Graduate student funding
An applicant to the Biological & Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program is automatically considered for funding. Admission to the BBS Program means that you are guaranteed funding for the duration of your program, contingent upon satisfactory performance/progress toward your degree. Funding, in this context, is defined as full tuition and student health insurance payments and a living stipend. Stipend levels are set by the BBS Program on an annual basis; the stipend level for 2010-11 is $29,067/12 months.
In an effort to further its mission of advancing translational medicine and clinical research, the College of Veterinary Medicine has instituted a separate stipend rate for DVMs (or equivalent) who are seeking PhD degrees. This stipend level is set according to your education level and relevant experience. If you are a DVM, you are encouraged to apply for the Cornell Research Fellowship, which includes funds reserved to support DVMs in a PhD degree program at the College.
As a graduate student, you are always encouraged to seek outside funding. Filling out fellowship and/or grant applications is a great exercise for future success in science. An awarded grant not only provides a fantastic opportunity for your graduate program, but also serves as a real advantage in the job market after graduation.
The Cornell University Graduate School has an interactive fellowship database for graduate students. The College of Veterinary Medicine Office of Research and Graduate Education is also a resource when you are looking for grant opportunities and/or writing and submitting grants. In the past, CVM graduate students have been successful in obtaining funding from:
- National Institutes of Health (NIH) - http://grants.nih.gov/grants/oer.htm
- American Heart Association (AHA) - http://americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3055923
- United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usdahome
- Morris Animal Foundation - http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/scientists
Should you need funds above and beyond the stipend rate, the Graduate School has an Office of Graduate Student Loans to advise you on the student loan process.
