GSSP Funding
APPLICATION DEADLINE: February 13, 2026
Program Guidelines
The GSSP competitively awards funding to close the gap between existing funds and the students' expected cost of attendance. GSSP awards are intended as supplemental funds for graduate students working towards their PhD or Master’s degrees in veterinary affiliated research; any other funding should be identified at the time of application and/or award.
Awards are paid through Banner as a Student Support Fellowship, and are intended to provide one quarter of full support (stipend + tuition/fees). If an awardee is also employed as a GSR or TA at 25% or greater, that position will block GSSP fees. Blocked fees cannot be carried over into another quarter, so employment must be reduced or removed during the quarter of funding to avoid reduction of the award.
Requirements
- Mentor must assume financial responsibility for student's research costs and any support needed beyond the GSSP award
- Applicants must be in good academic standing (GPA of 3.0 or greater at time of application and award)
- Applications are considered from all qualified candidates. Priority will be given to those applicants who have not received GSSP support in the previous funding cycle
- Research projects whose objective directly or indirectly impact companion animal health are strongly encouraged, although all meritorious veterinary medicine affiliated research projects are appropriate
- Awards are to be utilized between July 1, 2026 and June 30, 2027
GSSP Funding Categories
GSSP funds are made available annually on a competitive basis to eligible applicants in five different funding categories:
- Funding "packages" in support of individual MS or PhD programs, including VSTP
- Matching funds in support of extramurally-funded research training programs (T32 or F30/31 only)
- Peter C. Kennedy Endowed Fellowship in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology
- Center for Equine Health Graduate Fellowship
- Peter Traum Fellowship in Veterinary Microbiology
Funding "Packages" in Support of Individual MS or PhD Programs
Traditional graduate degree programs utilize a variety of sources by which to support living stipends, including block grants, individual faculty research grant funds, Center funds, and others. Assembling a variety of funding sources is essential to meeting the salary expectations of students, particularly post-DVM students, so as to be competitive and thus attract and recruit the most outstanding individuals. Further, candidates in traditional PhD programs usually spend most of their first year(s) in classes rather than in conducting laboratory research which sometimes makes it difficult for faculty mentors to provide or justify financial support during this time. GSSP fellowship funds will be awarded as a Student Support Fellowship, which provides one quarter of funding through Banner. The amount of GSSP funds requested will be subject to maximums set forth in the annual application document.
Matching Funds in Support of Extramurally-Funded Research Training Programs
Pre- and post-doctoral research training programs funded by extramural agencies (such as NIH T32 and F30) often require institutional matching funds as a condition of application and award. Applicants may request GSSP Matching Funds for research training program applications if funded positions have been targeted specifically to, and are intended to be occupied by, veterinary students and/or veterinarians. The amount of the match will vary depending on individual application requirements and fund availability. In all cases, extramurally-funded research training programs with a mandated institutional match will receive priority over programs without a required match. Special considerations shall be made for insuring funding for existing programs before allocating funds to new programs. Requests for matching funds must be clearly identified in the application.
The Peter C. Kennedy Endowed Fellowship in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology
The goal of the Peter C. Kennedy Fellowship is to support excellent post-DVM graduate trainees working towards the PhD degree that are either board certified or eligible in the American College of Veterinary Pathologists [ACVP]. Applicants with a research emphasis in veterinary anatomic pathology are encouraged to apply, especially those whose research emphasizes the pathogenesis of naturally occurring diseases of animals that might not otherwise be supported by federal agencies focused on human health (e.g. by NIH).
The Kennedy Fellow for 2026 will receive a one year, $35,000 student support fellowship award. The student’s advisor is expected to fund the balance of the fellow’s stipend, tuition/fees and insurance, as well as the cost of research-related expenses.
Questions?
Please contact the SVM Graduate Student Support Program at svmgssp@ucdavis.edu with any questions or concerns.