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Department of Biology College of Sciences

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Resources - Related Links

  • Facilities
    • Electron Microscopy
    • Howard Hughes Medical Institute Lab
    • Herbarium
    • GPS Unit
    • Pollinator Garden
  • Cooperative Programs
    • USDA Program
  • Photo Gallery
  • Video Gallery
    • Introductory Video
  • Documents
  • Resources for Faculty

Contact Us

Dr. Robert Dearth
Chair
Department of Biology
ESCNE 2.360
Email: robert.dearth@utrgv.edu
Phone: (956) 665-5223
Fax: (956) 665-3657

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Resources for Faculty

1. FUNDING SOURCES (INTERNAL AND UT SYSTEM)
     - Seed Grants
  • COS: Amount open-ended; available for individuals or multi-disciplinary teams  
  • Provost: $5,000 for individual or $10,000 for multi-disciplinary proposals 
     - Conference Travel
  • Faculty Travel Support Program (UTRGV Office of Provost- matching funds up to $800)
     - Equipment
  • Rising STAR (UT System): Up to $300,000 (limited to expenditures for research equipment and laboratory renovations) for recruitment of promising faculty members. 
2. GRANT SUPPORT
     - 1st step when you want to begin a competitive proposal:  
  • Fill out Office of Sponsored Projects (OSP) Intent to Submit a Proposal. You will be assigned an OSP staff member to help prepare your proposal. Read OSP Handbook. 
     - Grant Writing Support
  • COS CAREER pathway program: Mentoring program for NSF CAREER proposals  
  • Writing-Mentoring Program: General grant- or manuscript-writing support    
3. GRADUATE STUDENT COSTS & SUPPORT
     - Costs
  • Tuition (excluded from IDC on grants) 
  •  Wages: varies by department and (suggested for TAs and RAs: $15,000/year + fringe) 
     - Support
  • Dept of Biology TAship application 
  • Graduate College Scholarships  
  • Sustainability Fellowship  
  • UTRGV scholarships 
  • Student conference travel Graduate College: Up to $500   
4. UNDERGRADUATES AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Biology undergraduate degree program 
  • Students may get up to 8 credits doing independent research in a lab. Enroll in BIOL 4X99. Email biology@utrgv.edu with your name, student’s name and ID, and term. 
  • ESAA (Engaged Scholar and Artist Awards): Funding ($2-$4K) for student wages or travel, allowable materials. Max $500 for faculty mentor travel expenses related to the project. 3 deadlines/year. Max 1 undergraduate student per year per PI. 
  • Center of Excellence in Stem Education (CSTEM) 
  • UTRGV High Scholars Program – faculty mentoring of high school students in research every summer (June – July), culminating in poster session, monetary support to faculty is available. 
5. CAMPUS RESOURCES:
  • WISE (Women In Science Network)  
  • Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE): Offers monthly workshops throughout the year. 
  • Center for Online Learning & Teaching Technology (COLTT): Individual course designers assist with migrating content in Blackboard, tech expertise in video recording/editing/captioning. 
6. POLICIES AND PROCEDURES:
  • Handbook of Operating Procedures (HOP): policies and procedures, governance of UTRGV.  
7. DETAILS ABOUT THE AREA 

Cost of living (based on bestplaces.net) 

  • McAllen-Edinburg-Mission metro area 
  • Brownsville-Harlingen metro area 

Main K12 school districts and community colleges 

  • South Texas ISD (Edinburg, Weslaco) 
  • IDEA (across the valley) 
  • Edinburg Consolidated ISD 
  • McAllen ISD 
  • Brownsville ISD 
  • South Texas College (across the valley) 
  • Texas Southmost College (shared campus with UTRGV Brownsville campus) 

Outdoor recreation & Nature parks (ordered from west to east) 

  • Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge (spans entire valley)  
  • Bentsen State Park (Mission) 
  • National Butterfly Center (Mission) 
  • Mission Hike and Bike Trail 
  • Quinta Mazatlan (McAllen) 
  • McAllen Nature Center 
  • Edinburg Scenic Wetlands & World Birding Center 
  • Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge (Alamo) 
  • Valley Nature Center (Weslaco) 
  • Estero Llano Grande State Park (Weslaco) 
  • Hugh Ramsey Nature Park (Harlingen) 
  • Harlingen Thicket 
  • Resaca de la Palma State Park (Brownsville) 
  • Sabal Palm Sanctuary (Brownsville) 
  • Southmost Preserve (Brownsville) 
  • Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge (Los Fresnos) 
  • Sea Turtle, Inc. (SPI) 
  • Laguna Madre Nature Trail (SPI) 
  • South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center, and Alligator Sanctuary (SPI) 

Other main attractions & news 

  • Gladys Porter Zoo (Brownsville) 
  • International Museum of Art & Science (McAllen) 
  • Museum of South Texas History (Edinburg) 
  • RGVision magazine 
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