The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is seeking applications for predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships offered through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and its Education and Literacy Initiative. The fellowships will support training and students and postdocs relevant to AFRI’s six identified challenge areas: childhood obesity prevention, climate change, food safety, food security, sustainable bioenergy, and water.
Projects should also be aligned with one of the six AFRI Foundational Areas:
- Plant health and production and plant products
- Animal health and production and animal products
- Food safety, nutrition, and health
- Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment
- Agriculture systems and technology
- Agriculture economics and rural communities
According to the request for applications, “predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships serve as a conduit for new scientists and professionals to enter research, education, and extension fields within the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. The aim of these fellowships is to cultivate future leaders who are able to address and solve emerging agricultural challenges of the 21st century.”
Predoctoral fellowships
The predoctoral program seeks to support current doctoral students in their dissertation research. As such, those seeking predoctoral support must have advanced to candidacy, as per institutional requirements, by the application deadline of February 11, 2016. Documentation from the graduate advisor or institution is required.
Predoctoral applications may request up to $95,000 total for up to two years including the following elements:
- Stipend of up to $25,000 per year
- Tuition, fees, fringe benefits, supplies, travel, workshops, and publications of up to $19,500 per year
- Institutional allowance (in lieu of indirect costs) of up to $3,000 per year
Postdoctoral fellowships
To be eligible for the postdoctoral program, individuals must have satisfied all doctoral degree requirements between January 1, 2013, and November 11, 2016. Documentation from the graduate advisor/committee or the institution is required.
Postdoctoral applications may request up to $152,000 total for up to two years including the following elements:
- Salary support
- Fringe benefits, supplies, travel, workshops, and publications of up to $30,000 per year
- Institutional allowance (in lieu of indirect costs) of up to $3,000 per year
Although a proposed project may be related to the mentor’s scientific area, Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to “initiate an independent scientific program,” rather than merely an extension of ongoing projects in the mentor’s lab.
Application information
NIFA recommends that applications be submitted through the mentor’s institution so that the institution will ensure proper stewardship of federal funds, although students may also apply on their own behalf.
Those seeking support must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the U.S.
- Request for Applications: Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human
- Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative
- Application Deadline: February 11, 2016, 5:00 pm local time
Adam Fagen was formerly Executive Director of the Genetics Society of America.
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