Graduate Information

Programs and Advisors

See your Faculty Advisor to:

• Get general advice about coursework, curriculum, and career options
• Discuss academic problems and available resources
• Get a Work at Another Institution form approved

See the Departmental Administrator or Department Chair to:

• Discuss issues that your advisor was unable to resolve
• Get a credit adjustment to correct issues on your degree audit
• Get approval for course overload and other things requiring approval of the chair

Departmental AdministratorDepartment Chair

Graduate Thesis Research

Thesis and non-thesis options are available for most of our graduate degrees. A masters thesis is an in-depth and original research project conducted during your graduate studies. Students generally conduct these projects over the course of several semesters under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Students are encouraged to undertake the thesis option because prospective employers and continuing programs (i.e. PhD’s) are more interested in applicants with substantial research experience. Learn more about graduate research within our department!

Graduate Student Support

There are a small number of Graduate Assistantships available each year. All positions for this year have been filled. We will add opportunities here when they become available!

Scholarships

Wehner Student Research Program (WESTREP)

Amount: Up to $10000 ($3000 – Stipend, fixed; $5000 – Research, flexible; $2000 – Travel, flexible)

Deadline: April 6

Bonnie Lustigman Research Fellowship

Amount: Up to two awards per year; $1000-$2000 each based on fund availability

Criteria: Full-time undergraduate or graduate student enrolled in at least six credits and majoring in a major housed within the Department of Biology and Molecular Biology, in good academic standing, with a minimum grade point average of 3.5 in the major.

The Bonnie Lustigman Research Fellowship has been established to financially assist talented undergraduate and graduate students to defray expenses of their own research while enrolled as a full-time Biology and Molecular Biology major at Montclair State University in the year in which the funds are awarded.

An Award recipient must demonstrate a commitment to biology and molecular biology scholarship and research.

This award is founded in loving memory of Professor Bonnie Lustigman.

Application: Biology Scholarship Form

Dr. Al Stein Memorial Fund

Amount: Approximately $250-500

Criteria: Undergraduate recipients must have successfully completed one year of Biology core and collateral courses with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.5 at the time of application. Graduate students must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at the time of application.

This fund has been established to financially assist full-time undergraduate and/or graduate students majoring in one of the degree programs offered in the Department of Biology and Molecular Biology. The Award is intended to assist students who are in need of emergency funds.

* We encourage successful applicants to restore the funds to the Biology and Molecular Biology Department and the Dr. Al Stein Memorial Fund when they are financially able to, in order to help future students in need.

Application: Biology Scholarship Form

Viola Whitney Pfleger Fund

Amount: Up to $700

Criteria: Preferably a Biology major. Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher in the major. Experience in horticulture preferred.

The Viola Whitney Pfleger Fund has been established to support a student with sincere interest in botany or in conservation efforts affecting the plant environment.

Application: Biology Scholarship Form

The Margaret and Herman Sokol Graduate Summer Research Fellowship

Amount: $5,000

Criteria:

1. The Graduate Summer Research Fellowship is available to MA/MS students in CSAM who are completing their first year of a research-based thesis program.
2. Students should submit a two-page research proposal, with summer goals/timeline. This proposal must include full contact information including phone numbers and e-mail addresses.
3. Students should submit courses/grades from first year (unofficial transcript suffice plus predictions of grades in courses currently being taken can be appended as a separate list).
4. Students should obtain and submit a letter of support from her or his faculty thesis advisor/mentor including a statement that research will take place with the mentor over this coming summer.
5. Applications should be submitted directly to the Dean’s Office, CELS 206.
6. The recipient and her/his mentor will be notified via e-mail. Please note that the mentor and the awardee(s) will be invited and recognized at the CSAM Awards and Recognition event sometime in May.

Mrs. Margaret Sokol has provided CSAM students with an opportunity to advance their education. The Margaret and Herman Sokol Graduate Summer Research Fellowship will provide a $5,000.00 stipend to a talented M.S. or M.A. graduate student to conduct research on their thesis at Montclair State during the summer.

Any CSAM science graduate student who has completed one year of graduate study, is working on a research thesis, and will return to M for the fall semester is eligible to apply.

The Margaret and Herman Sokol Graduate Fellowship in Science

Amount: $10,000

Criteria: The Margaret and Herman Sokol Graduate Fellowship in Science is a ten thousand dollar ($10,000) award to a graduating natural science major from the College of Science and Mathematics (CSAM) at Montclair State University who will pursue formal, full-time graduate study leading to a doctoral (Ph.D.) degree at an accredited institution of higher learning. This award will be restricted to students in the disciplines of Biology, Molecular Biology, Geoscience, Physics, Chemistry and Biochemistry. Each year one graduating senior will be selected to receive one of these $10,000 Fellowships. Applications will be reviewed following the fall semester and announcement of the award will be made in the spring each year.

The recipient of the award will be given a $5,000 stipend upon verification of enrollment for the first year of graduate study, and the additional $5,000 when she/he verifies that approximately half of the graduate program has been completed. The second $5,000 portion will be placed in trust in an interest bearing account. The recipient will receive both the principal and interest at the time of the second award. In the event that the Fellow does not continue in the graduate program, the second award will not be granted and the money will be returned to the fund at Montclair State University.

Candidates for the award must have completed at least 60 semester hours at Montclair State University with at least 24 semester hours completed in their natural science major at Montclair State University by graduation. Candidates must submit formal application to the Department Chair on the form provided. Each department chair may nominate no more than one applicant in each discipline to the Dean, who will consult with the CSAM department chairs prior to making a determination of the award recipient.