Department funding

An endowed fellowship for doctoral student(s) whose research is in the area of environmental studies. 

One award will be made for use during the academic year which will include one semester of stipend, tuition and GradCare benefits. Awardees must send a brief note of thanks and a layperson summary of findings to the Offutt family, the fellowship's sponsor. The competition is typically announced in late January, with a late February deadline for submission.

This fellowship is given via a generous bequest of Julia A. Edwards for use in the recruitment of new doctoral students and to support current students whose distinguished performance is considered worthy of special recognition. 

One award will be made for use during the academic year which will include one semester of stipend, tuition and GradCare benefits. The competition is typically announced in late January, with a late February deadline for submission. The scholarship for graduate students studying biology is in memory of Edwin H. Edwards, who received his bachelor of science degree in biology from U-M in 1892.

The Museum of Zoology and Herbarium have a number of graduate assistantships to provide curatorial assistance and training in multiple aspects of museum collection function. 

These valuable opportunities are often focused on particular collections (birds, fishes etc.) but may also focus on cross-taxonomic initiatives, e.g., in informatics. Curatorial assistantships are open to all Ph.D. students who have achieved candidacy. Vacancies will be announced each semester, and applications should be submitted to the EEB graduate coordinator. Interested students should also contact the salient curator(s) and/or collection manager(s).

Block grant funding is provided to the EEB department by the Rackham School of Graduate Studies. 

These grants are supplemental to other funding sources and are intended to help advance research completion of graduate degrees. EEB Ph.D. and master's students who are actively engaged in research are eligible to apply. In most cases, students are expected to have completed one year in their respective programs; however, first-year students who are already engaged in research may be considered for an award. The number and amount of block grant awards varies each year, depending on available funding and the number of successful applicants.

This funding is awarded annually on a competitive basis. Applications and student records are reviewed by the Graduate Affairs Committee as part of the award process and decisions are based on factors such as promise of research, adequacy of research plans, schedule for use of the funds, and past progress. The competition is typically announced at the end of January, with a late February deadline.

The Dr. Nancy Williams Walls Award for Field Research is also awarded as part of the Block Grant competition. This award is for graduate students engaged in field research with a preference for students studying biodiversity or climate change issues. This award may be used to cover research and travel expenses, and will be based on excellence and merit.

This funding is awarded annually on a competitive basis. Applications and student records are reviewed by the Graduate Affairs Committee as part of the award process and decisions are based on factors such as promise of research, adequacy of research plans, schedule for use of the funds, and past progress. The competition is typically announced at the end of January, with a late February deadline. Read more about Nancy Walls>>

Every year, the Museum of Zoology uses its historical endowments, some of which date from the 1940s, to support graduate student research projects and to award scholarships. 

See below a list of current UMMZ scholarships. Note that most of these target research on specific animal groups and/or having an advisor or coadvisor who serves as a curator in the Museum of Zoology, following the wishes of the original donor.

Donald W. Tinkle Scholarship. This prestigious scholarship ($5,000) is awarded on the basis of outstanding performance as a doctoral student.  

Hinsdale & Walker Scholarships. Multiple awards are made each year to support doctoral student research projects.  Individual awards typically range from $1,500 to $4,000.

Mary R. Swales Scholarship. One award of up to $3,000 is available for graduate student research on birds.  

Charles F. Walker Scholarship. A single award of up to $2,500 is available for graduate student field research in herpetology.  

Three UMMZ Ichthyology student awards are available:

1. Hubbs, Carl L. and Laura C. Fellowship

2. Ichthyology Graduate Student Support

3. Miller, Robert R. and Francis H. Endowment

Read more >>

Funds from the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology are available to support greenhouse or field research by graduate students at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens. 

These funds can be used to pay charges required by the Botanical Gardens for use of space or services and for basic supplies related to the growing and care of plants (i.e., pots, soil, etc.). Salaries cannot be funded.

Individual requests for up to $1,000 will be considered, although the actual amount awarded per investigator will depend upon the number of requests received and available funds. The application deadline details are announced along with the Block Grant competition.

The E. S. George Reserve Scholarships generally include awards of $4000-6000. 

These are in the form of a lump-sum payment that may be used by recipients in whatever manner that will best enhance their research on the E. S. George Reserve (larger amounts possible under exceptional circumstances). To be eligible for an award, a graduate student must have been admitted to candidacy. An announcement of awards takes place in late January and awards are announced in late March. The E. S. George Reserve Advisory Committee evaluates applications and makes decisions regarding awards.. 

All EEB graduate students students may apply for one grant of $400 for travel to a conference at which the student presents a paper or a poster.

Request forms and more information are available on the InfoReady Review site: https://lsa.infoready4.com/#eeb. Please reach out to the Graduate Office (eeb.gradcoord@umich.edu) with any questions.