Graduate School Newsletter

November 2023

Important Announcements

Next Steps in Your Career with AYCSS

Monday, November 13, 2023 | 10-11AM | SUB Ballroom C

The GradCat 360 Professional Development program and AYCSS team up to offer a "Next Steps in Your Career" presentation for graduate students. Learn what you can do now to prepare for a career transition after grad school. Graduate School Career Education Manager Joan Ghassemi will cover topics such as networking, interviewing, and negotiating. Coffee and doughnuts provided!

ACA Health Insurance Open Enrollment

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) open enrollment period begins on November 1^st. Utilize the ACA Navigator Service to find the perfect plan for you. The Grad School Wellbeing Initiative also offers a list of a full range of health insurance options.

Applications Being Accepted for the 2023 Student Research Celebration

Abstract Application Deadline is Sunday, November 5: Abstracts can be submitted on the USP application portal. Graduate students from all disciplines are encouraged to submit research abstracts to present their projects at the MSU 2023 Student Research Celebration on Wednesday, November 29th. This event is a testament to the academic excellence at MSU and its students' incredible contributions that reach well beyond the classroom.

Upcoming Dates & Deadlines

Nov. 10 – Veterans Day (No classes; Offices closed).
Nov. 17 – Last day to drop classes with a "W" grade.
Nov. 20-24 – Fall Break (No classes 11/20-11/24; Offices closed 11/23-11/24).
Dec. 1 – Last day for master’s and doctoral comprehensive examination or thesis/dissertation defense if the student plans to graduate Fall 2023.
Dec. 8 – Last day for approval of ETD by 5pm deadline. Recommended to submit draft now.
Dec. 14 – Last day of classes. Fall semester ends. Last day to withdraw Graduation Application and file for one-credit extension.
Dec. 15 – Fall 2023 Commencement.

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Funding & Fellowships

National Science Foundation (NSF) National Research Traineeship (NRT) Program in Extreme Biofilms

The Extreme Biofilms National Research Traineeship (NRT) sponsored by the National Science Foundation, is a university-wide community of doctoral students in engineering, microbiology, computing, biochemistry, and environmental sciences with focused professional development and graduate training on biofilm-forming microorganisms in extreme environments. Applications received by January 5th, 2024 will have priority for fellowship funding, with seven doctoral students receiving fellowships in 2024. Stipend support in the amount of $34,000 is available for two years of a fellow’s PhD program.  The student cohort is limited to new PhD students, or those that will have been at MSU for one year or less by Fall 2024.

TL1 Translational Research Training Program

The Institute of Translational Health Sciences (ITHS) TL1 program is a one-year mentored research training program in translational science for pre-doctoral students. This program creates a cross-disciplinary community of emerging researchers and provides them with specific training, career development opportunities, and team science skills to help them function effectively within translational science teams. The TL1 program is open to applicants from all disciplines and backgrounds who meet the eligibility criteria.

Identify Scholarships and Research Funding for Your Graduate Education!

The MSU Graduate School maintains a Funding & Fellowships webpage listing various ways you may find funding throughout your time at MSU.

The University of Illinois has an excellent Fellowship Finder featuring awards that are open to grad students from any university. It features several filters to aid your search.

The National Research Council postdoctoral program is used by federal agencies across the country to support postdoc searches. This is a great place to look when you are close to finishing your PhD and the salaries are quite good. Quarterly application deadlines.

For more funding opportunities, visit MSU's Research Funding Opportunities and the MSU Graduate School's Funding and Fellowships webpage.

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Workshops & Events

First-Gen Celebration Week

Various events held throughout November

The annual First-Generation College Student Celebration encourages colleges and universities across the country to celebrate the successes of the institution's first-generation faculty, staff, and students. See the details on the National First Generation Day webpage to learn what the First-Generation Committee and the First-Generation Students Association at MSU are hosting on campus.

Professional Development: GradCat 360

GradCat 360 is a comprehensive professional development program for graduate students at Montana State University. It is a series of programs and events designed by the Graduate School and departments across campus that center around nine focus areas. These areas are tailored to help students cultivate a unified set of skills and knowledge for educational success and professional preparation.

Check out our GradCat 360 Event Calendar, specifically curated for Graduate Students. We are constantly updating the GradCat 360 calendar with workshops and events that are uniquely useful for graduate students.

MSU Writing Center

The MSU Writing Center offers ongoing support to students working on graduate-level writing.