Illinois State University Scholarship 2027

The Illinois State University Graduate Scholarships provide funding for successful candidates through fully funded graduate teaching and research assistantships that cover tuition, health insurance, and $2,300 in monthly living stipends.

This post will provide the full details of the opportunity, its eligibility requirements, benefits, and stepwise application procedure for interested candidates. 

This project will use environmental DNA (eDNA), diet metabarcoding, and genomics to evaluate both the current distribution of round gobies and their ecological impacts as they expand into the Illinois and Mississippi River systems.

This position offers opportunities to collaborate with state and federal scientists to conduct research with immediate management applications. 

Eligibility Requirements for Illinois State University Graduate Scholarship

To be considered for the Illinois State University Graduate Scholarship, you must:

• hold an M.S. degree in biology, ecology, fisheries, wildlife biology, or a related field. 

• have excellent written and verbal communication skills,

• demonstrate the ability to work both independently and collaboratively,

• have evidence of research productivity appropriate for their career stage.

• Competitive applicants will possess strong skills with aquatic fieldwork as well as molecular laboratory techniques such as DNA extraction, PCR, qPCR, library preparation, or next-generation sequencing. 

Benefits of Illinois State University Scholarship 2027

• The Ph.D. student will be offered a monthly stipend of ~$2,300 for up to 5 years, along with a full tuition waiver and health insurance, contingent on adequate progress in the program.

• Support will be offered through a combination of Research Assistantship (RA) and Teaching Assistantship (TA) appointments.

• Additional funding is available to support research expenses and travel to present at scientific conferences.

Required Documents for Illinois State University Graduate Scholarship

To apply, candidates must be ready to submit the following documents;

• a curriculum vitae;

• a brief statement (~1 page) describing your research experience, research interests, career goals, and why you are interested in this position; and 

• contact information for three professional references.

• How to Apply for Illinois State University Scholarship 2027 (Step by Step)

  To apply for the Illinois State University Scholarship, interested and qualified candidates should;

  • Click the green button below to go to the program website.

  • Email Kara Andres (kjandr2@ilstu.edu) with the required application materials.

  • The preferred start date is Spring or Summer 2027. 

  • Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.