Graduate School initiatives

A group of GradFIT participants at the Block N on campus.

NSF GAIN Scholars program

A two-year program designed to increase the recruitment, retention and career success of first-generation and historically underrepresented students in graduate programs. The NSF GAIN Scholars program engages incoming Ph.D. students in two, three-week summer intensive training modules as well as additional professional development, mentoring, and social network support activities during their first two years of graduate school.

Students will be able to apply to the NSF GAIN Scholars program as part of their general application to research-based Ph.D. program in STEM and related fields, including social sciences (anthropology, economics, psychology and sociology), public health and STEM education and learning research.

Learn more about our NSF-funded program
Rows of empty chairs facing a presentation stage and podium.

Three Minute Thesis Competition

One scholar.

One slide.

One panel of judges.

And three minutes to give it all they've got.

The Three Minute Thesis Competition
A program director and a faculty member sit back to back on a conference table.

Graduate student research

At the University of Nevada, Reno, graduate students are producing exciting research which promises to help shape the course of the 21st century. Passionate exploration, innovation and dedication are fundamental to every program. Read recent student research profiles and submit your own research!

Graduate student research
A large group of students smiling at the camera standing on the beach of Lake Tahoe

GradFIT

GradFIT introduces first-generation college students and students from historically underrepresented backgrounds students to the opportunities, challenges and expectations of graduate school, as well as providing training and tips for the application process.

GradFIT program
A program director and a faculty member sit back to back on a conference table.

Gradventure

Our Gradventure program invites highly competitive prospective students to visit campus to meet our distinguished faculty and discuss the cutting-edge research being done in our facilities. Invited guests have the opportunity to connect with current graduate students, explore campus, have one-on-one discussions with faculty and advisors, visit popular places in and around Reno and enjoy some time falling in love with the Northern Nevada region.

Gradventure campus visits
American Indian/Alaskan Native Graduation Ceremony with a student on stage receiving cords.

Diversity information

Learn what the Graduate School, Graduate Student Association and other units across campus are doing to provide our campus population with resources, opportunities and platforms for expression.

Four people are sitting and three people are standing around near a conference table.

Mentoring Mentors

The Graduate School hosts two, 2-hour faculty “Mentoring Mentors” workshops open to all academic faculty, postdocs and other faculty with mentoring responsibilities. Workshops are 4-5 hours long and offer the opportunity to discuss mentoring with faculty peers. Establishing an ongoing, supportive network of faculty mentors is a key function of this initial workshop.

Mentoring Mentors