The Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Watson School of Biological Sciences is largely funded by an endowment generously provided by private donors. For the first four years, each student will receive an annual stipend from the graduate school. The current annual stipend for doctoral students studying at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is $30,500 per year (and is reviewed annually). In addition, the Watson School of Biological Sciences, rather than the research mentor, covers the research costs of each student for the first four years. To enhance their careers as well as to provide support for the graduate school, students are encouraged to seek independent funding through predoctoral fellowships from, for example, theNational Science Foundation (www.nsf.gov/home/menus/funding.htm).