Most students receive financial support in the form of teaching or research assistantships throughout their PhD program. Teaching and research assistantships carry a stipend of $20,300 for students entering in 2007-2008. Assistants also receive a remission of tuition.  Other University fees bring the total cost to the student to approximately $1,000 per academic year as of August 2007.

Teaching Assistantships
You will probably work as a teaching assistant for your first two semesters in the PhD program. These appointments normally involve supervision of undergraduate chemistry laboratories or recitation sections and require approximately 12 hours per week (including preparation and grading). The department provides intensive teacher training and pairs new teachers with experienced peer mentors.

Research Assistantships
After your first two semesters, you will probably be supported by a research assistantship, so that you can devote full time to your research. Research assistantships carry the same stipend and reduced fees as teaching assistantships.

Fellowships
Each year, the University selects students to receive fellowships sponsored by federal programs. These fellowships replace or supplement a research or teaching assistantship. Prospective graduate students with superior records will automatically be considered for these fellowships.

Prospective graduate students will also be considered automatically for departmental fellowships given in addition to a teaching or research assistantship. The Teague Fellowships honor Professor Peyton C. Teague, an organic chemist on our faculty who worked closely with the graduate program for many years. They are awarded to the most promising entering graduate students and provide a supplement ranging from $1000 to $3000. The Murtiashaw Fellowship in Organic Chemistry honors Charles Murtiashaw III, a human disease researcher with Pfizer who received his Ph.D. degree in our department. One Murtiashaw Fellows is selected each year from applicants who indicate an interest in organic chemistry. The fellowship provides a supplement of $3000.

Entering graduate students may also ask to be considered for the Summer Research Internship Program. Summer interns, called Copenhaver Scholars, serve as research assistants for 10 weeks and earn $4000 for the summer. The program honors James Copenhaver, a former faculty member in organic chemistry who encouraged undergraduate research.