Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research Fellows Program (2023-2026)
Closes 15 April 2023
Applications are open for the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Fellows Program (2023-2026) This year, there are five new scholarship slots for the professional development category, funded by the Rockey FFAR fellows Fund.
US food and agricultural systems are regularly experiencing new challenges, including climate change, a growing population and evolving pests and pathogens. Employers need early-career scientists trained to conduct research that helps farms and food systems adapt to these unprecedented changes.
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In partnership with North Carolina State University, FFAR launched the FFAR Fellows Program to provide career guidance to the next generation of food and agriculture scientists. Unique to this program, we prepare a career ready STEM workforce by breaking down the disciplinary silos and focusing on professional development and soft-skills.
Fellows receive grants to pursue research that aligns with our Challenge areas. Additionally, students are paired with industry mentors who provide career guidance. This mentorship equips students with the skills needed to facilitate their transition to the workforce and prepare future food and agriculture leaders.
| Type of opportunity | Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Fellow Program |
| Due Date | 15 April 2023 |
| Country | USA |
| Open to | All |
| Organizer | FFAR |
| Official Website | https://foundationfar.org/ |
| grants@foundationfar.org |
Students from any university in the U.S. or Canada are eligible to apply for the Fellowship.
The following eligibility requirements apply for the 2023-2026 Cohort:
- Completion of a MS degree or one year of a PhD program by June 2023
- Acceptance in a PHD program by May 1, 2023
- Three years remaining in the degree program (Fall 2023 to Spring 2026)
- A confirmed PhD faculty advisor
- Confirmation of a financial sponsor (sponsors can include companies, foundations, NGOs, grower organizations; university departments can also sponsor students using non-federal funds). Sponsors provide funding for 50% of the costs of the fellowship, with the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research providing 50%. Total sponsorship costs for the three-year program are $97,500 for Stipend Fellows and $15,000 for Non-Stipend Fellows. All fellows receive equal training as part of their cohort.
- TOEFL Score indicating a minimum of 23/30 for listening, speaking, writing (exclusions for those with an undergraduate or master’s degree from programs with English as a language of instruction; or students from any country where English is an official language)
- Residency or study visa
- Availability to attend the orientation week at NC State in Raleigh August 6 – 12, 2023
- Eagerness to participate in the FFAR Fellows and ability to spend the equivalent of a 1-hour course each semester on fellows training and activities
Due dates in 2023:
- February 22 for the Stipend + Professional Development Category
- April 15 for the Professional Development Category
See below for information on the two categories of sponsorship (stipend and non-stipend). Students from any university in the U.S. or Canada are eligible to apply for both categories of the Fellowship.
Sponsorship is matched equally by the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research and matching funds from industry, NGOs, commodity organizations, or other sources of non-federal funds. Match sponsorship from several of these sources can be combined to support a student. Match sponsorship for the three-year program is US$97,500 for Stipend + Professional Development Fellows and US$15,000 for Professional Development Fellows. In-kind sponsorship (e.g., time, supplies, etc.) is not allowable. Applicants must have a committed match sponsor(s) to submit a full application and be eligible for consideration. For the Stipend + Professional Development category preference is given to applicants with industry, commodity organization, or foundation sponsorship. All Fellows — with or without stipend — participate equally in the professional development meetings and activities.
Application Deadline: Midnight February 22, 2023
Students accepted into the Stipend + Professional Development category will receive $49,500 each year to cover tuition, fees, stipend, and related costs. Students applying to this category should already have a defined research project and an industry or analogous sponsor (e.g., grower organization, foundation). The sponsor(s) will commit $32,500 per year to the Fellowship, matched equally by FFAR. The total of $65,000 is distributed as follows: $49,500 for student stipend tuition, fees, etc.; $5,500 for university overhead; and $10,000 is retained by the FFAR Fellowship Program lead institution, North Carolina State University, for program management and costs of the professional development training including five face-to-face meetings over the 3-year period. While preference is given to candidates with industry or analogous sponsors, university departments may also sponsor students as long as the source of funds is non-federal. Applicants can also be sponsored by a mix of entities, for example, 50% by their institution, 25% by industry, 25% by a commodity organization. Student applicants must be enrolled or accepted by a PhD program at a U.S. or Canadian university.
