loans or other personal funds.