Program Overview
The UNLV School of Life Sciences in conjunction with the US Dept. of Education is pleased to provide up to seven scholarships (up to $34,000 each, with full tuition) to support graduate training in biological sciences for highly qualified students with financial need, including those who are socio-economically disadvantaged or from traditionally underrepresented groups. UNLV is a newly recognized Tier 1 Research University located in the desert southwest. All GAANN fellows will undergo a rigorous program of teaching and research to prepare them for their future careers in academia encompassing areas such as microbiology, integrative physiology, evolution and ecology, and quantitative biology & bioinformatics.
Important Dates and Deadlines
- Jan. 15 - Doctoral applications due through the Graduate College
- Oct. 1 - FAFSA opens
GAANN Fellows and Faculty - Front row: Ike Brown, Gilbecca Smith, Taylor Gerson, Jelard Aquino; Center: Hector Aviles Back row: Helen Wing, PhD, Frank van Breukelen, PhD, Christy Strong, PhD
Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a GAANN doctoral scholarship you must satisfy the following criteria:
- Have an excellent academic record.
- Be a United States citizen, National, or Permanent resident of the United States.
- Have demonstrated financial need (documented by filing a FAFSA), including those from socio-economically disadvantaged or from traditionally underrepresented groups.
- Be applying to the biological sciences doctoral program at UNLV or be an active student in this program.
Expectations and Program Activities
- Enroll in nine credits every semester for the duration of the GAANN award.
- Complete the UNLV Graduate College Teaching Certification Program before graduating with the Ph.D. degree.
- Complete all other stage-appropriate mandatory training before graduating with the Ph.D. degree:
- Supervised teaching and shadowing in introductory biology labs (two semesters)
- Enrollment/Participation in Biol 702 Graduate Core Course (one semester)
- Regular attendance in School of Life Sciences Graduate Colloquium
- Yearly seminar presentation at School of Life Sciences Graduate Colloquium
- Completion of Graduate College Co-Curricula Teaching Certification (40 hours per semester, for 2 semesters)
- Guest lecture in introductory biology lectures under the supervision of assigned faculty member (three lectures in one semester)
- Complete other optional program experiences while supported as a GAANN fellow:
- Attend the yearly UNLV Best Teaching Practice Expo (one day event)
- Attend the yearly Southern Nevada Diversity Summit (one day event)
- Participate in Clark County Science in the Schools Outreach Program (two hours)
- Participate as a judge in the Beal Bank USA Southern Nevada Regional Science & Engineering Fair (two hours)
- Oral presentations/Lightning talks at the UNLV Graduate & Professional Student Association Research Forum (two hours)
- Present research to a public audience at Science Café Las Vegas (two hours)
Apply to the Biological Sciences Doctoral Program
- There is one admission cycle each year, the deadline is Jan. 15 for fall admission.
- Apply to the doctoral program in biological sciences. For instructions, visit the School of Life Science Admissions page.
- Apply to the Graduate College.
Contact
Please contact the leadership team at lifesciences.gradcoord@unlv.edu with any questions.
This material is based upon work supported by the US Dept. of Education under Grant No. P2000A210055. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Dept. of Education.