Subsidy Questions

As students do we have a travel allowance?

Yes, there is limited funding for students to travel to local field sites and for presentations at scientific meetings. This comes out of your 10K research allowance. Please check with your advisor and 'Student' link on the website for more information. If you are traveling internationally (Canada included) you must have a Travel Authorization form filed prior to your travel. Please check with the Assistant Director to obtain this information.

Is a research allowance provided for me by the IGERT grant, and if so is it restricted?

10K is allotted to you for the total duration of your degree (not per year) from the IGERT grant. Expenses charged against this sub-account must be relevant to your PhD research, and agreed upon (signed off) by your advisor if above $250.

Can I use part of my research allowance to buy a laptop and is the 10K allotted to me for the total duration of my program or per year?

Yes, you may use some of your funding to purchase a laptop. Your home department or college may be able to help you with the characteristics you would like for your computer. Please contact the   Assistant Director with your order request. Once the computer is obtained a Stop Tag can be placed on it by Public Safety. This is for your safety to help with protecting the laptop in case it is stolen etc.

Are items I buy with my research allowance considered my property?

Yes, OPAA has made this determination which has replaced previous policy.

Can I supplement my monthly stipend?

IGERT students can supplement their income with a GTA or GRA assignment up to a 0.25 FTE (or $1000/month) concurrently with the IGERT stipend. The cumulative IGERT stipend is 60K for the duration of your fellowship.

Because IGERT student activities represent a full time load, outside employment beyond classes and GRAs, GTAs is strongly discouraged

Continuation of the stipend is contingent on good academic performance.

How do I know hom many tuition terms I have used and how much is left in my research allowance and stipend?

Please check with the Assistant Director to obtain this information

Why are there no taxes taken out of my stipend and do I need to sign up for direct deposit if as a GRA/GTA I already have it?

At this point and time no taxes are taken out of your stipend because you are not considered a bona fide OSU employee. As a GRA/GTA you would be considered an employee. See Office of Post Award Administration/Fellowships (formerly Research Accounting) for more information regarding taxes. This does not necessarily mean that you will  not have to report your stipend on your taxes. Consult IRS site for more information.

Yes, you will need to sign up for direct deposit as a fellow. Because you are not considered an employee as a fellow you cannot transfer your direct deposit to your fellowship. See Office of Post Award Administration/FellowshipsPost Awards for more information on signing up for direct deposit as a fellow.

Does the grant pay for my tuition and fees? for how long?

The grant pays for your tuition and academic fees (except those incurred uniquely by you i.e. late library charges) both for up to two year or eight terms.

Students and/or their advisors must find other sources of funding other than IGERT to cover additional terms of tuition. A GTA or GRA assignment would cover such terms.

IGERT students are strongly recommended to write and submit a proposal for supplementary research funding, preferably during their first year.  Advisors are expected to help write proposals, and the proposals should be interdisciplinary if possible.

The IGERT Executive Committee will review status of students periodically to see how many have supplemental grant funds and remind students that tuition from IGERT does not extend beyond 24 months.

However, the two years of IGERT tuition relief does not have to be used consecutively (i.e. you could be a GTA for one quarter and use IGERT tuition relief the next quarter). You must let the Assistant Director know when you are on and off a GRA/GTA assignment.

Does the grant pay for my health insurance?

in the fall of 2009 the university began covering health insurance for fellow. Please see Assistant Director to obtain more information.

http://studenthealth.oregonstate.edu/insurance/domestic/

other sources of insurance:

http://studenthealth.oregonstate.edu/insurance/resources.php

 When you are on GRA/GTA health insurance is provided.

II. Equipment/Access Questions

How do I go about getting software for the laptop?

Here is a listing of Oregon State University's Software & Site License Program software http://tss.oregonstate.edu/softdist/

Generally, OSU can grant licenses to users on these programs. The Administrative Program Assistant can help you with the logistics of obtaining these programs. Also, If there is software not listed, please let the Assistant Director know what it is and, if possible, where to order it.

How do I go about getting wireless access?

Your home department may be able to supply this to you. However to use your laptop in Wilkinson Hall and surrounding areas you may need to obtain an account form the COS (College of Science). Please check with the Assistant Director for further information.

III. Academic Questions

How many credit hours should I sign up for per  semester while I am receiving a fellowship?

You must be signed up for at least 12 credit hours for fall, winter, and spring semesters and at least 3 in the summer unless you are working on your thesis. See Office of Post Award Administration/fellowships for more information.  

There is a 16 hour cap on the number of credits you can sign up for. If you are in a position where going beyond this number is important to your course of study, please contact the  Assistant Director to see if an exception can be made.

I have a class conflict with one of the IGERT classes what should I do?

Although we will do our best to accommodate everybody’s schedule, inevitable there may be a conflict. The dates/times chosen will be so based on the least amount of conflict for everybody. Please work with your advisors and instructors to let them know of the situation to work around it the best you can.

When do I sign up for colloquium?

You may sign up for the 1 hour colloquium during any semester it is offered. However, you will still be expected to participate in it even during semesters you are not signed up for it per your Ecosystem Informatics integrated minor requirements.

Can I take undergraduate classes?

Yes, you may take undergraduate classes when needed and they will be paid for during the semesters IGERT pays your tuition. However, they will not be count towards your graduate program.

When Should I take my Prelims?

Current students recommend devoting  at least 5 weeks full-time to studying for their preliminary exams and waiting to the third year of the Ph.D. program if possible to take them.

How do I select an Internship?

• Look at the list of internships on our website:

• Discuss them with your advisor

• Work with your advisor to identify an internship mentor and topic that is related to your research area

• Plan to have some discussions with your mentor and advisor by the end of spring quarter of the first year

• Contact site and person you wish to do an internship with to make arrangements

• Please see agreement form for logistics of internship, fill out form, sign it, and have your advisor sign it before submittal to the IGERT Executive Committee.

Do you have any advise for choosing a place to do an internship?

from previous students' experiences

Be clear on why you are going, what you need to learn, and have a specific project that is agreed upon among all parties in advance

Do a thorough background check on the lab you are working with

Include communication with postdocs and grad students because they will likely be the ones you will spend the majority of your time with

Have a very specific timeline and expect it to take longer than you think

Make sure that your work can only be done in the place where you are going to – how important is it to be in that place to accomplish what you need to?

Have a product in mind – a paper, new tool, etc.

Try to select a product that will speed your progress in general

Call the US Embassy for up-to-date details on travel logistics

·Computer security is critical – check ahead

How should I give Ecosystems Informatics IGERT credit for publications?