The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology makes every effort to provide financial support to graduate students that are enrolled full time in the M.S. or Ph.D. programs. Primary sources of support include university fellowships, and research and teaching assistantships. Students are also encouraged to obtain extramural fellowship support.

All applicants are considered for one of the financial support possibilities described below:

Presidential Graduate Fellowships are aimed at exceptionally qualified students. This highly competitive award guarantees 5 years of support with a competitive annual stipend and a tuition waiver. Only citizens and legal permanent residents are eligible.

Graduate School Assistantships provide two years of support and are intended to allow students to develop their own research programs. After two years, students are typically supported by departmental research assistantships. One-third time service is required, and out-of-state fees are waived. Students are expected to provide 15 hours of service to the department each week in a way to be determined by the student, graduate coordinator, and chairman.

Departmental Research Assistantships are usually one-third time research positions that are supported by grants to individual faculty in this and other departments. Out-of-state fees are waived for research assistants who perform at least one-third time service. Applications for research assistantships are made directly to individual faculty members (invariably the prospective major professor).

Departmental Teaching Assistantships are awarded on a competitive basis by the Department. These assistantships carry a stipend for a twelve-month appointment. Out-of-state fees are waived for teaching assistants who perform at least one-third time service.

Generally, students in the Biochemistry and Molecular Biology graduate program are provided with annual stipends that are in line with the guidelines set forth by the National Institutes of Health and other federal funding agencies. The Southeast region enjoys a low cost of living, making these stipends of greater economic value than those offered elsewhere.