The interdepartmental structure of the program enables students to access diverse resources and expertise. Assistance is available for financial matters, academic planning, and the pursuit of individual research interests.

If you have any questions about the environmental science graduate program, you can contact Lynette Edsall (camelot@iastate.edu) for further information.

Orientation and Onboarding Resources

Financial Support

All admitted applicants to the SUSAG major will be financially supported by a graduate assistantship throughout their tenure in the program. Assistantships are through faculty-supported research grants (research assistantships) and/or departments (teaching assistantships). Assistantships pay a bi-monthly stipend, include a tuition scholarship (100% PhD, 75% MS), and provide single coverage health insurance at no charge. Tuition balances are calculated at the Iowa resident rate regardless of residency. Assistantships are identified by the nominating faculty member during the admission process. When contacting faculty members, applicants should inquire about the availability of assistantships.

All new nominated applicants will be considered for a Sustainable Agriculture Fellowship, which provides assistantship support equivalent to a 1/4-time appointment for 1 semester. Current Iowa State graduate students are not eligible. Awards are based on a competitive review of academic credentials.
 

GPSA Scholarships

The GPSA program has two scholarship programs associated with the Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture that support student stipends and tuition. 

The Edna Rathman Fund in Sustainable Agriculture was established in 2002 to support students studying sustainable agriculture in the GPSA. Ms. Rathman owned approximately 1000 acres of farmland and was committed to maintaining and increasing the productivity her land through use of science-based soil and water conservation practices including rotations that included oats and forages, terraces, buffer strips, grassed waterways, and field border strips. She invested in the GPSA and its students in “hopes that the sustainability of production agriculture in Iowa will be improved.”

The Rathman Sustainable Agriculture Fellowship provides 2 assistantships annually. The first is the Rathman Colloquium Fellowship, which funds a TA stipend and tuition for the Sustainable Agriculture Colloquium (SUSAG 6000). The Rathman Colloquium Fellow coordinates the planning and implementation of the Colloquium, one of three foundational core courses that all GPSA students take. A call for applications is sent out to GPSA students during the spring semester to begin in the next fall semester. The second Rathman Fellowship is a 9-month, quarter-time or half-time assistantship. This Fellowship does not include tuition.

The second fellowship program is called the Graduate Fellowship in Sustainable Agriculture. This fellowship was established by an anonymous donor to support graduate students studying sustainable agriculture. The Graduate Fellowship in Sustainable Agriculture provides at least one quarter-time assistantship annually or every other year, depending on available funds. This Fellowship does not include tuition.

Any GPSA faculty may apply for a fellowship to support their students. Preference is given to accepted, incoming students, but in some cases current students may also be funded. To apply for a fellowship, faculty must submit a letter of application that outlines the research that the student will be undertaking as well as the funding plan. Letters of application should be submitted to Lynette Edsall at camelot@iastate.edu.

Gary and Ann Holck Graduate Scholarship in Sustainable Agriculture

Gary and Ann Holck of Spencer, Iowa established an endowed scholarship for students in the Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture (GPSA) at Iowa State University. Gary and Ann are committed to the sustainability of our agricultural systems, especially reducing the impacts of nutrients on water quality. Their generous donation will help support students pursuing M.S. or Ph.D. degrees in Sustainable Agriculture.

Gary and Ann met as undergraduate students at Iowa State University. After earning graduate degrees in Vermont and Missouri, the Holcks returned to Iowa, establishing Holco Agriproducts, a livestock feed company.

The Graduate Program in Sustainable Agriculture would like to thank Gary and Ann Holck for their generous support of the program and its students who are working to address the sustainability challenges that agriculture faces.

1. Availability: Two scholarships of $2,000 each as an award on the student's UBill.
2. Must be a Sustainable Agriculture major or co-major.
3. Must be a graduate student (MS or Ph.D.) at the time of scholarship disbursement.
4. Preference will be given to students in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

A call for nominations is held during one of the academic semesters. 

Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture Graduate Student Grant Program

The Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture (LCSA) will fund two GPSA student projects for $2,500 each. The grant is for research projects that leverage existing or other funding to help Graduate Program for Sustainable Agriculture (GPSA) students conduct research that advances agricultural sustainability in Iowa and beyond. Proposals must be written by GPSA students in good academic standing, with permission from their major professor.

A call for proposals is held during the spring semester. 

Professional Development Grants

Award period: July 1 - June 30
Award amount: TBD*
Awards available: TBD based on number of requests
Request deadline: One month prior to event

Students participating in a professional development activity may submit a Professional Development Grant (PDG) request. Priority consideration will be given to those presenting at a conference. Follow the steps below to complete your request. 

NOTE: These funds are only available for students whose declared graduate major/co-major is Sustainable Agriculture.

1. Contact the Program Specialist to request the PDG Request form.
2. Submit your request and abstract as PDF files to susag-pdg@iastate.edu.
3. Following the event, submit a brief written report to susag-pdg@iastate.edu. The report should be submitted within 30 days.
4. To initiate your reimbursement, please contact Lynette for the Worktag number and work with your home department to complete the form in Workday.

*Awards are limited to one per student, per award period regardless of award amount.

Students are encourage to apply for additional funding support through the Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS), as well as their home department.

Career Information

Detailed information on careers can be found on the Career Planning page. Find salary ranges for some of the most popular occupations within immunobiology. 

Students are also encouraged to utilize the Graduate College’s Career Services resources. The resources include assistance with résumé preparation, job search strategies, and employment negotiations to help students successfully prepare for and transition into their chosen careers.

Connections

You’ll find support from your peers, faculty, and staff when you join a graduate learning community. Learn about your path of study, on-campus resources and activities, and future careers. You’ll connect with faculty and students through activities both in and outside the classroom and collaborate with a peer mentor.

Connect with other students developing innovative and entrepreneurial skills in the Start Something CALS or Start Something LAS Academy. Or find other students with similar interests in any of Iowa State’s hundreds of student organizations.

The university provides a comprehensive network of academic support, health and safety resources, and supportive communities.