Department Financial Support
The majority of PhD students in the UCSB Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry graduate program are financially supported throughout their course of study. Sources of support include teaching assistantships, graduate student researcher and/or fellowships. Support continues beyond the first year of study as long as you remain in good academic standing. All continuing students are encouraged to discuss funding opportunities with their research advisors in advance of the quarter funding is needed.
Financial support includes the payment of tuition, fees and health insurance. A Summary of Quarterly Fees and Expenses can be found on the Office of the Registrar's website.
Further details regarding Student Financial Support can be found in the Graduate Student Handbook, Graduate Division website and the FAQ's.
Fellowship Opportunities
Information for Teaching Assistants
The Department awards an average of 75 teaching assistantships per quarter. Most are 20 hour per week appointments. All students must hold teaching assistantships for at least 3 quarters (not necessarily consecutive quarters) to meet the departmental Ph.D. degree requirement. Students typically hold Teaching Assistant appointments during the first and/or second year of graduate study. The TA Assignment Committee determines TA course assignments in accordance with the DCB Rules for TA Assignment. Exceptions require advance approval from the Department Chair. All students appointed for 25% time (10 hours per week) or more are eligible for fee remission. TA positions are typically requested by their primary research advisor, but may also self-nominate by emailing the Staff Graduate Program Advisor at least 6 weeks in advance of the quarter in which the position is requested.
Eligibility for Teaching Assistant Positions
All new students must attend mandatory TA training sessions, campus-wide TA Orientation, and the required laboratory safety course during New Grad Academic Training in September. Any homework assignments associated with training must also be submitted. Students will receive a TA Training Handbook during New Grad Academic Training, which should be retained and referenced for the duration of their graduate career at UCSB. New TAs are required to enroll in Chem 501A and attend weekly TA meetings. International students and permanent residents whose native language is not English must pass the mandatory English for Multilingual Students (EMS) oral exam before being certified for sole classroom teaching.
To maintain eligibility for TA nominations, continuing students must maintain good academic standing and perform all TA duties adequately. Assessment of adequate TA performance will be determined by the instructor in charge of the course and submission of undergraduate evaluation forms. Students who do not meet eligibility standards for one or more quarters will not be selected for future TA positions until performance is determined to be adequately improved.
TA Absence Protocol: Teaching Assistants who will miss lab for any reason during the quarter must submit an Absence Approval Request Form with the appropriate approvals to the Staff Graduate Program Advisor at least one week prior to the start of the quarter. All TAs must be present on the first day of instruction, regardless of scheduled teaching times. TAs who will miss more than one week during the quarter will be ineligible for a position. Substitute TAs must have prior experience teaching the course and must be approved by the instructor in charge of the course.
Training and Reference Materials
Assistant Professor of Teaching, Dr. Stephanie Pazos, works with all new students in preparation for teaching assignments. Workshops, presentations, and assignments include Teaching Responsibilities,Teaching Problem Solving, lecture presentations, and TA meetings. Chemistry and Biochemistry Student Affairs staff provides information on undergraduate enrollment processes and waiting list procedures. The Teaching Assistant Manual, distributed during Orientation, should be consulted throughout a student's tenure as a TA.