The SF State Office of Financial Aid is the first stop for all prospective and current graduate students seeking funding. The counselors will help you apply for the most available general forms of financial aid, including grants, scholarships, loans and part-time employment.
There are two levels of Biology Department employment that support graduate students:
- Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs): Each semester the department awards Graduate Teaching Assistantships to graduate students, to serve as instructors in laboratory courses. To be considered for a Graduate Teaching Award, complete the GTA/GA application. Please review the following GTA frequently asked questions (PDF). This will help you determine which course you are interested in and eligible for.
- Graduate Assistants (GAs): Graduate Assistants are hired by the Biology Department for an array of jobs, including lab set-up, exam reading and facilities support (e.g., greenhouse, herbarium, conservation genetics lab, insect museum). Available jobs vary from semester to semester. GA positions vary from 5, 10, 15 to 20 hours/week. Contact your major professor or potential research advisor for information regarding available GA positions.
CoSE Scholarships
For students in all departments in the College (Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Geosciences, Mathematics, Physics and Astronomy).
The Beckman Scholars Award
The Beckman Scholars program provides scholarships to advance the education, research training and personal development of outstanding students (Junior/Senior level) majoring in chemistry, biochemistry and/or the biological sciences.
The Student Enrichment Opportunities Office (SEO) lists information and administers several large federally funded fellowship programs. These include the Minority Access to Research Careers (MARC), Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (MBRS-RISE) and the MA-MS/PhD Bridge to the Future programs.
The Science Education Partnership and Assessment Laboratory (SEPAL) administers programs that engage graduate students in Biology and Science education.
The Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (CSU-LSAMP) Prorgram provides academic support for underrepresented minority students who either intend to major in or are majoring in science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) at San Francisco State University, Skyline College or City College San Francisco.
The Fellowships Office offers updated information on available fellowships and scholarships.
The Office of Academic Honors and Scholarships offers updated information on available scholarships.
Instructionally-Related Activities (IRA) Research Awards
If you are an undergraduate or graduate student in the Biology Department and are conducting a research project, then you are eligible to apply for a small grant from the Instructionally-Related Activities (IRA) Advisory Board to support your research. Announcement for this awards are generated through the department.