The Graduate School is pleased to announce we are partnering with the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine to sponsor a COVES fellow! 

The Commonwealth of Virginia Engineering and Science (COVES) Fellowship is a 12-week fellowship program of the Virginia Academy of Science, Engineering, and Medicine (VASEM). Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows will serve as science advisors in a variety of possible placements, including legislative offices, executive agencies, or prominent companies and nonprofits in the state of Virginia. 

Fellows will gain experience by serving their host office and performing relevant tasks such as researching, drafting, and revising relevant policies. Fellows will also be paired with a VASEM member who will serve as an experienced science policy mentor throughout the fellowship.

• Fellows will serve from May 27th through August 15th, 2025.
• A stipend of $9,000 and $2,000 in professional development funds will be provided to recipients. 
• The 2025 COVES Fellowship will run primarily in person with some remote opportunities.
• Fellowship orientation in Richmond, VA: May 21 - May 23, 2025.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered, applicants must be enrolled in a graduate program at VCU. (Masters or Ph.D.)

Interested graduate students should complete the 2025 COVES Application and submit it to graddean@vcu.edu by Monday, December 9, 2024. 

The following should be included with the COVES application as a single attachment. 

• Resume or CV
• References
• Advisor Letter of Support
• Personal Statement
• Science Policy in Virginia
• Diversity Statement
• External-funding consideration (optional)

This assistantship will not be offered for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

The Graduate School Dissertation Assistantship program is for Ph.D. scholars who have completed all program requirements, including didactic courses, except for the dissertation and who will defend the dissertation and graduate by the end of the semester for the award period. Qualifying students must be nominated to your school/college Dean’s Office by their program directors. Due to the funding source, this program is only available to Ph.D. students.

Dissertation Assistantships will be awarded as follows:

• Fall-Only: university tuition (no fees) and $9,375 stipend
• Spring-Only: university tuition (no fees) and $9,375 stipend
• Fall and Spring: university tuition (no fees) and $18, 750
• No summer support will be offered via this award.

This award is not intended to replace any existing funding or funding commitment. Programs may, however, pay university/program fees and/or supplement the stipend to align with the funding levels of other students. There may be no work required other than work on the dissertation.

Eligibility requirements

To be considered, applicants must meet these requirements:

• Must have received Graduate School approval of degree candidacy and defended a dissertation proposal, if required
• Must be planning to work full-time towards completion of the dissertation only during the award period, and must certify that they will not be employed in any other position, internal or external, for the award period.

Nominations will be evaluated based on:

• Scholarship
• Methodology
• Clarity of style and presentation
• Strength of recommendations
• Academic record

Applicants 

Application Period: May 13-31,2024

Applicants are to complete the Graduate School Dissertation Assistantship application. Application materials include the following:

• One or two-page outline of the student’s research plan
• Letter of recommendation from the graduate program director or department chair that includes confirmation of the intended graduation date
• Letter of certification from the student that they will not be employed in any other position, internal or external, for the award period

Please note that the Graduate School will submit completed applications to your school/college Associate Dean for a transmittal letter of support and confirmation of the intended graduation date.

If you have any questions, please contact graddean@vcu.edu.

The VCU Graduate School has partnered with the SREB Doctoral Scholars Program to provide support services to eligible (see below) students seeking their Ph.D. and planning to become college or university professors. Preference will be given to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) disciplines. The VCU University Award is for scholars expecting admission for the Fall 2025 semester. The University Award offers three years of program support. In addition, the award provides professional development support and covers expenses associated with attending the Compact for Faculty Diversity Annual Institute on Teaching and Mentoring.

For the first two years, the Graduate School will pay university tuition only (not fees), $25,000 stipend support, and administrative cost. In the student’s third year, the school/department will pay university tuition and stipend support for each student commensurate with similar fields who are at the same level and administrative cost. The school/department will pay the university fees for this Institutional Award.

The VCU Graduate School is pleased to announce the 2025-2026 Doctoral Scholars Program, University Award. The deadline to apply is March 31, 2025.

Eligibility requirements

In the selection of a diverse group of participants, the University shall not unlawfully discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin (including ethnicity), age, sex, parenting status, marital status, political affiliation, veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, or disability.

To be considered, applicants must meet these requirements:

• Must be accepted into a campus-based Ph.D. program starting Fall 2025.
• Must hold (or will receive) a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university by the beginning of the fall semester of the year of the application. The program particularly encourages applicants who seek Ph.D.s in the STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or have legal permanent resident status.
• Must not be employed outside of your department or discipline.
• Must plan to become a full-time college or university faculty member after earning a Ph.D.

Applicants

Please complete the Google Form application. Application materials include the following:

• One or two-page letter of interest (including a statement of teaching goals)
  • Include department, discipline or major field of study
  • Include area of specialization
• Transmittal letter of recommendation from the graduate program director, department chair or associate dean of graduate education (may be included in the application materials section or submitted to graddean@vcu.edu to be attached to the completed application)

Please note that applications will also be reviewed based on letters of recommendation submitted with the graduate admissions application. If you have any questions, please contact graddean@vcu.edu.