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Graduate Student Researcher

What is a Graduate Student Researcher?

A graduate student researcher (GSR) is a graduate student who performs research related to his or her degree program under the guidance and oversight direction of a faculty member or an authorized principal investigator. These positions are typically supported through external funding agencies for specific research projects. GSR positions are especially valuable for graduate students pursuing research careers. GSR appointments in the School of Engineering are granted on a semester-by-semester basis, and reappointment is not automatic. If you are appointed at half time (50 percent), you are expected to work up to 20 hours per week during the semester appointed. GSR appointees are also required to report absences/leaves on a monthly basis for the appointment period in the UC Merced Time Reporting System.
 
More information abou the Graduate Student Researcher position can be found on the Academic Personnel website.
 

General GSR Qualifications:

  1. Academic standing for employment eligibility: Each graduate student researcher (GSR) must be in good academic standing (i.e., must not be on academic probation or have had his or her degree candidacy lapse), have a minimum 3.0 grade-point average, and have no more than two Incomplete grades in upper-division and graduate courses on the transcript. 
  2. Registration and enrollment: Each appointee must be registered and enrolled in at least 12 units of course work.
  3. Graduate standing: Each appointee must be a UC graduate student.
Only UC graduate students are eligible to work as graduate student researchers for the UC. To obtain a research position, please inquire with individual faculty or research units.
 

Benefits for Graduate Student Researchers:

As a GSR, you are entitled to receive the following benefits during the term that you are employed:
  • Partial fee remissions - A partial fee remission is for TAs working 25 percent or more time, and GSRs working 24 percent or more time. This type of remission is equal to the amount assessed on your fee bill for tuition, the Student Services Fee and the Health Insurance Fee (if you have not had the health insurance requirement waived by University Health Services). A partial fee remission does not include campus-based fees (i.e. health services, transportation, student life, Graduate Student Association, recreation and Early Childhood Education Center). Currently, the non-resident supplemental tuition is covered for students if they are eligible for partial fee remissions.
  • Childcare reimbursement

 

Time Reporting:

GSR's are required to report absences/leaves on a monthly basis for the appointment period in the UC Merced Time Reporting System. Monthly absence/leave reporting must be completed by the 6th of the month following the pay period being reported. GSR's do not enter hours that were worked. More information about Time Reporting along with resources can be found on the Business and Financial Services website.

 

Absences/Leave Requests:

GSR's are eligible for leaves per Article 17.

Short-Term Leave Requests:

GSR's with a 50% appointment are eligible for up to three (3) days of paid short-term leave per semester. 

  • If requesting a short-term leave, GSR's should immediately inform their faculty advisor for approval. Be prepared to provide documentation of the reason for leave.

Long-Term Leave Requests:

GSR's with a 50% appointment are eligible for long-term leave in accordance with Article 17. If you need to request a leave:

  1. Inform your faculty advisor and soe-grstaff@ucmerced.edu via email of the request.
  2. The SOE Graduate Programs Services team will work in consultation with Academic Personnel Services on your request and will provide you with a Leave Request form.
  3. Complete the Leave Request form per instructions from Academic Personnel and the SOE Graduate Programs Services team.
  4. Return the form along with documentation required by the type of leave to soe-grstaff@ucmerced.edu. The SOE Graduate Programs Services team will obtain the required approvals and will copy you on the email submitting the form to Academic Personnel.
  5. Academic Personnel will notify you once the leave request is approved or denied along with further instructions. 

 

Additional Resources: