Financial Support

The Microbiology programs are committed to ensuring continuing stipend support for the Ph.D. students in good standing. The basic stipend for 2008-2009 will be $23,000/12 months after student fees. Considering the outstanding health care benefits (the same as faculty and staff), the low cost of living in Madison, the high quality of life, and the superior quality of science on campus, we think it's impossible to find a better place for graduate training in microbiology anywhere in the country.

Ph.D. students at Madison are supported from a variety of different sources, including assistantships from departmental or research funds, university, national or department fellowships or appointments on the Molecular Biosciences, Biotechnology, or Cell and Molecular Parasitology training grants. Research and/or teaching assistantships are offered by the Departments of Bacteriology or Medical Microbiology and Immunology, some funding provided by the Graduate School for the cooperative microbiology graduate recruitment program of these two departments.

Students are encouraged to apply for national fellowships, such as those offered by the National Science Foundation or the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (there are currently four NSF Fellows). Applications for national fellowships should be submitted by October of the senior year or in the first year of graduate school. Examples of support include the:

• the NIH Molecular Biosciences Training Grant
• the NIH Cell and Molecular Parasitology Training Grant
• the NIH Biotechnology Training Grant
• Advanced Opportunity Fellowships (AOF) for minorities underrepresented in science
• the NIH Microbial Pathogenesis & Host Responses Training Program
• the NIH Chemistry-Biology Interface Training Program

Faculty can help students develop these external applications. Typically, nominations for these awards are made by the Admissions Committee during the application process, but opportunities for acceptance exist throughout the school year. Exceptionally well-prepared students should apply for fellowships from the National Science Foundation, the Howard Hughes Foundation, NIH, or a Gates Foundation minority fellowships and others. With application help from the Microbiology program, many students also receive these and other awards after one year of graduate study. No separate application for financial assistance is required.

GRADUATE STUDENT AWARDS
The following fellowships recognize excellence in predoctoral research.

IRA L. BALDWIN WISCONSIN DISTINGUISHED GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP IN BACTERIOLOGY recognizes outstanding incoming students who have achieved academic and research success as undergraduates.

THE PFIZER FELLOWSHIP IN MICROBIAL PHYSIOLOGY was established by Pfizer, Inc., to encourage training and research in microbial physiology. Doctoral students at UW Madison whose major professor is a Microbiology faculty member or graduate trainer are eligible to compete for this prestigious fellowship. The primary focus of the student's research must be in microbial physiology.