Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship Program (US)

The purpose of the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program, Assistance Listing 10.210, is to provide funding to support graduate student training and completion of master’s and/or doctoral degree programs in identified national need areas within the food and agricultural sciences. The overarching goals and objectives of these graduate fellowships are to encourage outstanding students to pursue and complete graduate degrees in the areas of food and agricultural sciences designated by NIFA as national needs. Awards made by the NNF program are specifically intended to support traineeship programs that engage outstanding students to pursue and complete their degrees in areas where there is a national need for the development of scientific and professional expertise in the food and agricultural sciences. NNF awards invest in graduate training and relevant international experiential learning for diverse individuals who demonstrate their potential to successfully complete graduate degree programs in disciplines relevant to the mission of the USDA. This funding opportunity is open to eligible institutions. Individuals are not eligible to apply.

Program Objectives

• Working collaboratively with eligible institutions, the objectives of the NNF program are to:
  • Support the training of NEW students at the master’s and doctoral levels, in order to fill nationally identified expertise shortage areas in the food and agricultural sciences.
  • Increase the number, quality, and diversity of students in the food, agricultural and related sciences by recruiting outstanding students, particularly those from traditionally underrepresented groups to enter and complete graduate training in these areas.
  • Ensure that the National Needs Fellows build science competencies through research and extension activities, and experience and engagement in an international setting within the Targeted Expertise Shortage Area (TESA) in the food and agricultural sciences through the IRTA awards.

Program Areas

• NIFA is soliciting NNF applications in the following areas:
  • Graduate Fellowships to support the training for and completion of master’s and doctoral degree programs in the food and agricultural sciences;
  • Special International Study OR Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA) for NEW eligible master’s and doctoral USDA Fellows.

Funding Information

• Estimated Total Program Funding: $3,249,147
• Award Ceiling: $262,500
• Award Floor: $41,000

Funding Criteria

• Standard Grant: Category No. 1 
  • Master’s Level Training: Funding at $41,000 for each Fellow. This consists of a student stipend of $18,500 per year for two years, plus $2,000 per year costof-education allowance ($4,000 maximum).
• Standard Grant: Category No. 2 
  • Doctoral Level Training: Funding at $79,500 for each Fellow. This consists of a student stipend of $24,500 per year for three years, plus $2,000 per year costof education allowance ($6,000 maximum).
• Standard Grant: Category No. 3 
  • Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA): One-time award of up to $4,500 for each eligible new (i.e., to be recruited) USDA National Needs Master’s Fellow and/or a one-time award of up to $8,000 for each eligible new (i.e., to be recruited) USDA National Needs Doctoral Fellow.

Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas (TESA) 

• Applicants should propose training projects at the master’s and/or doctoral levels to support graduate fellowship stipends for NNF and/or IRTA in ONE of the following TESAs:
  • Animal Production
  • Plant Production
  • Forest Resources
  • Agricultural Education and Communication
  • Agricultural Management and Economics
  • Food Science, Human Nutrition and Human Sciences
  • Agricultural Biosecurity
  • Climate-smart Agriculture
  • Data Science (to enable systems and communities to effectively utilize data, improve resource management, and integrate new technologies and approaches to further U.S. food and agriculture enterprises)

Eligibility Criteria

• Student Eligibility 
  • Eligibility for NNF – The grantee institutions develop the selection criteria, and it is their responsibility to award fellowships to high caliber students in superior academic standing. Only individuals who meet the eligibility requirements listed below will be awarded fellowships. For individuals to receive Fellowship stipend support they must:
    • Be citizens or nationals of the United States of America as determined in accordance with Federal law.
    • Have strong interest, as judged by the institution, in pursuing a degree in a national TESA; are preparing for a career as a food or agricultural or natural resources scientist or professional; are registered as full-time students; and
    • Not have completed more than one semester or equivalent hours of full-time study as defined by the institution in the same academic program at the same degree level.
  • Eligibility for IRTA – At the time of travel under the IRTA grant award, USDA Fellows conducting research at alternate locations or outside the United States must:
    • Be supported under a USDA NNF grant and be registered as a full-time student;
    • Have completed one academic year of full-time study, as defined by the institution under the fellowship appointment;
    • Have formalized arrangements to study and/or conduct research in the foreign/alternate location(s)
    • Have sufficient time remaining in their fellowship award to complete the proposed IRTA travel or research; and
    • Have a completed NIFA Form 2010 – Fellowship Appointment Form on file with the funding agency (NIFA).
• Only the following are eligible to apply: Land-grant institutions, colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences; and other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food, and agricultural sciences. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are eligible to submit graduate training proposals under this RFA.

For more information, visit NIFA.