Presidential Scholars Program

This program aims to recruit outstanding graduate students to all of our Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences programs. The most outstanding candidates for this highly competitive program receive substantial financial supplements to the normal graduate stipends and academic enrichment activities with an outstanding peer group.

Each year, up to five (5) incoming students are selected to join the program.

Read about the selection process.

Each scholar will receive:

  • a $5,000 annual stipend supplement above the normal graduate fellowship for up to 5 years of study,
  • a one-time $3,000 amount to defray relocation and initial housing costs, and
  • other benefits.

For questions or additional information, please contact Ms. Claiborne Fant at cmfant@utmb.edu

Selection Process

How The Scholars Will Be Selected

The faculty Steering Committee will select students for the Program, subject to final approval by the UTMB President, Provost and Dean of the Graduate School.

Applicants need not apply directly to the program; your GSBS application will be automatically considered for a scholarship. Applicants will be nominated from the pool of applicants to all UTMB programs in one of three ways:

  1. The Steering Committee will screen the overall applicant pool for outstanding GPAs and research experience.
  2. The Admissions Committee of an individual graduate program or the GSBS Admissions Committee may nominate outstanding applicants to the Steering Committee.
  3. An individual faculty member may nominate an outstanding applicant.

Review Process

If nominated we will request a completed application, letters of recommendation and phone interviews by UTMB faculty. Applicants will be reviewed and accepted into the Presidential Scholars Program on a rolling basis but emphasis will be placed on recruiting outstanding applicants in January and February.

Benefits

Scholars in the program enjoy the benefits of:

  • Award of $5000 supplement to the normal graduate school stipend for each of up to 5 years
  • Onetime payment of $3000 to defray relocation and housing costs
  • Peer-to-peer mentoring by other Presidential Scholars and peers
  • Meeting with and hosting world renowned scientists for seminars/colloquia/group discussions
  • Participating in scientific enrichment and social activities
  • Interacting with and working in partnership with the Presidential Scholars Steering Committee to further the high quality of the Presidential Scholars Program
  • Contributing to the discourse of the Scholars Program through presentations, publications, collaborative projects and other means
  • Participating in professional development of the UTMB community
  • Working with faculty mentors to identify and obtain independent funding

State-of-the-Art Facilities: Galveston National Lab is one of only two National Biocontainment Laboratories funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases/National Institutes of Health.

Vision on Global Health Care: Reach out across the globe to fight tropical diseases through research, education, and service.

Translational Sciences: Use translational sciences to accelerate the iterative feedback loop between basic and clinical research.

Collaborative Research: Commit to grow collaborative research partnerships to expand our capacity for multidisciplinary research.