Graduate Assistantships

Interested in applying for a graduate assistant position? These are paid positions, which offer excellent experience for our students. The UNI Department of Biology most often awards Graduate Teaching Assistant positions. Learn more about the Teaching Assistant position below.

Graduate Assistantship Position Details

Semesters of Employment Available: Fall 2024 and Spring 2025

General Terms of Employment:

For the fall semester, 20 or 10 hours per week, beginning August 26, 2024 and ending December 20, 2024. These dates may vary upon approval of the academic calendar
For the spring semester, 20 or 10 hours per week, beginning January 21, 2025 and ending May 16, 2025. These dates may vary upon approval of the academic calendar

Compensation:

Graduate Assistantship stipend is $3,000.00 for half-time and $6,000.00 for full-time per semester and may be prorated depending on start date. GA stipend amounts are subject to change year to year
Graduate Assistants and their spouses may qualify for in-state tuition
Graduate Assistants may receive University holidays and do not work during the interims between semesters
For more information regarding Graduate Assistantship procedures review the Graduate College's funding page

Position Duties:

Teaching 1-2 lab sections of a UNI Foundation Inquiry (UNIFI) course
Attending a lab being taught prior to your teaching times throughout the first semester of the assignment in order to learn your duties
Attending group lab prep meetings
Meeting with students during office hours or as arranged
Grading assignments and examinations
Corresponding with students via email or other means to answer any questions they may have about course content

Application Process and Deadline:

If you are admitted (without provisions) to the Biology Department's Master of Science program at UNI, our Department Head will consider you for Graduate Assistantship funding. Please apply for funding using the Assistantship Application form on the Graduate College's website
In order to be given full consideration for graduate assistantship funding in the 24-25 year, your application for admission should be completed no later than February 1st, 2024
Funding is not guaranteed and amounts vary each year depending on what is awarded to our department by the Graduate College
Awards are offered in mid-March of each year for the following academic year (i.e. awards for the 24-25 year will be offered in March 2024)
If you opt to start the program during a spring semester, you may have at least one semester without graduate assistantship funding due to the decision-making timeline

UNI actively seeks to enhance diversity and is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. The University encourages applications form persons of color, women, individuals living with disabilities, and protected veterans. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, creed, disability, gender identify, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, or any other basis protected by federal and/or state law.

GA Qualifications and Requirements

General Requirements

Graduate Assistants must be regularly admitted (without provisions) to degree status in a graduate degree program
Graduate Assistants must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 each semester of their assistantship. First semester graduate students must have an undergraduate GPA of 2.75 to qualify for an assistantship. If a student's undergraduate GPA is less than 2.75, they can qualify for an assistantship by showing they've successfully completed 6 (or more) graduate-level courses with a 3.00 GPA
Graduate Assistants must have an official transcript on file in the Office of Admissions showing their bachelors (or any other required) degree has been conferred and be fully declared in their graduate major
Graduate Assistants must meet UNI's HRS employment eligibility

Required Qualifications

Must be a full-time, degree-seeking student in the Biology Department's Master of Science program at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI)

More Information

For more information on Graduate Assistantships, visit the FAQs section of the UNI Graduate College website

Ready to Apply for a Graduate Assistantship?

Fill out the online graduate assistantship application, linked below. Applications received by February 1st will be given preferential consideration.

To be admitted, you will need:

a bachelor’s degree with a 2.75 (or higher) overall undergraduate GPA. Students who have less than a 2.75 GPA may be admitted to provisional degree status depending on other indicators of academic potential.
three favorable letters of recommendation.
a written Applicant Statement which demonstrates your potential to succeed in graduate studies.

Graduate assistantships are available as well as various forms of financial aid. You can apply for an assistantship using the "Apply Today" button below. Contact the Financial Aid Office to explore other forms of financial aid.

Note: International students whose first language is not English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores. For more information, see International Admissions.

Apply Today

See the Graduate Assistant Handbook