Rubenstein Doctoral Assistantship Overview

This funding opportunity provided by the Rubenstein Graduate Program will support at least 3 new PhD students each year with 3 full years of assistantship funding to increase the number of highly qualified doctoral students who will bring unique perspectives, experience, and skills to the PhD in Natural Resources program. Please see the Overview attachment (linked above) for further details on the qualifications, funding, and application process. 

The University of Vermont is committed to inclusive excellence and its admissions practices reflect that university-wide commitment. Using a nuanced, holistic, and multi-faceted admissions process, we seek to build a campus community with myriad talents, experiences, goals, backgrounds, perspectives, and interests. Applicants are strongly encouraged to share their unique lived experience with us as part of the application process. 

Prospective students must complete and submit an application to the UVM Graduate College on or before January 1^st for our Fall start term cycle. Students should specifically reference conversations that have taken place with their intended faculty advisor in their Statement of Purpose. 

Students must be nominated by a RSENR Graduate Faculty member, who will serve as your advisor, to be considered for this funding opportunity. 

Advisors will complete and submit the Request Form by January 23rd of the calendar year in which the student intends to matriculate. 

The Gund Institute for Environment at the University of Vermont supports outstanding PhD applicants interested in conducting interdisciplinary research on major global environmental challenges. With Gund PhD Fellowships, students receive attractive funding packages, world-class faculty mentors, real-world experience collaborating with leaders in government and business – and a deep understanding of complex global sustainability issues.

Learn more about Gund Research Fellowships

Leadership for the Ecozoic (L4E) is a transdisciplinary initiative based at the University of Vermont (UVM) and McGill University that advances collaborative research, teaching, and leadership for a just and sustainable future. L4E at UVM fosters scholarship that explores economics through the lens of sustainable scale and just distribution over efficient allocation.

To apply for a Fellowship, please review the Fall 2026 Application. Please connect with Julie Starr (julie.starr@uvm.edu) with any questions.Learn more about L4E

BilDS is a training program, a training program that integrates with existing Ph.D. programs across the UVM campus in biology, plant biology, plant and soil sciences, mathematics, computer science, engineering, natural resources, and cellular, molecular and biomedical sciences. Traineeships provide core courses, a variety of quantitative electives, an applied internship with a non-academic organization, and extensive professional development training in computation, communication, and cultural awareness and inclusion. 

Learn more about BilDS

Responsibilities

The Rubenstein School has many teaching assistantships available each academic year (Fall & Spring semesters) in support of our RSENR undergraduate curriculum. Graduate teaching assistants may lead field and indoor laboratories, facilitate discussion sessions among small groups of undergraduates, assist with evaluation and grading, run workshops and help sessions, and more. Typical assignments are for 10 hours a week.

Qualifications

Teaching Assistantship positions are prioritized in supplement to additional advisor-secured Research Assistantship funding, and may be a component of one or several semesters of a student's funding offer. Incoming students may not apply for this support, as these positions are allocated based on faculty advisor requests and supplemental funding needs.