The Guarini School of Graduate and Advanced Studies sits at the center of Dartmouth's research and teaching mission. Its graduate students and postdoctoral scholars generate knowledge, attract external funding, teaching and mentor undergraduates, and advance Dartmouth's standing as a research institution.
Under the school's leadership over the past decade, Guarini has grown from an Office of Graduate Studies housed within the Faculty of Arts and Sciences into a school with nearly 1,000 students pursuing 18 degrees, while supporting approximately 250 postdoctoral scholars. That growth reflects a sustained, deliberate effort to build and advaned studies and a research infrastructure.
Research and Institutional Impact
Graduate students and postdoctoral scholars are at the heart of Dartmouth's research enterprise. Their discoveries, publications, and collaborative initiatives contribute directly to the externally sponsored funding and peer-reviewed scholarship that define a research university. Dartmouth's return to R1 status in 2017 and its election to the Association of American Universities in 2019 demonstrate Dartmouth's investment in research and scholarship, and the Guarini School's graduate students and postdocs are an important part of that story.
Student and Postdoctoral Support
Guarini provides graduate students and postdoctoral scholars with the support structures that allow them to do their best work. That includes competitive fellowship programs, evidence-based mentorship training for faculty and advisers, and a growing suite of career and professional development resources. The PhD Innovation Program allows doctoral candidates interested in entrepreneurship to take courses at Thayer and the Tuck School of Business while completing their PhD. The Externship program, the Academic Job Search series, and the Guarini Advisory Board Career Talk series connect current scholars with alumni working across sectors, expanding the range of pathways available after Dartmouth.
The Provost's Fellowship Program supports graduate students who demonstrate exceptional promise and commitment to their fields. Guarini has also trained faculty as research mentors through the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experiences in Research (CIMER), with sessions held for graduate students, postdocs, and faculty alike.
Community and Well-Being
Guarini recognizes that well-being and academic success are closely connected. The school has expanded access to mental health services, including global teletherapy for international students, and maintains active engagement with graduate student leadership through regular meetings between the Dean and Graduate Student Council. Dedicated community spaces in Anonymous Hall provide a gathering point for a community that can otherwise feel scattered across departments and disciplines.
