The Ohio State University

Each year, the Mechanical Engineering Department employs more than one hundred graduate associates including graduate teaching associates (GTAs) and graduate research associates (GRAs). GTAs may be asked to teach, provide laboratory assistance and/or perform other related activities. GRAs are assigned to research projects under the supervision of graduate professors. It is usually possible to carry out thesis and dissertation research on such projects.

Most graduate associates work 20 hours per week, for which they receive a monthly stipend and a fee authorization for tuition. As of Autumn Quarter 2009, the average total stipend for a 50% graduate associate appointment was approximately $1,650/month for 12 months.

Associateship positions generally begin in the autumn quarter and typically are renewable, depending upon the student's performance as a graduate associate, academic performance, and availability of funds. To be eligible for a graduate associateship, applicants must meet all of the admission requirements and apply by the application deadline. Preference for GTA and GRA positions is given to those students whose ultimate degree objective is a Ph.D.