ORONO — The University of Maine has announced the availability of $250,000 in new philanthropic funding to support graduate students whose progress toward completing their degree has been jeopardized by the loss of federal research funding.

According to a May 29 news release, the support, made possible through an anonymous gift to the University of Maine Foundation, augments the existing Graduate Centennial Impact Fund, which was established in 2023 to provide financial assistance in support of the mission of the Graduate School, including for student, faculty and infrastructure support. 

The funds will provide both merit- and need-based assistance to graduate students who are currently enrolled at UMaine in a master’s or doctoral program. Awards will cover the 2025-26 academic year, with funding made available this summer if the student’s circumstances make that necessary.

The additional funds come at a time when uncertainty exists about the federal government’s continuation of its existing and anticipated research funding commitments, as well as flat appropriations to the University of Maine System in the state’s biennial budget.

Priority will be given to doctoral students nearing degree completion who lost assistantship funding due to the termination, suspension or delay of federal grants, according to Kody Varahramyan, UMaine’s vice president for research and dean of its graduate school. He said an estimated 20 students will receive awards of up to $10,000 each. UMaine graduate students are asked to contact the Graduate School for more information about the opportunity.

“This additional, private funding comes at a critical time for many of our graduate students,” said Varahramyan. “Without it, their progress toward degree completion — and the important research they conduct related to state, national and global needs and interests — is at risk. 

“Providing targeted funding helps ensure that students can continue their studies, complete their degrees and contribute to the university’s research mission,” Varahramyan said, in a news release. “We are grateful to the Foundation and the donors whose generosity is making this support possible. While we recognize that it does not fully offset the loss of opportunity caused by federal and state funding uncertainties, these additional funds reinforce our commitment to being a learner-centered R1 university.” 

Jeffery Mills, president and CEO of the nonprofit University of Maine Foundation, said his organization is working to raise additional funds to help graduate students affected by the loss of federal research funding to complete their research and degrees as planned.

“We are actively working to identify and engage additional donors who understand the urgent need to address the impact of lost federal research funding that so many of our graduate students depended on,” Mills said. “We hope to help further bridge the funding gap caused by these reductions and, in doing so, lessen the impact on both the affected students and their research projects — many of which are directly tied to improving the health and economic well-being of Maine people.”

Mills encouraged individuals and organizations interested in contributing to the effort to contact the UMaine Foundation at umainefoundation@maine.edu or 207.581.5100.