Graduate Student Funding
This page lists resources to help ESP graduate students secure funding.
Looking for an external graduate fellowship? A job in your field? Check out a curated listing of opportunities especially for our ESP students here: https://science.gmu.edu/academics/departments-units/environmental-science-policy/quick-links/fellowships-internships
Funding by the Department of Environmental Science and Policy
Application Process for ALL Environmental Science and Policy Graduate and Undergraduate Fellowships and Scholarships
Students must submit the following materials by [new application cycle dates TBA] via email to the ESP Graduate Program Office at espgrad@gmu.edu.
Please include either “Graduate Student Fellowships Application” or “Undergraduate Student Fellowships Application” in the subject line of the email. Please note the application requirements for each funding program are specified below.
File 1 – All applicants
Cover letter attached to your email as a pdf
1. A cover letter form (fill out required information)
- Students can use the same application for multiple scholarships, if applicable. Please denote your interest in being evaluated for specific scholarships on the cover letter form.
2. An Abstract of the proposed research - 2,500-character limit (total, including spaces)
File 2 – All applicants except for the Talbot Scholarship:
Proposal Template attached to your email as a pdf
1. Two-page proposal describing the research that will be done during the period of the award. This should include the following sections:
- A. Title
- B. Introduction - A brief overview of the research topic, with reference to appropriate literature
- C. Aims - What is the hypothesis and how will you test it?
- D. Materials and Methods - How, where, and when the proposed research will be conducted
- E. Expected Results - Expected outcome for the research activities
- F. Significance of the Proposed Research - How will this research improve or add to general knowledge?
- G. Statement on how this GRA will help you complete the proposed research and how it will help advance your career.
2. References cited (no page limit)
3. If your research requires additional funding for travel, supplies or laboratory services, provide a budget and justification. The maximum amount for the Becker Fellowship is $2,000. The maximum amount for the Ann C. Powel Fund is $3,000 (one-page limit)
4. A Curriculum Vitae (CV), including educational information, GPA, prior presentations, and publications (4-page limit)
File 3 – for all applicants
Sent as a separate file by advisor/mentor
One letter of recommendation from the research advisor to be submitted via email to the ESP Graduate Program Office at espgrad@gmu.edu by 12:00 a.m. (midnight), Sunday, February 11, 2024. Please ask your recommendation writer to title the email: “Letter of Recommendation for Applicant’s Last Name”.
All submitted materials must be single spaced, 11-point Arial font, with 1-inch margins and single line spaces. Student applicants should send the two PDFs with the correct filenames (Lastname_File 1 and Lastname_File 2) as two files.
The grant applications will be double-blind reviewed and judged on the following criteria, based on the eligibility criteria set forth in the descriptions for each award:
1) completeness of the application,
2) relevance to the field of environmental science and policy,
3) idea originality,
4) rigor of research methods,
5) feasibility,
6) budget justification,
7) contribution to the field and impact on career, and
8) academic performance and achievements during graduate or undergraduate study.
Recipients of the fellowships will be informed by email.
Awardee Responsibilities
The awardee will be required to write a thank-you letter to the donor/family named in the award. The awardee will present progress in the form of an oral presentation at a student symposium event in Spring 2025. The awardee will be required to write a synopsis of their progress at the conclusion of the award that will be shared with the donors.
Contacts
- Younsung Kim, Undergraduate Program Director
- Esther Peters, Graduate Program Director
- Questions: Please email espgrad@gmu.edu
List of funding sources
Please click on each link below to read more information about the award funding and eligibility criteria.
Open to graduate students:
Catherine Z. and Richard J. Becker Graduate Fellowship
GMU College of Science and ESP Department Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)
Ann C. Powel Endowed Memorial Fund
Lee and Marty Talbot Foreign Student Endowed Scholarship
Open to undergraduate students:
Litchfield Undergraduate Research in Environmental Microbiology Endowed Scholarship
ESP Department Graduate Teaching Assistantships (open for 2024-25)
Graduate teaching assistants support the department by engaging in activities related to teaching. These activities include: teaching sections of courses or labs, supporting instructors teaching large sections, tutoring, and advising. Teaching assistantship awards may or may not come with a tuition waiver. The ESP and Biology departments offer a limited number of teaching assistantship opportunities to qualified students each year. All teaching assistants are evaluated from year to year; renewal is not an automatic process. Applications are currently being accepted until March 3, 2024. Please download and see instructions for applying here. Full applications consist of the downloaded form, undergraduate and graduate (if applicable) transcripts, and a CV and are sent to espgrad@gmu.edu. International applicants, please also attach your TOEFL or IELTS exam scores and a demonstrated knowledge of conversational English.
Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs) will be selected based on qualifications in the subject matter and teaching experience. GTA appointments will be made after review by the ESP Graduate Executive Committee, a faculty member coordinating the course in question, the Chair/Director of the appropriate undergraduate or graduate program, and Chair of the Department.
GTAs generally teach laboratory sections in undergraduate courses. Examples of courses are Introductory Biology for Non-majors, Environmental Biology, Introduction to Environmental Science, Biological Diversity and Ecosystems, Microbiology, Environmental Policy Making in Developing Countries, Tackling Wicked Problems in Society & the Environment, Biostatistics, Human Anatomy & Physiology, Cell Biology, Genetics, and Biodiversity, & Evolutionary Ecology.
Biology Department Graduate Teaching Assistantships (open for 2024-25)
Many ESP graduate students also become Biology Department GTAs and teach Biology courses.
The Department of Biology in the College of Science invites well-qualified George Mason University graduate students to apply for a teaching assistantship. This will include a stipend as well as 6 credits of in-state tuition for fall and spring semesters.
George Mason University Resources
Office of Fellowships
George Mason University understands that one key way to increase the accessibility of graduate education is to help students secure financial support for research, fieldwork, writing, professional development or related activities. The Graduate Division has a pool of funds available to help Mason graduate students earn their degrees and conduct research. Mason will also help you find funding from outside sources to help cover the cost of your studies. The Office of Fellowships has a full listing of internal and external funding opportunities.
The Office of Fellowships works to recruit, mentor and support graduate students seeking external funding though nationally competitive awards. That support includes:
- Information sessions, announcements, and search tools to identify funding opportunities.
- Fellowship advising and grant writing support.
- Workshops on how to craft strong applications.
- One-on-one coaching and feedback during the application process.
- Support for faculty mentors and advisors.
- Class visits, workshops, webinars, and lists of opportunities tailored by discipline.
Office of the Provost
Dissertation Completion Grants are awarded by the Office of the Provost to doctoral students in the final semester of their dissertation. This grant enables them to focus full time on research and writing, improving the quality of their work, and shortening the time to complete their degree. Please see ALL graduate education funding opportunities from the Office of the Provost at https://provost.gmu.edu/academics-and-research/graduate-education/awards-and-grants.
Graduate Student Travel Fund
The Graduate Student Travel Fund was created for the purpose of facilitating its students’ development outside the classroom. Funding is provided on a competitive basis for students to present at conferences.
The Environmental Science and Policy Graduate Student Association (ESP-GSA) also offers travel grants to support ESP-GSA members who are presenting at conferences. See the ESP-GSA page for information about eligibility and how to apply.
Student Financial Aid
Financial Aid eligibility is based on several criteria. Students must be enrolled at Mason in a degree program to receive financial aid. Grants are available only during the fall and spring semesters. Federal and private loans may be used for summer enrollment. Students who study abroad may receive the same financial aid as if they were studying on campus. Students must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible for federal loans and the majority of grant funds. Full time for graduate students is 9 or more credit hours. Students must make satisfactory academic progress in order to maintain eligibility for financial aid. Students must be US citizens, permanent residents, or meet other criteria to receive financial aid. Male US citizens and non-citizens living in the US, ages 18-25 must register with the Selective Service in order to be eligible for financial aid. For full details, and to apply, visit Financial Aid Services.