Dean's Message — Spring 2026

A Message from Dean Cooley

Dear Graduate Students, 

I hope that the winter recess provided some rest and time to reconnect with friends and family.  

As we begin the spring semester, I’d like to share an update on how recent federal actions have impacted the Graduate School’s budget and share details about GSAS resources and upcoming opportunities.  

By now, many of you have likely heard about the significant increase to the federal tax rate on university endowment income. As a result, all Yale schools and units have been asked to make budget reductions. In the Graduate School, this will mean smaller future cohorts across all PhD programs over the next three years. I want to reassure you that the Graduate School will continue to honor our commitments to you, including your stipend and health insurance, and family subsidy for graduate students with children. You’ll still have access to travel fellowships, funding for colloquia, and other support for your academic endeavors. If you have questions about resources or need support with academic issues, Graduate School staff and administrative deans are here to help. Sarah Insley, associate dean for academic support, is a good starting point  (GSASadministrativedean@yale.edu). Please note that Associate Dean Allegra di Bonaventura has retired. 

These are challenging times which demand resilience, but also creativity and innovation. While the size of programs will decrease, there are still many opportunities for collaboration and scholarly engagement. I encourage you to broaden your efforts to connect with colleagues beyond your program. You might be surprised about how a conversation with someone outside your area can spark an idea for a new path in your research.  

One great opportunity is the Graduate School’s new Data Science Fellows program, which will bring together PhD students from across disciplines to engage with a wider community of scholars to address pressing challenges in science and society. The application opens on March 1 and information sessions will be held in January and March. 

Another chance to connect with fellow Yalies from across disciplines is the Graduate School’s “Where Do I Go From Yale?” program, which brings GSAS alumni back to campus each spring for professional development panel discussions and networking sessions. We are fortunate to have so many accomplished alumni in our community—including a recent Nobel Prize recipient. Be sure to register for Yale’s Cross Campus platform, where you can tap into Yale’s extensive alumni network.   

As I often remind students, the true test of expertise in each field is your ability to explain your research to a lay audience. Give a presentation about your work in a public school or library, write an op-ed for your hometown newspaper, or get involved with graduate student organizations like Science Policy on the Hill, which educates lawmakers about the value of research universities like Yale to society at large. 

The new year is a time to start fresh and set goals, but also an opportunity to push yourself out of your comfort zone. I urge you to take advantage of all that Yale has to offer, from amazing cultural attractions and performances to talks by interesting visitors. To learn more, you can sign up for various campus newsletters or check the university’s events calendar.

Graduate students are crucial to Yale’s mission. You are a valued member of a dynamic global community of scholars. Happy New Year and best wishes for a productive semester!  

Warm regards,

Lynn Cooley 
Dean, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences 
Vice Provost for Postdoctoral Affairs 
C.N.H. Long Professor of Genetics 
Professor of Cell Biology and of Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology