Marquette Department of Biological Sciences receives $590K grant for graduate education

MILWAUKEE -- The Department of Biological Sciences has received a $590,000 Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need grant from the U.S. Department of Education to support four graduate fellows. The fellowship program will be directed by Dr. Michael Schläppi, associate professor of biological sciences.

Schläppi said the three-year grant will help his department target fellows from underrepresented groups and first-generation college students.

“We are thrilled to obtain this grant, and it’s our hope to use it to attract candidates to Marquette who otherwise wouldn’t have come to our university,” Schläppi said.

Schläppi said it would be a competitive process to hire students who want to conduct research and eventually be researchers and educators in their fields of study. Each will receive, depending on financial need, an annual stipend of up to $34,000.

“Sometimes, first-generation students are satisfied by obtaining an undergraduate degree,” Schläppi said. “Instead of stopping there, this grant encourages students to reach for the stars and receive their doctorates.”

“The grant is really a win-win,” said Dr. Edward Blumenthal, chair of the Department of Biological Sciences.  “Not only does it support students to attend graduate school who otherwise might not do so, but it also allows us to expand our graduate program and increase the amount of research ongoing at Marquette.”

GAANN provides fellowships to assist graduate students with excellent records who demonstrate financial need and plan to pursue the highest degree available in their course study in a field designated as an area of national need.