Graduate students are the future of the academy.
What can we do to assist you during your graduate degree?
What can we do to assist you during your graduate degree?
General UIC graduate student support services and resources, including dissertation prep, career services, and wellness advice. Graduate student handbook specific to BioS.
Teaching Assistant (TA) Training Resources
A list of resources and field guides to help BioS TA's succeed in their teaching
International Student Support
A list of resources to assist international students
Graduate Student Associations
Biological Graduate Student Association (BiosGSA)
Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA)
Graduate Student Council (GSC)
Funding and Awards
An overview on graduate funding and what different awards mean and how to start the process.
Fall 2023 Funding Opportunities
Emergency grants are available for students experiencing unexpected hardship, with funds up to $500 to cover personal expenses related to medical and non-medical emergencies.
Awards for graduate students participating in DEIJ service work in and outside the classroom and laboratory are available (descriptions below). Solicitation for nominations are emailed to the department in Spring, self-nominations accepted. Past highlights here.
Maintaining Well-being
Professional Development
Teaching Assistant (TA) Training Resources
A list of resources and field guides to help BioS TA's succeed in their teaching
International Student Support
A list of resources to assist international students
Graduate Student Associations
Biological Graduate Student Association (BiosGSA)
Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA)
Graduate Student Council (GSC)
Funding and Awards
An overview on graduate funding and what different awards mean and how to start the process.
Fall 2023 Funding Opportunities
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). Higher Education Research Experience at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). https://education.ornl.gov/graduate/
- National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship Program. https://www.nsf.gov/publications/pub_summ.jsp?ods_key=nsf23605&org=NSF
- Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program – U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Science. https://science.osti.gov/wdts/scgsr/
- American Association of University Women (AAUW).
- International Fellowship. https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/current-opportunities/international/
- Dissertation Fellowship. https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/fellowships-grants/current-opportunities/american/
- Michigan Institute for Data Science Eric and Wendy Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellowship. https://midas.umich.edu/ai-in-science/
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellows Program. (This year, for the first time, the competition is open to all eligible applicants, rather than through a nomination process.) https://www.hhmi.org/programs/gilliam-fellows
Emergency grants are available for students experiencing unexpected hardship, with funds up to $500 to cover personal expenses related to medical and non-medical emergencies.
Awards for graduate students participating in DEIJ service work in and outside the classroom and laboratory are available (descriptions below). Solicitation for nominations are emailed to the department in Spring, self-nominations accepted. Past highlights here.
- Graduate Diversity and Inclusion Mentoring Award: This award recognizes Biological Sciences graduate students who have exhibited commitment to mentoring under-represented UIC undergraduate students in laboratory research or to enhance students’ academic success or professional development. Candidates may self-nominate for this award. If self-nominating, please provide a paragraph describing your efforts and accomplishments.
- Graduate Diversity and Inclusion Service Award: This award recognizes Biological Sciences graduate students who have exhibited commitment to enhancing the department’s efforts towards advancing diversity and inclusion, including but not limited to outreach, social justice, and student engagement. Candidates may self-nominate for this award. If self-nominating, please provide a paragraph describing your efforts and accomplishments.
Maintaining Well-being
- Counseling Center
- “Why we need to talk more about mental health in graduate school” by Dr. Kathryn R. Wedemeyer-Strombel
Professional Development
- Various resources from UIC Career Services
- Monthly in-person seminar called "Your Future in Science" that explores various careers in science by OVCR
- National Center on Faculty Development and Diversity - increase research and writing productivity, establish a work-life balance, and gain collegial support
- Versatile PhD - resources for non-academic careers
- Monthly career development events through the Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching and Learning (CIRTL)