Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship 2020 for Developing Countries – USA

The Borlaug Fellowship Programme provides opportunities for short-term research projects to improve agricultural productivity, economic development, and food security. It offers training and collaborative opportunities for agricultural research, international agricultural economics, leadership, and policy to researchers.  

Application Deadline: 18th February, 2020

Offered annually? Yes

Eligible Countries: The Borlaug Fellowship Programme are only accepting applications from citizens of developing countries (see link below)

To be taken at (country): USA

Field of Study: All topics related to agriculture (as defined by Title XII) and the Feed the Future initiative are admissible.

Agriculture, as defined by Title XII, includes the science and practice of activity related to food, feed, and fiber production, processing, marketing, distribution, utilization, and trade, and also includes family and consumer sciences, nutrition, food science and engineering, agricultural economics and other social sciences, forestry, wildlife, fisheries, aquaculture, floraculture, veterinary medicine, and other environmental and natural resources sciences.

About Fellowship:  The Borlaug Fellowship Programme promotes food security and economic growth by providing training and collaborative research opportunities to fellows from developing and middle-income countries.

Borlaug fellows are generally scientists, researchers or policymakers who are in the early or middle stages of their careers. Competitively selected fellows will work one-on-one with a U.S. mentor who will coordinate the training program.  After completion of the 10-12 week fellowship, the mentor will visit the fellow’s home institution to continue collaboration.  USDA will select U.S. host institutions and mentors for each fellow.  We will only accept applications on approved topics for each country.

Offered Since: 2004

Eligibility: To be considered for the Borlaug Fellowship Program, candidates must:

• Be citizens of a 2020 eligible country
• Be proficient in English
• Possess a Master’s degree or higher
• Be in the early or middle stage of their career, between 2 and 10 years of practical experience, after obtaining their highest-awarded degree
• Be employed by a university, government agency, or research entity in their home country
• Demonstrate their intention to continue working in their home country after completing the fellowship

Selection Criteria: Applications will be judged on the following criteria:

• academic and professional research interests and achievements
• level of scientific competence
• aptitude for scientific research
• leadership potential
• likelihood of bringing back new ideas to their home institution
• flexibility and aptitude for success in a cross-cultural environment
• Consideration is also given to the relevance of the applicant’s research area to the research topics highlighted in the application announcement and to global food security and trade.

Number of Awardees: not specified

Value of Scholarship: Each fellow works one-on-one with a mentor at a U.S. university, research center or government agency. The U.S. mentor will later visit the fellow’s home institution to continue collaboration. Fellows may also attend the annual World Food Prize Symposium, held each October in Des Moines, Iowa.

Duration of Fellowship: 6-12 weeks.

How to Apply:

Candidates must apply via the online application system (link below). The following information will be required:

• Completed application form
• Program proposal and action plan that addresses the questions posed in the application
• Letter of Reference from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agricultural Service Post in their home country
• Approval from applicant’s home institution (form provided) – signed by current supervisor
• Two letters of professional recommendation
• Copy of transcript or diploma for all college/university degree(s) received
• Copy of passport identification page

Research Priorities

USDA requires interested applicants to contact the Foreign Service Post in their home country for the approved list of topics.

Eligible Countries and Points of Contact

Online Application System

Click here to access the online application system (an external, third-party site)

Visit Fellowship Webpage for details