Eastern Illinois University Fisheries Graduate Assistantships

The Eastern Illinois University (EIU) Fisheries Graduate Assistantships are fully funded Master's positions offered by the Center for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences for students entering in Spring or Summer 2026 (later start dates may also be considered). EIU, founded in 1895 in Charleston, Illinois, is offering up to 4 fully funded graduate assistantships, each providing a full tuition waiver plus a monthly stipend of US$1,600 to cover living expenses, which works out to about US$19,200 per year. The assistantships support a thesis-based Master's in fisheries and aquatic sciences, with research projects including Wabash River fish community assessment, Channel Catfish demographics and spawning-box evaluation in small impoundments, invasive carp reproduction and recruitment dynamics, and invasive carp movement ecology. Recipients gain hands-on field and laboratory training, work alongside fisheries professionals across the state, and present research at scientific conferences. Eligibility requires a Bachelor's degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0, strong motivation for fieldwork and research writing, teamwork and independent research skills, and the physical fitness to lift 40 pounds and work in varied weather; fisheries or aquatic-science experience is preferred. Notably, IELTS is not required, and the programme is open to both domestic and international students. Applications are emailed to the supervising faculty with the required documents, and the deadline is 19 August 2026. Because the number of positions, the stipend, and the deadline can change each cycle, confirm the current details on the official EIU Center for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences page before applying.

What's covered

• Tuition waiver — A full tuition waiver covers the entire cost of the thesis-based Master's in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences for the study period.
• Monthly stipend — A monthly stipend of US$1,600 (about ~US$19,200 (est.) per year) is paid to cover living expenses during the assistantship.
• Field and lab training — Hands-on training and experience in aquatic and fisheries sciences, including fieldwork, data analysis, and research writing.
• Professional networking — Opportunities to work with fisheries professionals across the state and to build a network in fisheries and aquatic research.
• Conference participation — Access to scientific conferences for research presentation and networking with the wider research community.

How to apply

Applications are submitted by email to the supervising faculty member, with the full document package sent in a single message.

1. Review the program — Visit the official EIU Center for Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences webpage and review the research areas and assistantship requirements.
2. Prepare your documents — Assemble a completed application form, cover letter, CV with undergraduate GPA, transcripts (unofficial accepted), and three professional references.
3. Email your application package — Email your complete package to the supervising faculty contact using the subject line specified on the official program page (for example, an 'MS Application, EIU Fisheries' subject).
4. Attach all documents together — Attach all required documents in a single email so the committee can review your application in full.
5. Await acknowledgment — Wait for acknowledgment and follow-up from the scholarship committee, and respond promptly to any requests for further information.