Tatter Family Entomology Graduate Fellowship 2027–2028: $35,000 Salary, Tuition and Research Support at Michigan State

Tatter Family Entomology Graduate Fellowship 2027–2028: $35,000 Salary, Tuition and Research Support at Michigan State

The Tatter Family Entomology Graduate Fellowship is a highly targeted funding opportunity for a prospective graduate researcher who wants to study entomology at Michigan State University (MSU). For the Fall 2027 award cycle, MSU’s Department of Entomology plans to award one fellowship to an outstanding graduate student. Applications open on September 1, 2026, and must be completed by November 27, 2026 for full consideration.

This is not a general scholarship that can be carried to any university or field. It is attached to an MSU Entomology M.S. or Ph.D. graduate program and depends on a faculty mentor being willing to accept the applicant into the mentor’s laboratory. The practical fit is therefore as important as the applicant’s academic record. A strong candidate will arrive with a credible research direction, a clear reason for choosing MSU Entomology, and an early conversation with a potential mentor.

Key details

The department describes the fellowship as a fully funded graduate research assistantship. “Fully funded” here refers to the published package of salary, benefits, tuition and research/travel support. The public announcement does not say that every personal or family expense will be covered, and it does not publish a separate housing allowance or a guaranteed second-year award. Applicants should use the confirmed terms above when planning finances.

What the fellowship provides

The central award is a $35,000 annual salary for the 2027–2028 academic year. The salary is part of a graduate research assistantship, so the fellowship is connected to research training and work in an MSU Entomology laboratory rather than being an unrestricted prize. The award also includes benefits and tuition, which changes the financial calculation substantially for a student comparing graduate offers.

MSU separately lists $5,000 in research and travel support. That money is intended to make the research and professional-development parts of graduate study more workable. The public announcement does not break the $5,000 into required categories or state whether every expense needs prior approval. Treat it as program-linked support, not as cash that can automatically be used for rent, debt, or unrelated costs. Ask the department how research and travel requests are administered before building a detailed personal budget.

The fellowship is awarded for one year and may be renewed for a second year based on program progress. Renewal is therefore a possibility rather than a two-year guarantee. A careful applicant should plan the first year around measurable academic and research progress, while recognizing that the published call does not state a fixed renewal decision date, renewal amount, or automatic continuation rule.

Only one Tatter Family Entomology Graduate Fellowship will be awarded for Fall 2027. That makes the opportunity unusually selective, but it also makes fit evidence especially important. A generic statement about liking insects will not show why this particular award should support the proposed research. The application needs to connect the applicant, the research question, the mentor, and the MSU Entomology environment.

Who this opportunity fits

The fellowship fits someone applying for graduate training in entomology at MSU, especially a person who can explain a well-defined research problem and identify a faculty mentor whose expertise matches the work. The department’s published review criteria consider the technical aspects of the proposed research, including its significance and feasibility, as well as its fit with the faculty mentor’s area of expertise.

The opportunity may suit research connected to agriculture, natural resources, ecology, insect biology, pest management, conservation, or other areas represented within the department. Those examples describe possible areas of fit, not a published list of guaranteed priority topics. The safer approach is to begin with the current MSU Entomology faculty and laboratories, then ask whether your question belongs in a particular program.

The department’s announcement specifically says prospective MSU Entomology students are eligible to apply. The eligibility page says students must apply to an MSU Entomology M.S. or Ph.D. program and identify an MSU Entomology faculty mentor who will attest to the ability to accept them into the mentor’s laboratory if selected. The public materials reviewed for this listing do not state a citizenship, residency, age, or income requirement. Do not infer that such a requirement exists or that it does not; contact MSU about any status-specific question.

Eligibility and mentor fit

The first eligibility test is program-specific: the applicant must apply to an MSU Entomology graduate program leading to an M.S. or Ph.D. Applying to a different MSU department does not satisfy the published condition. A student should identify the exact Entomology program and degree route in the Graduate School application before preparing the fellowship materials.

The second test is a willing faculty mentor. The application-process guidance asks applicants to contact their proposed faculty mentor before submitting the application and confirm that the mentor is willing to accept them into the laboratory if selected for the TFEGF. The proposed mentors are contacted to confirm their willingness before applications are considered. This makes mentor outreach an application requirement in practical terms, not a networking step that can safely be postponed until after submission.

The mentor conversation should cover the research question, methods, likely resources, timing, and the connection to the laboratory’s work. You do not need to pretend that a graduate project is already fully designed. You do need enough preparation to make the conversation concrete and to avoid proposing a project that the laboratory cannot supervise or support.

Application process

The fellowship uses the MSU Graduate School application rather than a separate public prize form. Applicants should complete the Graduate School application and specify the Entomology Graduate Program. The application-process page says the curriculum vitae, academic statement, personal statement and reference letters should be submitted through that application in the required format.

The published sequence is straightforward:

1. Review MSU Entomology faculty and identify a proposed mentor whose expertise fits the research direction.
2. Contact that mentor before submitting and confirm willingness to accept the applicant’s work in the laboratory if selected.
3. Complete the MSU Graduate School application for the MSU Entomology Graduate Program.
4. Upload the academic statement, personal statement, curriculum vitae and three recommendation letters in the specified formats.
5. Complete every required part by November 27, 2026 for full consideration for the Fall 2027 fellowship.

The application-process page contains an apparent typographical error in one sentence that says all steps must be completed by “November 2027, 2026.” The department’s main fellowship announcement repeatedly gives November 27, 2026 as the deadline, and the application-process search result identifies November 27, 2026 as the full-consideration date. Applicants should follow the unambiguous 2026 deadline and confirm the live Graduate School portal before submitting.

Required materials and format

The academic statement may be no longer than two pages, including citations, figures and images. It should describe the proposed graduate research project, its justification and significance, brief methods, and anticipated results and impact. It must also specify the proposed mentor. The page limit means the applicant should choose the evidence that proves the idea is meaningful and feasible rather than attempting to summarize an entire field.

The personal statement may be no longer than three pages, also including citations, figures and images. It should address professional preparation, interest in entomology, why MSU Entomology and the proposed mentor fit those interests, and future goals. This is the place to explain the arc from previous preparation to the proposed graduate work. Repeating the academic statement without addressing personal preparation and career direction wastes scarce space.

The curriculum vitae follows the same general formatting rules but has no page limitation. The application-process guidance specifies standard 8.5-by-11-inch pages, at least 11-point font, one-inch margins, no headers or footers, and no less than single spacing for the statements and CV. Three recommendation letters are required. Recommendation letters should use the same formatting, be signed, include the writer’s name, professional title, department and institution as appropriate, and not exceed two pages. A proposed mentor may write a recommendation letter but is not required to be one of the three recommenders.

How applications are reviewed

Applications are reviewed by members of the MSU Entomology Department Advisory Committee and Graduate Committee. The stated review criteria cover both the project and the applicant. Reviewers consider project significance, feasibility, and fit with the faculty mentor’s expertise. They also consider academic preparation, experience, entomological interest, and future career goals.

This combination gives applicants a useful preparation framework. A technically interesting idea is not enough if the methods are unrealistic for the proposed time or laboratory. A high grade point average is not enough if the statement does not show why entomology is the right field or why the proposed mentor is a match. Likewise, a polished project needs evidence that the applicant has the preparation to carry it forward.

The review page also says highly reviewed applications that are not selected for the TFEGF will be submitted for consideration for other MSU fellowship opportunities, including the University Distinguished Fellowship, Plant Science Fellowship and Academic Achievement Graduate Assistantship, as eligible. This does not create a backup award or guarantee another offer. It does mean applicants should submit a complete MSU application that could be assessed for related funding where the eligibility rules permit.

Preparation strategy for the 2027 cycle

Start with the mentor, not with the headline salary. Read the faculty member’s recent research description and identify one problem where your preparation is relevant. Send a concise message with your background, proposed degree, research interest, and a question about fit. Include enough substance for the mentor to respond meaningfully, but do not send an unedited thesis or a long generic statement.

Build the academic statement around a testable problem. Explain what is not yet known, why the gap matters, how the proposed approach would address it, and what a useful result would look like. Brief methods should be specific enough to demonstrate feasibility without becoming a full dissertation proposal. If the project depends on field access, insect colonies, specialized equipment, genomic data, or a partner organization, state how the relevant access or support would be obtained.

Make the personal statement do different work. Show the experiences that prepared you for graduate research, the questions that drew you toward entomology, and the career direction you are pursuing. Then connect those points to MSU and the proposed mentor. Reviewers should not have to guess why the same application could not have been sent unchanged to any biology department.

Ask recommenders early. Give each person the fellowship deadline, page limit, formatting rules, CV and a short summary of the proposed project. Choose writers who can discuss research ability, technical preparation, persistence, communication, or professional maturity with concrete examples. Three vague letters are weaker than three letters that each contribute distinct evidence.

Common mistakes to avoid

The most serious mistake is submitting without a mentor who has confirmed willingness to accept the applicant into the laboratory. Another is treating the award as a general scholarship and failing to apply to the MSU Entomology M.S. or Ph.D. program. The fellowship is tied to that graduate-program application.

Do not claim a second year as guaranteed. The official terms say renewal may occur based on program progress. Do not convert the $5,000 research and travel allocation into personal living money without confirming the department’s rules. Do not add a citizenship or residency claim that the published materials do not make.

Format errors are also avoidable. A statement that exceeds its page limit, uses smaller type, or hides material in headers and footers creates an unnecessary compliance problem. Check the Graduate School portal after uploading, confirm that all three letters are received, and save proof of submission before the November 27 deadline.

Timeline and next steps

The application window opens September 1, 2026. The full-consideration deadline is November 27, 2026. The award is for Fall 2027, with the published salary applying to the 2027–2028 academic year. The public announcement does not provide a finalist notification date, interview schedule, or exact start-of-funding date. Applicants who need those details for employment, immigration, or relocation planning should ask MSU Entomology directly.

Before September, review faculty fit and prepare a one-page research concept. During September and October, contact a proposed mentor, refine the project, and ask recommenders. In early November, assemble the statements and CV under the specified format. Leave time to upload, verify letters and resolve portal issues before the November 27 cutoff.

Frequently asked questions

Is this fellowship open to undergraduate students?

No. The published eligibility requires an application to an MSU Entomology M.S. or Ph.D. graduate program. An undergraduate applicant would need to pursue a qualifying graduate application first.

Is the $35,000 a scholarship paid once?

No. MSU describes it as a $35,000 annual salary for the 2027–2028 academic year within a fully funded graduate research assistantship. The payment schedule is not specified on the public announcement.

Is the fellowship guaranteed for two years?

No. It is awarded for one year and may be renewed for a second year based on program progress. The second year should be treated as conditional.

Can I apply without already having a faculty mentor?

The application instructions tell applicants to contact a proposed mentor and confirm willingness before submitting. In practice, identifying and communicating with a mentor is necessary to meet the fellowship’s stated process.

Are international students eligible?

The published fellowship pages reviewed here do not state a citizenship or residency restriction. International applicants should confirm admission, immigration and funding details directly with MSU before relying on the award for a move to the United States.

Where is the application submitted?

Applicants submit through the MSU Graduate School application and specify the Entomology Graduate Program. The department’s fellowship page links to the application-process guidance and the Graduate School route.

Official links and contact

Read the MSU Department of Entomology Tatter Family Entomology Graduate Fellowship announcement for the award amount, Fall 2027 cycle and deadline. Review the official eligibility guidance, application-process instructions, and review criteria before preparing the submission.

For program questions, MSU Entomology lists Anthony Cognato, Graduate Program Director, at 517-432-2369 and [email protected], and Heather Lenartson-Kluge, Graduate Secretary, at 517-355-4665 and [email protected]. Confirm current contact details and portal instructions on the official department pages before sending sensitive documents.

The immediate decision point is fit. If you can identify an MSU Entomology mentor, propose a feasible research question, and assemble the required Graduate School materials by November 27, 2026, this fellowship offers an unusually substantial first-year funding package for graduate entomology training. If you cannot establish that program and mentor connection, the $35,000 figure alone is not a reason to apply.