The Department of Medical Physics continues to provide financial support to over 95% of the students in the graduate program, a statistic that has remained approximately constant since the initial award of CAMPEP accreditation in 1988. The university administers several different forms of financial support for graduate students: fellowships, scholarships, traineeships, loans, work-study, and by far the most common for our graduate students, research, teaching, or project assistantships. Fellowships and assistantships are awarded based on merit, while financial aid (loans and work-study) awards are need based.
Graduate assistantships, traineeships, and some fellowships are awarded directly by the department. Students applying for admission with financial support must have their application complete with supporting documentation by December 1 to assure consideration for admission and financial support to begin the following fall. The following paragraphs summarize each form of merit-based award. Recipients of research assistantships, traineeships, and fellowships are expected to devote full time to their study and research and to make satisfactory progress toward their graduate degree.
University Fellowships
Advanced Opportunity Fellowships (AOF)
This program is designed to increase the number of underrepresented students who receive graduate and advanced professional degrees from UW-Madison. A nominee must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident, admitted to or enrolled in graduate study in the department, and affiliated with one of the following groups: African-American, American Indian, Alaskan Natives, Mexican-American, Puerto Rican or Southeast Asians from Vietnam, Laos, or Cambodia. Economically disadvantaged individuals not belonging to one of these minority groups may apply also.
Department Funding
Department awards are made to academically competitive candidates. Most awards are made on an annual (12-month) basis.
Lab Rotation Funding Awards
A limited number of these awards are provided to students using funds awarded to the department by the SMPH and/or Graduate School. They provide support for the first semester with the stipulation that the student will choose a specific mentor and program for support for the second semester and beyond.
Research Assistantships (RA)
By far the largest source of financial assistance. Research Assistantships are made available by individual professors to students who have decided on their field of research. Most departmental RA appointments are made on a half-time basis for an annual (12 month) period. Students who reach dissertator status generally are funded at a higher level.
Teaching Assistantships
Teaching Assistantships are awarded on an academic year basis (9 months) to graduate students that are beyond their first year of graduate study. These appointments are usually at the level of one-quarter time.
NIH NRSA Traineeships
The Department of Medical Physics is the recipient of an NIH National Research Service Award, with seven pre-doctoral positions and three post-doctoral positions. Pre-doctoral appointments provide support while the student completes his/her PhD dissertation research and are normally made to students who have passed their Preliminary Examination. Appointments are made on an annual (12-month) basis and require a full-time graduate load.
NIH F31 Fellowships and Grants
Select students are encouraged to apply for individual research grants from NIH, including F31 grants.
Other Institutional Training Grants
Medical Physics faculty participate as trainers on various other NIH-supported institutional training grant programs. This participation provides additional training grant funding opportunities for qualified students. One of these, the Biotechnology Training Program (BTP) Grant, has the objective to educate scientists in biology and medicine whose training and experience cross traditional disciplinary boundaries. Trainees receive PhD degrees in their chosen field, such as bacteriology, chemistry, medical physics, or computer science. Students minor in a cross discipline; for instance, a medical physicist would take classes in biology.
AAPM Fellowships
Program students are typically competitive for support by AAPM graduate student fellowships.