Program Description: The U.S. Borlaug Fellows in Global Food Security program is organized and implemented by the Purdue University Center for Global Food Security. The program is generously funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) with an aim to boost the number of future leaders and decision-makers who have the scientific base needed to effectively study and promote sustainable food systems.

This program supports exceptional graduate students who are interested focusing their graduate research in a single, developing country context and in collaboration with a mentor from an International Agricultural Research Center (IARC), or a qualifying National Agricultural Research System (NARS) unit. Emphasis will be placed on projects that are interdisciplinary, but students approaching an issue through a single discipline will also be considered.

Award Benefits: Grants for 6-month long international research stays have a maximum value of USD 15,000. Grants for 1-year long international research stays have a maximum value of USD 20,000. Grants for 2-year long international research stays have a maximum value of USD 40,000. Students are expected to stay in the host country for the majority of the time (+/- 85%) with some time available for short-term absences. Grant funds are not intended to cover all costs of the proposed research, and applicants are expected to leverage additional funding in support of their graduate work.

Eligibility Criteria: Applicants must be a U.S. citizen and must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. graduate program.

To Apply: Submit a completed application by Sunday, November 11, 2012, 11:59 p.m. Eastern time to borlaugfellows@purdue.edu. Application instructions and forms are available online.

• Application Form
• Project Narrative
• Budget, Budget Justification & Project Timeline Form
• Proof of Citizenship
• Institutional letters of support from the submitting university and participating IARC/NARC
• Letter of approval from submitting university’s sponsored programs office
• Two letters of recommendation

Two application cycles will be held annually. Applications from students who intend to begin Borlaug-funded research projects between January 1, 2013-August 31, 2013 should apply in the current fall cycle. However, projects with later start dates are not ineligible. Students whose projects start later than August 31, 2013 are encouraged to apply in early spring 2013.

Review of Applications: Awards are made on a competitive basis to students who show strong scientific foundation and possess leadership potential, propose a well-coordinated research plan that clearly articulates concepts and objectives that are innovative and feasible, and demonstrate a commitment to international development. A selection committee will review applications and the top-ranked applicants may interviewed before a final selection is made. Applicants will be notified of their status by December 17, 2012.

View the announcement here: Borlaug-Graduate-Research-Grant-Summary