Research Assistantships

General Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs) Information

During the academic year, GSRs may be appointed for a maximum of half-time service (220 hours/quarter). Registration as a full-time student (12 units) is required, and students must meet academic eligibility requirements for grades, GPA and satisfactory progress. The duration and extent of such appointments vary by academic unit. Students should contact their departments for further information. 

*Please be advised that students enrolled in SSGPDP are prohibited from employment as Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs).*

Hiring a GSR?
  • The first step to hire a GSR, will be to coordinate with the UCPath processor in your school, regardless of the student’s home department.
  • The school/department where the student’s lab is located should process the hiring for the grant, including those students from other schools and departments.
  • If you are unsure as to who that would be, please check with either the Chief Personnel Officer (CPO), Management Services Officer (MSO), Managers of Academic & Administrative Business Office (MAABO), or Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the Principal Investigator’s (PI) School.

Academic Requirements

  • A minimum GPA of 3.0*
  • Satisfactory academic progress towards degree objective
  • A letter grade of C, S, or above in all courses completed in the last three quarters
  • No more than two (2) Incomplete grades (except where stricter school policies apply) in the last three quarters

*Note, cumulative last 3 quarter GPA

Union Representation

All Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs) appointments are covered by a collective bargaining agreement between the University of California and The International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW).
 

Benefits for GSR Appointments

Campus policy regarding GSR fee and tuition remission applies to all students employed in the GSR series with an appointment of at least 25% time for the entire quarter. Each eligible student’s total assessed fees/tuition (and nonresident supplemental tuition, if applicable), must be paid as a condition of their GSR appointment. Charges are to be debited directly to applicable extramural awards or other funding source(s) paying the student’s salary when the student registers each quarter.

  • Full Fee/Tuition and Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition Remission

Payment of 100% of the Graduate Student Health Insurance Program (GSHIP) premium, Student Services Fee, Campus-based Fees, Tuition, and Non-Resident Supplemental Tuition (NRST) if applicable, components of a student’s assessment per quarter. Remissions may also include 100% payment of the One-Time Document Fee, if applicable.

DCP Coverage in accordance with UC Retirement Plan (Summer employment only), please visit the Voluntary UC Retirement Savings Program page

  • Childbirth Accommodation and Childcare Reimbursement

Consistent with UC Irvine’s priority for establishing and encouraging family-friendly policies, please visit the Childbirth Accommodation and Childcare Reimbursement page.

  • DepCare FSA 

The DepCare FSA for Academic Student Employees, including GSRs, allows you to pay for eligible expenses for care of your child or eligible adult dependent on a pretax basis, please visit the DepCare FSA page.

  • Federal Work Study

Graduate students who are U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents and appointed as a GSR may be eligible for Federal Work Study funding administered by the Graduate Division at UC Irvine. Students do not apply directly for Federal Work Study funding, but may be nominated by their schools for such funding. Please visit the Federal Work Study page.