TTDGRA Program Information for Fall 2026 to Spring 2029 Cycle

The Top Tier Doctoral Graduate Research Assistantship (formerly DGRA) program will support approximately 30 doctoral graduate research assistantships. This competitive program will fund selected proposals for research and creative activity that involve the use of one state-funded doctoral research assistant for one academic year, and renewable for up to two additional (3 years of total support: Fall 2026 through Spring 2029). These TTDGRAs will receive the minimum stipend (varies by graduate program) and standard Graduate College GA benefits (tuition, optional health insurance, etc.). Faculty who are awarded TTDGRAs are encouraged to supplement the stipend and/or student tuition/fees with external funds, if available, but this is not required.

TTDGRA proposals should clearly address how the activities will support the UNLV Top Tier effort in some way.

Eligibility

Applicants must be UNLV tenured or tenure-track faculty, with graduate faculty status in the targeted graduate program(s). Collaborative and interdisciplinary proposals are encouraged. If awarded a TTDGRA, faculty may appoint a single doctoral student in good standing for the full 3 years, or give the position to different students in different years of the project. Doctoral students in TTDGRA positions must be enrolled full-time for the duration of the funding, work up to 20 hours per week on research, scholarship, or creative activity related to the TTDGRA proposal, and continue to make satisfactory progress toward degree completion. Faculty TTDGRA awardees who demonstrate annual progress towards project goals will be extended each year, up to the full three years (last eligible semester of funding is spring 2029.)

Submission Guidelines & Information

Please submit the TTDGRA proposal as described in the Request for Proposals. Completed proposals and associated documentation will be submitted to the TTDGRA Submission Portal. The submission deadline is 9 p.m. on August 4th, 2025.

After submission, the proposals will be distributed to the project director’s dean and department chair for review and comment. Next, a select committee of faculty, with representation from each college with graduate programs, will review and rank all of the submitted proposals and make recommendations to the Graduate College. The Graduate College will announce awards in January 2026. For questions about the program, please contact Dr Emily Lin, Associate Dean of the Graduate College.