Michigan State University Master’s Assistantship
The application window for Michigan State University’s fully funded MS research assistantship in the Quantitative Fisheries Centre’s Decision Analysis and Support Lab closed on 1st June 2026, with the position beginning in Fall 2026. Information verified July 2026 from the lab’s official materials and MSU’s Quantitative Fisheries Centre. This post explains what the role pays, who qualifies, and how to reach the QFC directly if you want to be considered for a future opening.
Don’t Miss: Top Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students 2026
This fully funded assistantship comes with a stipend of approximately $24,000 per year (with a 3% annual increase), full tuition coverage, health insurance, and professional development opportunities — making it one of the most comprehensive fully funded MS positions available for fisheries and environmental science students in the United States. Furthermore, no prior research experience is required, opening this opportunity to outstanding fresh graduates eager to pursue applied research in fisheries and wildlife science.
Don’t Forget To Read: Tips on How to Win a Scholarship
About the Michigan State University Master’s Assistantship
This assistantship sits within Michigan State’s Quantitative Fisheries Centre (QFC), a research group focused on fisheries stock assessment and decision analysis for Great Lakes management. The specific role is with Dr Mauri Liberati’s Decision Analysis and Support Lab, which works on resource management optimisation, risk analysis, and monitoring design in collaboration with agency partners across the Great Lakes basin. QFC faculty do not advertise positions on a set annual timetable. Instead, new assistantships open as individual faculty secure project funding, which is why the centre’s opportunities page tells prospective students to contact faculty directly rather than wait for a posted deadline.
Don’t Forget To Read: Top Scholarships in Germany for International Students
The research assistantship supports the position for two years. Following a competitive shortlisting process, the selection committee will invite shortlisted applicants to a virtual interview, after which it will invite the final candidate to formally apply to Michigan State University’s Fisheries and Wildlife graduate programme.
MSU graduate programme requirements (post-selection) include:
- GRE scores are not required
- Official Bachelor’s degree-granting transcript
- Three letters of recommendation
- An academic statement
- A personal statement
Michigan State University Master’s Assistantship Summary
| Position Name ⇒ | MS Research Assistantship — Decision Analysis and Support Lab, Quantitative Fisheries Center |
| Host Country ⇒ | United States |
| Study Level ⇒ | Masters |
| Benefits ⇒ | ~$24,000/year stipend (3% increase in year two) + full tuition + health insurance + professional development funding |
| Funded By ⇒ | Michigan State University research assistantship, Department of Fisheries and Wildlife |
| Eligible Countries ⇒ | All countries |
| Application Deadline ⇒ | 2026 opening closed 1st June 2026. No fixed annual cycle — openings depend on lab funding |
What the Michigan State University Master’s Assistantship Offers
The assistantship pays roughly $24,000 a year, rising by 3% in the second year, covers full tuition for the two-year MS programme, and includes health insurance for the duration. It also funds professional development, including conferences and workshops, and the work is a full-time commitment at 40 hours a week rather than the lighter 20-hour load typical of a teaching assistantship — a detail worth weighing if you’re planning to take on outside work or additional coursework alongside it.
The supervisor shapes the research direction around the student’s interests, with likely topics including sea lamprey barrier evaluation or creel survey methodology, both of which support real Great Lakes fisheries management decisions.
Eligibility Requirements
- You must hold a bachelor’s degree in Fisheries and Wildlife, Ecology, Environmental Science, Applied Statistics, or a closely related field.
- You must meet Michigan State’s general graduate admission requirements.
- No prior research experience is required — this position is explicitly open to recent graduates.
- Experience with R, Python, or similar quantitative tools is preferred, not mandatory.
- You need strong written and verbal communication skills and solid organisational habits, since the role involves coordinating with outside agency partners.
- GRE scores are not required at any stage of this application.
- You must be available to work 40 hours a week as a research assistant.
The Two-Stage Selection Process
This position runs through two separate stages, and understanding both matters if you’re applying to a similar QFC opening in future. First, you submit a screening application — cover letter, CV, transcripts, and references — through the lab’s Google Form. Shortlisted candidates are then invited to a virtual interview with Dr. Liberati and the lab team. Only after that interview does a final candidate move to the second stage: formally applying to MSU’s Fisheries and Wildlife graduate programme with official transcripts, three letters of recommendation, an academic statement, and a personal statement. In other words, getting the lab’s support through the Google Form doesn’t complete your application — it clears you to apply for actual admission.
Required Documents
- Cover letter addressing your research interests, career goals, and how they connect to decision analysis and Great Lakes fisheries work.
- CV or resume, highlighting any quantitative skills in R, Python, or similar tools.
- Unofficial academic transcripts.
- Names and contact details for 2–3 references.
At the formal MSU admission stage that follows selection, you’ll additionally need an official transcript, three recommendation letters, an academic statement, and a personal statement — start lining up your referees early, since three letters take most people longer to arrange than they expect.
How to Prepare for Future Openings
Because QFC assistantships open around individual grants rather than a fixed calendar, the centre’s own guidance is to contact faculty directly before submitting any formal application. For positions with the QFC broadly, that means reaching out to the centre’s core faculty to ask about upcoming funding and project needs, in addition to watching Dr Liberati’s lab page specifically if decision analysis and Great Lakes management are your focus. Introducing yourself with a short note on your background and research interests, well before you plan to start a degree, is how most QFC students report finding their positions.
Application Deadline
The formal deadline was 1st June 2026, though the selection committee began reviewing applications on a rolling basis from 4th May 2026, meaning it may have filled the position before the stated deadline arrived. The laboratory has not announced a date for a future opening. Treat this as an ongoing area to monitor through direct faculty contact rather than a scholarship with a predictable yearly reopening.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the MSU Quantitative Fisheries Centre assistantship still open?
No. The 2026 application window closed on 1st June 2026, and because the selection committee reviewed applications on a rolling basis from 4th May, it may have filled the position before the deadline.
Can Nigerian or other African students apply for future MSU QFC positions?
Yes. Eligibility is open to all countries. International applicants should confirm MSU’s standard graduate visa and English-language requirements separately through the university’s international students office, since these fall outside the lab’s own screening process.
Do I need GRE scores for this position?
No. The laboratory does not require GRE scores for its initial screening, and Michigan State University’s Fisheries and Wildlife graduate programme does not require them for the graduate application that follows selection.
Do I need prior research experience to apply?
No. The position is specifically open to fresh graduates with no prior research experience, provided you meet the academic background and communication skills criteria.
How do I find out about the next opening in a QFC lab?
Contact QFC faculty directly rather than waiting for a public posting. The centre’s own graduate assistantships page recommends reaching out before applying, since openings depend on individual project funding rather than a fixed annual cycle.
Disclaimer: All position details, funding figures, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from official sources as of July 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm current openings and requirements directly with Michigan State University’s Quantitative Fisheries Centre or Department of Fisheries and Wildlife before applying. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Michigan State University.
Official Application Portal
Join ScholarWaka Community
Get the latest scholarship updates and study abroad opportunities before anyone else.
