Career Action Center
Ghassan Hamra, 2011 Sidney Kark Award for Distinguished Teaching Assistant
Katie O’Brien, 2011 Berton H. Kaplan Student Publication Award
Meagan Vaughn, 2011 Marilyn and Al Tyroler Endowed Scholarship in Epidemiology
Leah Schinasi, 2011 Arrighi Scholars Fund, in honor of Vic Schoenbach
Catheryne Clouse, 2011 Rebecca James Baker Scholarship
Nora Rosenberg, 2011 Cornoni-Huntley Scholarship
Leah Sirkus McGrath, 2011 Harry A. Guess/Merck Scholarship in Pharmacoepidemiology
Anna Dow, 2011 Barbara Sorenson Hulka Dissertation Award
Jessie Buckley, Nancy A. Dreyer Endowed Scholarship in Epidemiology
Where can I find a copy of a dissertation?
Answer:
Dissertations are available from UMI Dissertation Services.
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Are student loans available?
Answer:
The University Student Aid Office handles all student loans and work-study assistance. Financial aid information can be obtained through the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid, CB# 2300, 300 Vance Hall, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. Telephone: (919) 962-8396.
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What other types of financial assistance are available?
Answer:
How can I find out about research funding?
Answer:
We encourage students seeking research funding to contact the University’s Office of Research Services, 300 Bynum Hall, CB# 4100, UNC, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, to explore various fellowships and grant possibilities. This can be especially useful when one is seeking dissertation support. The Office maintains extensive files, and the staff gives expert and helpful assistance.
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Question:
Is there any supplemental funding for international applicants?
Answer:
International students may be considered for selected Graduate School awards, research assistantships, teaching assistantships, and non-federal traineeships.
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Question:
Who can international applicants contact for financial assistance?
Answer:
International applicants needing financial assistance for study in the United States may wish to contact the Institute of International Education, 809 United Nations Plaza, New York, NY 10017; U.S. Information Service Libraries; or US Consulates abroad for information about possible sources of funding.
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Research assistantships (RAs) offer students an opportunity to gain valuable research-related experience, develop close working relationships with faculty, and sometimes earn co-authorship on peer-reviewed publications. Assistantships come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Just as our students represent a wide range of experience and training, so do the available RA positions necessitate an array of skill levels. The degree of expertise required for a particular assistantship is dictated by the nature of the project. The duties of an RA may include, but are not limited to:
The duration of RA positions is quite variable. Some are short-term (weeks or even days in duration) and some may last for a year or more. The number of hours of work per week also varies, typically ranging from 15-20 hours per week. Stipend rates vary depending on level of skills required and funding availability.
Research assistantships become available throughout the year, as new grants are funded or existing ones extended. Opportunities are usually plentiful, and over the years most epidemiology students who wish to work have been able to do so. However, the grants that fund student assistantships are from sources outside the University, and may carry uncertainties; consequently, it is rarely possible to promise such a position before the student arrives on Campus. A new student should be prepared to handle his or her full expenses at first, with the reasonable hope that an assistantship can be obtained within a fairly short time.
How to get a research assistantship
Students in the department may gain teaching experience through Teaching Assistantship (TA) positions. Just as with the Research Assistantships, TA positions are available to students with different skill levels. TAs work with faculty in the preparation of course materials, the preparation of the class schedule, the assembly of course-packs, and in the pre-testing of evaluation instruments. During the courses, TAs observe lectures and make themselves available to students for clarification of concepts and terms used in those lectures; review the exercises used in course materials and/or textbooks; they conduct question-and-answer sessions structured around examples and exercises used in various sections of applied courses; and they make themselves available to answer questions from students in clarification sessions prior to quizzes, tests, and final examination.
The number of hours of work per week varies according to the demands of the course. Stipend rates vary depending on level of skills required and funding availability.
How to get a teaching assistantship:
TA positions for new students are limited, but may be available to students entering with prior epidemiology training. Most of the TA opportunities are for EPID 600, a service course for non-majors that satisfies the SPH core requirement. Students who have completed more advanced training may serve as TAs for upper-level methods courses. In addition, opportunities are sometimes available in the substantive epidemiology courses. TAs in the advanced level courses usually serve at the invitation of the primary course instructor; however, the instructors will always welcome an inquiry from students who have a strong interest in a particular course. Students interested in teaching assistantships should contact our Student Services Office.
In-state students may receive an In-State Tuition Award that provides tuition support, not to include fees. To be eligible, the student must be appointed as a teaching assistant, research assistant, fellow or trainee; earn a minimum of $7,000 per semester ($7,350 for TAs) (2011-12 academic year); and be enrolled full-time.
Out-of-state students are also eligible for the In-State Tuition Award, if they receive a concurrent tuition remission award.
Several institutional training grants from NIH agencies provide support for epidemiology students. Students who apply for training support must be in a program leading to the PhD, or must have a prior doctoral degree. Under NIH provisions, trainees must be United States citizens or Permanent Residents.
The grant pays a portion of tuition and fees, in addition to a stipend. The current NIH predoctoral stipend is $20,976 for a 12-month appointment. Postdoctoral stipends vary according to the trainee’s years of experience. Training grant appointments are non-service, but generally require a research apprenticeship. However, the student’s career interests and research project must be within the area for which the grant is funded.
Current department training grants fund a number of students studying issues in cancer, cardiovascular disease, environmental, occupational and nutritional epidemiology. Faculty participating in administration of each grant select the trainees. Application forms are available from the Student Services Office. The Principal Investigators for the departmental training grants are as follows:
Cancer Training Grant | Dr. Andrew Olshan |
Cardiovascular Disease Training Grant | Dr. Gerardo Heiss |
Environmental Epidemiology Training Grant | Dr. Marilie Gammon |
Occupational Epidemiology Training Grant | Dr. David Richardson |
Pharmacoepidemiology Training Grant | Dr. Til Stürmer |
Infectious Disease Training Grant | Dr. Steven Meshnick |
Reproductive Perinatal Pediatric Training Grant | Dr. Anna Maria Siega-Riz |
Upon an offer of admission, you will be given access to web application for requesting consideration for a training grant position.
Certain related programs on campus also fund epidemiology students through NIH training grants, including:
and some medical and dental programs. The Carolina Population Center and the affiliated programs do have procedures for application. Interested students should contact the program directly.
Visit financing education for more information on school-level opportunities for help.
General Forms:
Master’s Forms:
Doctoral Forms:
Hoping to establish NC residency for tuition purposes? It is important for you to read the documents below sooner rather than later.
Newly enrolling students will have a better chance of success(though not guaranteed) if they move here earlier in the summer and start to “establish domicile” by doing such things as immediately changing over driver’s licenses, registering vehicles, registering to vote, etc. Be prepared to demonstrate ties to the community.
You must have “established domicile” for a minimum of a full year prior to applying.
NC State Residence Classification Manual [PDF]