Financial Support

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR HUMAN GENETICS GRADUATE STUDENTS

Charles Murtaugh, Director of Graduate Studies

Kandace Leavitt, Human Genetics Program Manager for Graduate Student Affairs (EIHG 5130)

Provided that the student's progress and performance are considered satisfactory by their Supervisory Committee, the Department is committed to providing support for graduate students throughout their tenure in the department. Support from any source, however, will not be permitted after seven years at the University (1 year in the combined program and six years in one or more Department).

A. Current Stipend and Tuition Waiver. The stipend, starting on July 1, 2024, is $37,000 annual, with a full tuition waiver for each semester. The stipend amount is set to match that of incoming students to the combined graduate programs, Molecular Biology, Biological Chemistry, and Neuroscience. If not a resident of the state of Utah, students must apply for residency as soon as they have completed 40 graduate credit hours, in order to obtain the reduced in-state tuition rate (see Kandace Leavitt). This is usually achieved by the end of the Fall Semester in the second year of graduate study. Students who do not apply for residency will be responsible for paying their own tuition. See ‘Tuition Benefit Program’ below.

B. Other Employment. Students are not allowed to engage in other employment while in the graduate program.

C. Health Insurance. Health, dental and vision coverage through the University of Utah Student Health Policy will be provided for all students. Family coverage is available for students with uninsured dependents. In addition, accommodations can be made for students who need to take time off to care for an ailing family member. Students may waive the right to use the University health insurance policy if they are covered by another form of insurance (e.g., through a spouse). Under these circumstances, the money that would normally be used to provide insurance for these students will be returned to general department funds in support of graduate student education.

D. Travel funds. The Human Genetics Department provides graduate students with $500 per year to attend a meeting in which they will present their research (i.e. a poster or talk). Funds are available on an annual basis starting on July 1. A travel request form should be obtained from Andrew Pannier and returned with the appropriate information. The student must arrange their travel through the Human Genetics Department office. These arrangements should be made at least a month in advance of departure.

The Graduate School also offers a Graduate Student Travel Assistance Award (GSTAA). This provides one award per student (i.e. for one time during graduate school) of up to $500 in support of travel to a meeting to present a talk or poster. These awards should be applied for many months prior to the meeting. Availability of these funds are subject to change, and more information can be found here: https://gradschool.utah.edu/funding/travel-assistance/travel-assistance-award.php.

E. Fellowships, Grants, Awards. All graduate students in the Human Genetics Department are expected to apply for fellowships and grants during the course of their stay in the department. If outside fellowships or awards are secured, the department will fund the difference between the two supports, but the total will not exceed that of the standard graduate student stipend. If the total fellowship exceeds that of the current stipend, no additional stipend will be paid to the student by the department.

Applying for independent fellowship support is good training that allows students to think about their projects in terms of a fundable research project. These awards also free up funds that are normally used for graduate student support, allowing that money to be put to other uses that will benefit students in the department. Finally, this is an excellent way to enrich the student’s CV. Below is some information regarding the funding sources that are available. Be sure to tell Kandace Leavitt if you are awarded a fellowship or a slot on a training grant so that she can change your funding status and avoid problems with your stipend.

Predoctoral Fellowships

The NIH and a number of private funding organizations, such as the American Heart Association, offer predoctoral fellowships. Talk with your advisor if you are interested in applying for these funding opportunities. In particular, the NIH NRSA F31 awards are open to all domestic students in the Department and should be considered. More information can be found here: https://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/pa-files/PA-23-272.html.

There are also two highly prestigious (and competitive) awards that are available to starting second-year domestic graduate students (right after they join a thesis lab) and third- and fourth-year International Students.

  • 1. National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship The purpose of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (GRFP) is to help ensure the vitality and diversity of the scientific and engineering workforce in the United States. The program recognizes and supports outstanding graduate students who are pursuing research-based master's and doctoral degrees in fields within NSF's mission. The GRFP provides three years of support for the graduate education of individuals who have demonstrated their potential for significant achievements in science and engineering research. The ranks of NSF Fellows include numerous individuals who have made transformative breakthroughs in science and engineering research, many who have become leaders in their chosen careers, and some who have been honored as Nobel laureates. The deadline for this application is in late October during the fall semester of the student’s second year of graduate student (first year in the Dept. of Human Genetics). More information can be found online at: https://www.nsfgrfp.org.

  • 2. Howard Hughes Medical Institute International Student Research Fellowships: Students eligible for nomination are international graduate students in the biomedical or related sciences who have demonstrated exceptional talent for research, are in the second (or third) year of graduate study, have entered a laboratory in which they will conduct their dissertation research, and are not U.S. citizens, noncitizen nationals, or permanent residents of the U.S. For details of the fellowship and selection process, see http://www.hhmi.org/grants/individuals/intl_fellows.html. The University of Utah Graduate School will select up to 7 students to make full applications to HHMI. Contact the Graduate School for more information.

    Additional information about fellowships and grant-writing workshops is available from the Biomedical Research Education Office (BREO) at https://uofuhealth.utah.edu/breo/graduate-students/fellowships.

There are also several funding opportunities that are more broadly available to students. All students should consider applying to the following:

  • 1. Many NIH Training Grants focusing on specific areas of research are available to Human Genetics graduate students. These include

  • 2. Graduate Research Fellowships ($28,500 + tuition) are awarded each year by the University. Our department has been able to secure 1-2 of these per year. Students should apply for these! These also provide a good source of income for outstanding foreign students who are not eligible for NIH Training Grant support.

More information on funding opportunities for students can be obtained from BREO, the Graduate School Office, or from Kandace Leavitt or Charlie Murtaugh.