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Graduate Funding & Awards

The key role of higher education is producing two things: discoveries and the people who make the discoveries. As part of a Tier 1 research institution, Texas A&M Arts and Sciences faculty and students have a hand in research that spans disciplines with important human ties. Our graduate students and various research programs are tackling some of the world’s biggest problems through discovery and innovation. We explore new ideas and recognize that tomorrow’s answers are by-products of today’s questions — solutions that require an increasingly interdisciplinary approach to enable breakthroughs. Such groundbreaking advances thrive in our culture of discovery in which the pursuit of basic knowledge is elevated to ensure its transformational impact on our world.

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Funding Opportunities and Awards


Graduate Research Awards

College of Arts and Sciences Award for Outstanding Achievement in Graduate Research 

The College of Arts and Sciences seeks to recognize outstanding achievement by graduate students in the field of research. The College will accept nominations from departments that highlight the diversity of research projects across the college. Particularly meritorious accomplishments may include, but are not limited to, publications, papers presented at professional conferences, external grants and other awards or prizes. 

In the current year, the College will award up to four outstanding students, each of whom will receive a plaque and a prize of $1,000. 

Each department may nominate one student for this award. Departments are welcome to identify their nominee in whatever way they determine, however, nominees must be enrolled during the Spring 2023 semester to be eligible. Nominations will be evaluated by a committee of faculty and administrators within the college. 

Nominations will be assessed based on the potential impact of the student’s research on their field, the quantity and quality of the student’s current and pending publications, awards and honors received, and the clarity of the nominee’s research statement. 

Nominations should include:

  1. A letter of nomination from the director of the graduate program (max 2 pages). The letter should highlight the nominee’s research accomplishments and put them in the context of the nominee’s academic discipline. This is particularly important due to the interdisciplinary nature of the review committee.
  2. A research statement written by the student (max 1 page) that provides a summary of their research activities in terms that will be readily comprehensible by an educated non-specialist. 
  3. A letter of support from the nominee’s primary faculty advisor(s) (max 2 pages).
  4. The nominee’s CV. 

Nominations are due by January 31, 2023, and should be sent as a single PDF document to grad-artsci@tamu.edu. 

Questions may be directed to Dr. Adam Seipp, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies (aseipp@tamu.edu).

The College of Arts and Sciences seeks to recognize outstanding and innovative undergraduate teaching by graduate students. The College will accept nominations from departments of students who have held graduate assistantships as Teachers (GAT) or Lecturers (GAL). The award will recognize a nominee’s entire body of work as a teacher, so nominations may be made on behalf of students who have taught in multiple roles during their time at Texas A&M.

In the current year, the College will award up to four outstanding students, each of whom will receive a plaque and a prize of $1,000.

Nominations should include:

  1. A letter of nomination from the director of the graduate program (2 pages max). The letter should highlight the nominee’s accomplishments as an instructor within the context of their discipline and department. This is particularly important given the interdisciplinary nature of the selection committee.
  2. A statement of teaching philosophy by the nominee (max 1 page).
  3. Two letters of recommendation, at least one of which must come from a current or former undergraduate student. The other may come from a faculty member who is well-positioned to comment on the nominee’s teaching abilities.
  4. The nominee’s CV.

Nominations will be assessed based on evidence of the nominee’s creativity and effectiveness in undergraduate instruction, participation in high-impact teaching practices, and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students where appropriate.

Nominations are due by January 31, 2023, and should be sent as a single PDF document to grad-artsci@tamu.edu.

Questions may be directed to Dr. Adam Seipp, Associate Dean for Graduate Studies (aseipp@tamu.edu).

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