The University of North Dakota is offering a fully funded research opportunity for qualified students interested in pursuing Master’s and Doctoral degrees at the institution. The scholarship covers tuition and health insurance and provides a monthly living stipend of up to $2,388 for selected candidates from all countries.
Scholarship Summary
- Host Country: United States
- Host Institution: University of North Dakota
- Category: Postgraduate Scholarships | Masters Scholarships | PhD Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: All Countries
- Reward: Full Scholarship | Up to $28,656 Annual Stipend | Health Insurance | Tuition Waiver
- IELTS: Not Required
- Deadline: February 1, 2027
Scholarship Details
Dr. Matt Dunkle is inviting applications from prospective Master’s and PhD students to join his laboratory in the Department of Biology at the University of North Dakota, with students expected to begin in Summer/Fall 2027. As a newly established laboratory, incoming students will have the opportunity to contribute to shaping its research direction and laboratory culture.
The research will focus on food web and trophic dynamics in freshwater ecosystems, using dietary analysis, stable isotope techniques, and other research approaches. Particular attention will be given to understanding how climate change and environmental disturbances, including wildfires and changing thermal and hydrologic conditions, influence lake and stream food webs.
Students will receive training in traditional stream ecology, stable isotope methods, quantitative food web analysis, field sampling design, statistical and programming techniques using R, and scientific writing. Selected students will also receive support to attend and present their research at national conferences.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the University of North Dakota Graduate Scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a B.S. degree in ecology, biology, environmental science, or a related field.
- Demonstrate a genuine interest in freshwater ecosystems and a willingness to develop independent research skills.
- Be able to work effectively both independently and collaboratively.
- Be willing to conduct fieldwork under variable environmental conditions.
Preferred Qualifications
- Previous field or laboratory research experience.
- Familiarity with R or another statistical/programming environment.
Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants will initially receive a Department of Biology Teaching Assistantship. The assistantship provides a stipend of approximately $1,888 per month for Master’s students or $2,388 per month for PhD students, together with a tuition waiver and health insurance.
A transition to a Research Assistantship is anticipated, subject to the successful outcome of pending grant proposals.
Required Documents
To apply for this scholarship, applicants must prepare to submit:
- A one-page cover letter explaining their research interests, relevant experience, and career goals.
- A CV or resume.
- Contact information for three references.
How to Apply
To apply for the University of North Dakota Graduate Scholarship:
- Prepare all the required application documents.
- Combine the documents into a single PDF file.
- Send the PDF to [email protected].
- Use “GA Position (Last Name)” as the email subject line.
- Applications are being considered on a rolling basis until January 31, 2027.
- Formal application to the UND Biology graduate program is a separate process, with a stated deadline of February 15. Interested applicants are encouraged to discuss application timing with Dr. Matt Dunkle.
Contact
Dr. Matt Dunkle
Department of Biology
University of North Dakota
Email: [email protected]
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