Resources for Graduate Students

A student presents research at a poster session.

This page is a one-stop-shop with important resources for our graduate students at the University of Kansas Department of Chemistry.

If you need any of the resources below, please send requests to the Graduate Program Coordinator, Ross Perryman, at rossp@ku.edu:

  • Course Syllabi
  • Chemistry Department Doctoral Program profile

Please also refer to the Current Graduate Student FAQ page.

 

Graduate Student Handbook

Currently enrolled Department of Chemistry graduate students should consult the Chemistry Graduate Student Handbook (pdf) with respect to questions regarding:

  • MS/PhD coursework requirements
  • Oral comprehensive exam scheduling procedures
  • Advisor change / transfer of group procedures
  • And more!

You can find previous versions of the Graduate Student Handbook in the Handbook Archive.

ChemGSO

The mission of ChemGSO is to:

  • Facilitate communication between graduate students and the Chemistry Department
  • Promote professional development for chemistry graduate students
  • Build social ties within the department & within the students

They hold monthly meetings and events during which they discuss issues important to graduate students, brainstorm new programs and policies to suggest to the department, and plan upcoming events.

If you have an anonymous concern you'd like ChemGSO to be aware of, you can let them know using the following forms:

Writing Center

Graduate students can benefit from KU Writing Center support from their first year through completing their thesis or dissertation.  The Writing Center is available for individual consultations in addition to hosting workshops throughout the year.  Each year in January, the host the Thesis/Dissertation Accelerator workshop, a four-day intensive professionalization workshop for graduate students wishing to progress quickly on their theses and dissertations between semesters.  There are a limited number of spots available, so apply early!

Canvas

The web components for KU courses are managed through Canvas.  You can find guides on navigating and using Canvas on the Canvas Instructor Resources webpage.

Below you can find position descriptions for each of our Teaching Assistantship course assignments.

Lab TA Position Descriptions

Lecture TA Position Description

Domestic Students:

Please refer to the instructions on HR's Graduate Student Health Insurance page:

To be eligible, you must first be enrolled in the minimum number of hours to be considered full-time (usually 6 hours). 

Step 1:  Submit an online application for health insurance at United Healthcare Online Enrollment.  Once the application has been submitted, the University will verify eligibility and approve the application. 

Step 2:  Once the application has been approved, the student will receive an email from UHCSR with a link requesting payment of the student's portion of the premium.  Enrollment is not complete until UHCSR receives the student's premium payment.

Please note, it is the student's responsibility to apply for and renew this voluntary health insurance each semester.

International Students:

To enroll in Health Insurance, please refer to the instructions on the ISS’s Health Insurance for GTAs page.

Namely, they will need you to do the following:

  1. Enroll in KU classes. The insurance fee for the semester will automatically be assessed to the student’s account in Enroll and Pay.  Insurance rates for eligible GTA, GRA, GA students can be found on the office of Graduate Studies website. 
  2. Submit an online application to United Healthcare Student Resources (UHCSR) sometime between 7/29/24 – 8/26/24.  Once the application has been submitted, the University will verify eligibility and approve the application.  Go to United Healthcare Online Enrollment and click on the “Enrollment Form” link at the bottom of the webpage. 

ISS will then bill you for the 25% portion of the insurance fee ($294.88) on your student account in Enroll & Pay.  The other 75% portion ($884.62) will be paid by the University separately.

Graduate Scholarships & Awards

The Department of Chemistry provides several scholarships and awards each year at our annual Chemistry Department Awards Presentation and Honors Reception.  A representative list of the various scholarships and awards can be found on our "Graduate Scholarships and Awards" page. 

For a full list of graduate scholarship and award recipients, please visit our "Graduate Scholarships and Awards Recipients" page.

University Awards

  • The Office of Graduate Studies' Graduate Student Travel Fund
    • Award up to $750, once per academic year per student
      • Cycle I Travel Dates: July 1 - Oct 14
        Application Opens 8/20/2025
      • Cycle II Travel Dates: Oct 15 - Dec 31
        Application Opens 10/1/2025
      • Cycle III Travel Dates: Jan 1 - March 31
        Application Opens 12/15/2025
      • Cycle IV Travel Dates: April 1 - June 30
        Application Opens 3/16/2026
    • You should be notified by the Office of Graduate Studies of award decision within 2 weeks
    • Awarded as scholarship that posts directly to student account

Department Awards

  • Emily V. Berger Graduate Travel Awards
    • Award up to $1000, once per academic year per student
    • Please apply at least one month prior to travel by sending CV, meeting details, and presentation details (orals, poster, accepted, etc.) to the Graduate Program Coordinator, Ross Perryman, at rossp@ku.edu.

The department has other divisional awards, and PIs may provide travel support from their grants as well.  If you have questions about other means for funding your travel, please talk with your PI or the Graduate Program Coordinator.

If you are experiencing any type of workplace harassment or need mental health support, please consult these campus and community resources:

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