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Student resources and financial aid


Current Fellowship/Scholarship Opportunities


  • Applications are now being accepted for BIOS' 2012 REU Program!

    The Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences has received National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) funding to support 4-8 fellowships for undergraduate student research at BIOS during the 2012 fall semester (Dates: arrive on August 29, 2012 - depart on November 25, 2012). Students will design and conduct independent projects under faculty supervision within several research areas including:

      *  Biology, chemistry and physics of the open ocean
      *  Biology, physiology and biochemistry of reef building corals and reef ecosystems
      *  Aspects of the molecular biology of marine organisms
      *  Environmental chemistry of Bermuda's atmosphere and inshore waters
      *  Effects and consequences of global environmental change

    Students who have completed at least two years of undergraduate study and will still be undergraduates in the fall of 2012 are eligible to apply. Minorities and women are especially encouraged. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents. We encourage all successful applicants to arrange for independent study credit through their home institutions. Each successful REU applicant will receive a stipend paid at competitive rates. Students will reside on the BIOS campus. Travel expenses, tuition, room and board will be covered by the REU program.

    You can apply to BIOS's REU program by downloading an application form (in Word format) at http://www.bios.edu/education/REUapp.doc and e-mailing your completed application to the address listed on the form. If you have difficulty with the form, you can contact BIOS's Education Department at education@bios.edu or telephone (441) 297 1880.

    If you have any other questions about the program or BIOS, please e-mail education@bios.edu or check http://www.bios.edu/education/reu.html.

    Applications will be accepted until the program is full. Initial selection of participants will begin May 30. Students will arrive on August 29 and will begin work on August 30. Work will end on November 24, with students departing on November 25.



  • George Mason University and the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) are pleased to announce the availability of Doctoral Fellowships in Conservation Science. Two fellowships are being offered starting the fall of 2012 for students with an M.S. in Conservation Biology or a related field whose research interests coincide with SCBI scientists. Prospective candidates must qualify for admission to the Ph.D. program in Environmental Science and Public Policy at George Mason University.

    Support will be provided for four years with a stipend of $24,000/year and tuition remission for a defined number of credits. Major support in the first two years will be from a teaching assistantship with reduced load from George Mason. In the final two years major support will be provided by the Smithsonian through research mentorship with a specific SCBI scientist who must support the candidate’s fellowship application.

    We suggest you visit the following links before applying:

    Ph.D. Program in Environmental Science and Policy: http://catalog.gmu.edu/preview_program.php?catoid=5&poid=1192&returnto=111
    Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI) http://nationalzoo.si.edu/conservationandscience/default.cfm

    Lists of SCBI researchers-contact for research mentor http://nationalzoo.si.edu/AboutUs/Staff/scientificstaff.cfm

    Review of applications will begin January 9, 2012. To receive full consideration, applications should be completed by that time. You should start early since working out an arrangement with a specific SCBI mentor can take time and is a requirement for successful application.

    For full requirements and specific instructions on how to apply, please download this Word document.

Grants and Other Aid

Graduate students have numerous opportunities to receive internal and external funding for their research, including grants, research assistantships, fellowships, scholarships and other aid.

  • Department-based financial aid
    • Funding Opportunities
    There are numerous other funding opportunities available to students who engage in research. The following are examples of grant “clearing houses” that search multiple funding agencies, private funders, and foundations:

    Grant Search Engines

    GrantsNet

    In addition to grant clearing houses, graduate students who are interested in applying for external funding should investigate the following funders:

    Students wishing to apply for external funding should contact George Mason University's Office of Sponsored Programs, which oversees the administration of all external grant funds and may be able to assist in completing your proposal.

    • Grant writing assistance

    Introduction to Grant Writing
    The Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE) offers help via their informal faculty-mentoring program.

    Office of Sponsored Programs
    The Office of Sponsored Programs (OSP) is the pre- and post-award administration office for all externally sponsored projects for George Mason University. OSP provides assistance in proposal budget development and proposal submission. The office also reviews and signs off on all proposals to external sponsors. All contracts with the University which involve sponsored projects are reviewed, negotiated, and executed by OSP.