Financial Support

All MOB students are eligible to receive financial support in the form of a graduate assistantship that pays a stipend plus tuition waivers covering the majority of tuition and fees. In addition, MOB may offer additional fellowship awards (the Lyn Kittle Scholarship, the JH Taylor Award, the Donald Caspar Award, the Randolph Rill Award and the Leo Mandelkern Award for Academic Achievement) to selected, outstanding applicants, providing an up to $3000 bonus that may be paid over the first two years. Eligibility for financial aid is reviewed every year and is based on satisfactory progress.

Other fellowships may be available from the FSU Graduate School for outstanding students. Please see FSU Graduate School Fellowships and Grants for more information. Because of department nomination deadlines, applicants interested in being considered for these awards must have their application submitted through the online application process by Dec. 15 of the year prior to the fall they intend to enroll.

The FSU Office of Graduate Fellowships and Awards (OGFA) provides students with outstanding assistance in preparing applications for external funding (e.g. National Science Foundation, American Heart Association, Ford Foundation). Many workshops are available to help craft the application and one-on-one meetings with OGFA directors give students access to very experienced advisers.

African American or Hispanic applicants who are US citizens or permanent residents should investigate the McKnight Doctoral Fellowship. Eligible students must submit the application to the McKnight Foundation by Jan. 15. This fellowship can be used at any of nine Florida universities, but is open to applicants nationwide.

The FSU Graduate School also gives a $1000 Dean’s Scholarship to new eligible doctoral students, with disbursement in two payments in fall and spring semesters. Both domestic and international students receive this award. However, domestic students must file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by July 20 to be eligible for this award. The award is not based on financial need so ALL domestic students should file the FAFSA documents.

Domestic students are also eligible for numerous targeted scholarships managed by the FSU Office of Financial Aid Foundation. Check the website for application deadlines and descriptions of scholarships and eligibility. Typically, a one-page form is due by late March for consideration for these awards.

Subsidies to cover the cost the University-sponsored health insurance are paid as a benefit to full time graduate students on a research or teaching assistantship. Information about the subsidy is available here. Typically, 100% of the cost of this university-sponsored insurance is covered.

First and second year MOB students receive a Personal Development Award ($2,000 for use over the first two years) for travel to scientific conferences and workshops such as the annual meeting of the Biophysical Society. Additional travel funds are available for advanced students to assist in presenting their research.

Links to just a few of the external fellowships are below. Many more can be found by contacting the FSU Office of Fellowships and Awards.