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Doctoral Research Excellence Assistantships

The Doctoral Research Excellence Assistantships provide fully-funded doctoral assistantships at stipend levels competitive with peer universities and enhance A&M’s research capacity and productivity.

Criteria/Eligibility

Open to all new domestic or international students doctoral students or who have completed no more than two years in doctoral studies academic disciplines

  • The primary goal of offering this assistantship is to attract new doctoral students, but in some cases a continuing student may be the most appropriate candidate.
  • Funding should not supplant existing funding, but should be used to expand the number of doctoral students funded.
  • Award will be forfeited if student is not admitted into a doctoral program or is released from a program.
  • Receipt of award does not assure admittance to the university nor to the program of the recipient’s choice.
  • Recipients must remain in good standing in their doctoral programs and must be making good progress toward completion to continue in the program.

Stipend/Benefits

Stipend
$40,000 annual stipend 3-year commitment to the recipient from System funds, contingent on student remaining in good standing and progressing toward completion.

  • Additional years beyond the 3-year commitment may be granted at the discretion of the department/program/lab; additional years awarded must be funded from sources other than this program.
  • Funding is awarded to the student and follows the student to the program in which the student is enrolled.
Benefits
  • All tuition and fees for required courses.
  • Graduate student Insurance (current rate is $252 per month for graduate plan; $3,024 per year).

Number of Awards

  • Four (4) new awards each year with three (3) year commitments.
  • In year 3, presumably the program will have 12 recipients.
  • A joint review will be conducted in year 3 to assess the efficacy of the program and consider continuation, adjustment or termination.
  • Ongoing commitments at the time of the review will be fulfilled even in the event of termination of the program.

Nomination Process and Timeline

Each college (with doctoral programs) is invited to submit 1-2 nominations that must include the following items:

  • Cover sheet
  • Title stating: 2024 Doctoral Research Excellence Assistantship
  • Full name of nominee
  • Name of nominator, department, college/school and nominator’s email
  • Letter of nomination from department/college outlining the exceptional qualification of the applicant, identified faculty member to advise and mentor research activities, as well as the applicant’s potential to achieve research excellence (measurable by discipline).
  • [For new doctoral applicant]: Nominee’s application package from WebAdmit.
  • [For continuing doctoral student]: One (1) letter of support from faculty advisor/faculty mentor; and nominee’s current CV.

Process

  • Nomination may be submitted to grad-recruit@tamu.edu.
  • Nominations for 2024-2025 are currently closed. 

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