FFAR Fellows Program

The FFAR Fellows Program is an initiative of the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR), designed to foster the next generation of scientific leaders in food and agriculture. Established to provide robust professional development training alongside academic advancement, the program supports U.S. and Canadian PhD students through two distinct sponsorship tracks: Stipend + Professional Development and Professional Development Only. This fellowship is distinct in its focus on combining scientific research with leadership development, equipping doctoral candidates with the skills needed to bridge academia, industry, and policy sectors in the agricultural sciences. The primary objective of the FFAR Fellows Program is to provide structured professional development alongside financial support for research. Fellows participate in a three-year curriculum involving mentoring, training, and cohort-based learning experiences. The Stipend + Professional Development track offers financial support of US$97,500 over three years, while the Professional Development track provides US$15,000 over the same period. In both tracks, funding is split evenly between FFAR and one or more non-federal sponsors, which may include industry, commodity groups, NGOs, or university departments using non-federal funds. In-kind contributions are not accepted. Importantly, applicants must secure a sponsor’s financial commitment in order to apply. To be eligible for the 2026–2029 cohort, applicants must have either completed a Master’s degree or one year of a PhD program by August 2026 and be accepted into a PhD program by May 1, 2026. Candidates must have three years remaining in their program and a confirmed faculty advisor. Applicants must also be available for the program’s orientation, scheduled for August 2–8, 2026, at North Carolina State University. Applicants are expected to dedicate time equivalent to a one-credit course each semester for program activities and training. Eligibility extends to students from any university in the U.S. or Canada, and applicants must possess either residency or a valid study visa. Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive application including a statement of interest, CVs from both the student and their faculty advisor, transcripts, a financial commitment letter from the sponsor, and three to four letters of recommendation. The number of letters depends on whether the applicant is currently enrolled in a PhD program. Additionally, applicants are strongly encouraged to include a letter of recommendation from their sponsor. The selection process evaluates candidates on the quality of their application, research relevance to FFAR’s priority areas (Agroecosystems, Food Systems, Production Systems), and their potential to contribute to and benefit from the cohort model. Applications for the Stipend + Professional Development category are due by February 22, 2026, with notifications issued by March 15. Applications for the Professional Development category are due by April 15, 2026, with notifications by May 15. The program places high priority on applications where sponsorship funds are not already held by the university, reflecting FFAR's aim to incentivize new funding sources. Preference is given to applicants whose sponsorship includes at least partial contributions from non-academic entities. Students in the Professional Development category are still considered full fellows and receive all the program’s training benefits, though they do not receive direct payments. FFAR Fellows benefit from a unique training model that emphasizes leadership, communication, negotiation, and career development skills. Graduates of the program have attested to its transformative impact on their careers and personal development, often describing the experience as life-changing. The program connects students with mentors from industry and academia, helping to build networks and facilitate career advancement. Finalists may be invited to participate in an interview as part of the selection process. For more information, applicants may contact the program director, Dr. Rebecca Dunning.

Emphasize alignment with FFAR priority areas and show readiness for cohort engagement. Direct sponsorship invoicing preferred.