Graduate Funding

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: 

  1. 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. 
     
  2. 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 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.

CSU STEM Pathways Alliance (SPA) The California State University STEM Pathways Alliance (CSU-SPA) is a CSU-wide program aimed at preparing the next generation of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workers by providing academic support and professional development to CSU students, supported by funds from the CSU Chancellor's office.
 

Academic Works
SFSU scholarships