UW grad students are organized as part UAW 4121, the union of UW graduate and undergraduate research and teaching assistants, postdocs, and research scientists. ESS grad students who work as research and teaching assistants are protected by a collective bargaining agreement, which sets the salaries of grad students and guarantees other workplace rights. As part of the collective bargaining agreement, UW graduate students enjoy great healthcare and the opportunity to work in and explore Seattle using public transit with a free transit pass.

Funding Breakdown

We offer all of our PhD program students financial support covering tuition, stipend, and benefits. Specifically, we guarantee 5 years of academic-year support in the form of either Teaching Assistantships (TAs) or Research Assistantships (RAs) for PhD students making satisfactory academic progress, dependent on the availability of funds. Each academic year includes three quarter terms (Autumn, Winter, and Spring). Summer quarter funding is coordinated with your faculty advisor and is not guaranteed. A separate application for financial support is not required for our department. MS students do not receive guaranteed funding. However, Research Assistantships, Teaching Assistantships or other funding may be available from your advisor.

• TA appointments include assisting an instructor in teaching an undergraduate-level course (lecturing, lab instruction, leading field trips, holding office hours, proctoring exams, grading, etc.). These are assigned quarterly and are matched to your area of expertise (though this may not always be possible).
• RA appointments are funded primarily by research grants, or department or other university funding. RAs assist the primary investigator in performing research based on the conditions and objectives of the grant.

ESS graduate student monthly salaries are published here under the “Variable Rate Salary Schedule”, Schedule 1 columns.

RA/TA Appointment Eligibility and Duties

Academic Student Employee (ASE) appointments are offered an opportunity to join UAW and members will pay dues each pay period. In order to maintain eligibility for your appointment and its benefits, students will need to enroll full-time (at least 10 credits) for each academic quarter in which the appointment is held. It is also expected that ASEs attend the planned department-sponsored orientation and training sessions. Students with appointments are generally expected to attend the university-sponsored TA conference. TAs are additionally expected to enroll in ESS 590 Geology Teaching Seminar during Autumn quarter.

We also require all students holding an RA or TA appointment to complete the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Discrimination Program (PSHD) which is a joint venture supported by the University and Academic Student Employees Union (UAW-4121). RA and TA appointments, and other University employment opportunities, are contingent upon the completion of any pre-employment offer inquiries or procedures required under University policy or the law, including the sexual misconduct declaration as communicated separately. UW Employees (TAs/RAs, Faculty, Staff, Postdocs) are not permitted to have real or perceived conflicts of interest with students they supervise or instruct, as will result, for example, from romantic relationships between instructor and student. For more information, please see UW Presidential order 54.

In general, the duties for this appointment include managing quiz or lab sections (for TA appointments) and assisting faculty in their research (for RA appointments). Prior to the beginning duties each academic cycle, ASEs will be provided with a document that describes the specific tasks, times and locations related to appointment, supervision, required training programs, procedures used for evaluation, and any additional details related to the duties required for the appointment.

Summer Funding

ESS research graduate students are guaranteed 9 months of funding during the academic year, but summer funding is often arranged through individual advisors, or can be secured by working as a TA during summer quarter. Students on external fellowships like the NSF GRFP also receive year-round funding at different rates. Summer funding is not guaranteed.

Fellowships and Departmental Awards

ESS Graduate Students may be eligible for a number of fellowships including NSF GRFP, GSA Research Grants, NASA, NDSEG, UW PCC, ARCS, UW Provost’s Excellence, UW GSEE, and the J. Dungan Smith Endowed Graduate Fellowship, among others.

National Science Foundation Graduate Fellowships are open to first-year graduate students as well as graduating seniors. These national awards are very competitive. They provide up to three years of support, in which the recipient is free of teaching obligations. The deadline for the application is in early November.

Students on external fellowships may be paid at lower or higher rates, depending on the fellowship. Applicants who have received outside funding or who have an application for outside funding pending, should indicate the name of the program and the number of years of funding provided by the program in their online application.

Departmental Awards

Our department is fortunate to have a large number of scholarships, awards, and fellowships funded by the generosity of our alumni and friends.  We annually provide student awards totaling over a quarter of a million dollars, including about a dozen RA fellowship quarters to support student research, both locally and across the globe.  The spring quarter awards have traditionally helped support summer field work, but also include RA quarters, travel funding, as well as cash awards honoring exceptional research, teaching, and service.

All continuing students are eligible to apply; the deadline is generally in mid-April. Awardees are selected by a faculty-led Awards Committee which includes student representatives.  Awards are made at the discretion of the Chair.

Other Resources

Students are encouraged to apply for outside funding. Students are encouraged to apply to such organizations as the Geological Society of America, AAPG, Sigma Xi, and the Mazamas, for funds to support their research. Students may also take a look at the UW Graduate School Fellowships Office Resources. Watch the notice board for deadlines and other information. Other additional funding source announcements will be sent out regularly via email.