The Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics offers competitive assistantships and fellowships to help alleviate the cost of higher education and make attending graduate school more affordable. Approximately 99% of our current full-time, on-campus graduate students are supported by departmental teaching assistantships, grant-based research assistantships, or internal and external graduate fellowships and grants.
Our Ph.D. students are guaranteed funding for the duration of study through research or teaching assistantships. We offer a competitive annual stipend, a generous benefits package, and full coverage of tuition and fees. For additional financial support, we encourage students to seek other funding sources.
Departmental Graduate Funding Opportunities
Each year, selected students in the BCBP program also receive several awards. The selection process typically involves a nomination step. The awards include:
- John Mack Prescott Award: Named for our former colleague Prof. Mack Prescott, this endowment was established by the generosity of Fred Wagner, and other former students, to recognize outstanding senior graduate students in their research accomplishments, in the Department of Biochemistry & Biophysics at Texas A&M University.
- Paul Barry Gayle Grad Award: Established by the Estate of Paul Barry Gayle to provide an award yearly to an outstanding BCBP graduate student.
- Ethel Tsutsui Award. Dr. Ethel Ashworth-Tsutsui taught biology and biochemistry at TAMU from 1969 until her death in January 1998. The Tsutsui endowment awards two outstanding Aggie women in science for mentoring and research.
- Thomas L. Patterson Graduate Fellowship: Established by Dr. Strathdee and Dr. Patterson after the Center for Phage Therapy’s (CPT) involvement in the phage therapy intervention “Patterson case.” This fellowship was established to encourage graduate-level research on phage at the CPT. To learn more visit the CPT website.
- James C. Hu Memorial Graduate Travel Excellence Award: Named for Dr. James “Jim” Hu, Ph.D., a beloved faculty member who died suddenly in 2020. The award covers all major expenses of traveling to a high-impact national or international conference.
University-level Graduate Funding Opportunities
Texas A&M Graduate Fellowships
Competitive fellowships are available from the Texas A&M Graduate and Professional School for incoming masters or doctoral students. Your faculty nominates you for the fellowship. You must have a complete graduate school application on file with the department by December 1 prior to your incoming fall semester. Recipients are chosen by a university-wide selection committee. The department provides matching funds, in the form of a teaching or research assistantship.
Dissertation Fellowship
The Texas A&M Graduate and Professional School provides a Dissertation Fellowship that includes a $1,600 monthly stipend and up to $2,634 for health insurance in order to assist with the writing and organization of the dissertation.
Distinguished Dissertation Award
The TAMU Distinguished Dissertation Award provides $1,000 to a recipient of Texas A&M University doctoral degree whose dissertation made a significant and impactful contribution to their discipline.
Distinguished Graduate Student Award
The Association of Former Students offers the Distinguished Graduate Student Award to a student that exemplifies excellence in research as well excellence in teaching. Recipients are awarded with an engraved watch and framed certificate.
George W. Kunze Endowed Graduate Student Award
The George W. Kunze Endowed Graduate Student Award is given to doctoral students near completion of their degree.
Montgomery Award
The Montgomery Award is given to a student leader whose service has impacted the Texas A&M grad student body at large and includes a personalized award plaque and $1,000.
Travel Awards
Texas A&M Graduate and Professional School Travel Awards offer varying amounts for both domestic and international travel.
U.S. Senator Phil Gramm Doctoral Fellowship
The U.S. Senator Phil Gramm Doctoral Fellowship is awarded to current grad students who exemplify the meaning of scholar/mentor through their demonstrated abilities in teaching and research.
External Funding Opportunities
American Heart Association Fellowship
The American Heart Association Fellowship provides 1–2 years of support including an annual stipend of $24,816, $4,200 a year towards health insurance, and $2,000 a year of project support.
American Society for Microbiology Research Capstone Fellowship
The American Society for Microbiology Research Capstone Fellowship provides professional development funds up to $2,000 for underrepresented minorities to attend the ASM Microbe Meeting and the ASM Microbe Academy for Professional Development.
Department of Defense Science Mathematics and Research for Transformation Fellowship
The Department of Defense Science Mathematics and Research for Transformation Fellowship includes full tuition and fees, an annual stipend of $25,000–$38,000, health insurance allowance of up to $1200, and an annual $1000 travel allowance for up to 5 years. Recipients are offered employment by the DoD upon graduation.
Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship
The Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship provides full tuition and fees, an annual $38,000 stipend, and an annual $1000 travel allowance for up to 4 years.
Ford Foundation Fellowship
The National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, on behalf of the Ford Foundation, offers a fellowship that provides 3 years of support including an annual stipend of $27,000.
Hertz Foundation Fellowship
Hertz Foundation provides up to 5 years of support, including a stipend of $34,000 per 9 months. This fellowship can be accepted in the same term as other fellowships.
National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Science Policy Fellowship
National Academy of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Science Policy Fellowship provides support for students who have finished, or are finishing, their Ph.D. and wish to transition into science policy. This fellowship includes an annual stipend of $55,000–$60,000, $5,000 towards professional development and additional funding to attend conferences.
National Defense Science and Engineering Fellowship
National Defense Science and Engineering Fellowship Program provides up to 3 years of support, including a $3,200 monthly stipend and an annual health insurance allowance of $1,200.
National Institutes of Health Graduate Professional Partnership
The National Institute of Health offers a Graduate Professional Partnership program where part or all of dissertation research is conducted under PI at NIH. Funding must be provided by the PI you work under.
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program provides up to 3 years of support, including $34,000 annual stipend and $12,000 yearly tuition and fees allowance
Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program
Smithsonian offers the Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program, and Secretary’s Distinguished Research Fellowship. See fellowship web pages for award amounts and durations.
Other External Funding Sources
Graduate Fellowships from National and Private Agencies
- Fulbright Program: U.S. students (for study and research abroad)
- Fulbright Program: Non-U.S. students (for study and research in the U.S.)
- Philanthropic Educational Organization P.E.O. Scholar awards
- Southern SARE (Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education) graduate student grants
- US National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Opportunities Worldwide
- US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Fellowships Grants Program
- US Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) funding opportunities
- US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Student Programs
- Welder Wildlife Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program