SCHOLARSHIPS & FELLOWSHIPS
NAFSN curates scholarships, fellowships, and other paid opportunities to learn in support of those seeking education and/or professional development in sustainable agriculture, food systems studies, and aligned learning.
Does your institution or organization offer scholarships? Email us your listing for inclusion.
1/20/2025
To support the development of future veterinary researchers, the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) and the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) established the FFAR Veterinary Student Research Fellowship (FFAR Vet Fellows) in 2018. This year, the fellowship features several updates to expand its scope, eligibility and impact. The program is accepting applications for the 2025 cohort.
The FFAR Vet Fellows program will support both quantitative and qualitative student research. The fellowship is providing up to 15 students a total of $16,000 — a $6,000 increase from last year. It is open to domestic and international students currently enrolled in a DVM or VMD degree program.
Application deadline: February 26, 2025
1/12/2025
The Agroecology Extension Summer Research Fellowship (AX Program) at the University of Vermont is a fully paid, 10-week research and outreach experience open to undergraduates from across the US.
The AX program is based at the UVM Horticulture and Research Center in Burlington VT. AX Fellows can also expect to travel throughout the state on site visits. Research project sites are dependent on the location of mentor’s research. Personal transportation is encouraged but not required.
The AX Program runs Tuesday May 27, 2025 through Friday, August 1, 2025. The AX program offers a $4,500 stipend and on-campus housing to Fellows. UVM provides the project, mentorship, and research sites.
Application deadline: March 2, 2025
1/12/2025
Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, New York offers a Summer Research Scholars Program where undergraduate students participate in exciting projects in agricultural research, food and beverage entrepreneurship, and business development.
For all internship programs, students have the opportunity to work with faculty, their graduate students, postdocs, and senior level staff on projects to jumpstart future career paths.
Application deadline: January 20, 2025
1/12/2025
The Indigenous Summer Research Scholars Program, supported by a grant from the USDA's New Beginning for Tribal Students (NBTS) program (matched by Cornell CALS) has made it possible to fully fund four Indigenous students each year for the next four years to take part in Cornell University's Summer Research Scholars Program.
Since 2009, this nine-week internship has paired undergraduate students with faculty programs at Cornell AgriTech, where the student scholars gain valuable research experience to help jump-start their careers. Learn more about the program.
Similarly, as a participant in the Indigenous Summer Research Scholars Program, you will:
- Conduct an independent research project focused on the agricultural plant or food sciences.
- Develop professional and soft skills necessary for research.
- Be mentored by Cornell faculty who are experts in entomology, horticulture, food science or plant pathology.
- Connect with near-peer graduate student mentors who will work with you one-on-one.
- Receive additional culturally relevant mentoring from Indigenous Cornell faculty, the Cornell American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program (AIISP) and Indigenous farmers and agricultural professionals in New York.
- Participate in additional professional enrichment programming and field trips.
Scholars receive a $6,200 stipend and are provided housing. The stipend is paid in a lump sum as direct deposit shortly after arrival, typically by the end of the first full week of the program. These funds will help pay for meals not provided by the program, travel to and from Geneva, NY, and any personal expenses you incur during the program. Housing, local transportation and a number of meals will be provided.
Applications due: January 20, 2025
1/10/2025
The application window for the 2025 USDA 1890 National Scholars Program has opened. Students at 1890 land-grant universities are invited to complete and submit their applications online through USDA’s e-application.
This program is a partnership between USDA and the 19 1890 land-grant universities to encourage students at historically Black 1890 land-grant universities to pursue food and agriculture careers. The program provides scholarship recipients with full tuition, fees, books, and room and board. Scholarship recipients attend one of the 1890 universities and pursue degrees in agriculture, food, natural resource sciences, or related academic disciplines. The scholarship also includes work experience at USDA through summer internships. Scholars accepted into the program are eligible for noncompetitive conversion to a permanent appointment with USDA upon successful completion of their degree requirements and program requirements by the end of the agreement period.
Applications accepted until: March 1, 2025
12/19/2024
The Farmlink Project is accepting applications to its 2025 FIELD fellowship program.
Each year, Farmlink selects up to 12 students to participate in a nine-month long program that blends food system knowledge, entrepreneurial training, and real-world experience. The program empowers young people to work at the front lines of the food system and design their own solutions to sustainably feed the planet. It includes a paid 10-week immersive internship with an industry partner, working hands-on to deeply understand problems and design solutions.
No experience in sustainability, food systems, etc is required. Farmlink prioritizes action-oriented students who believe in their ability to make the world a better place over experience.
Applications due: January 5, 2025.
12/18/2024
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement (OPPE) is accepting applications for the 2025 USDA E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program.
These fellowships introduce faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions and Hispanic-Serving School Districts to the vast array of USDA resources available to them. The fellowships take place during the summer of 2025, and applications are due by March 6, 2025.
“This fellowship was designed to introduce faculty and staff from Hispanic-Serving Institutions to the many USDA programs and resources available to them and their students,” said Dr. Lisa Ramirez, director of USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement. “More than 400 fellows have participated in the E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program, bringing back the knowledge they’ve acquired to share with their institutions and communities.”
The USDA E. Kika De La Garza Fellowship Program offers faculty and staff the opportunity to work collaboratively with USDA to gain insight and understanding of the federal government. Fellows receive access to long-term collaboration opportunities with USDA agencies, and then share what they have learned with students and colleagues at their home institutions and in their communities.
Application deadline: March 6, 2025
12/18/2024
In recognition of the need for more agriculture education opportunities specifically geared toward Native students, the Native American Agriculture Fund (NAAF) and the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) established the Tribal Agriculture Fellowship (TAF) with additional support provided by John Deere, Farmer Mac and the Farm Credit. TAF supports Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian students pursuing technical, undergraduate and graduate degrees in agriculture.
The mission of TAF is to create opportunities for students to advance their education in agriculture, increase specialized knowledge and preserve and promote the legacy of agriculture in tribal communities. The program is designed to close the financial gap to allow Fellows to place their primary focus on their academic pursuits, while allowing Fellows to have the time and resources needed to participate in educational enrichment activities.
The program provides a benefits package that can include up to four years of fellowship status, with funding to earn agricultural degrees or technical certifications.
Application deadline: January 17, 2025
12/18/2024
The National Grazing Lands Coalition (NatGLC) is a nationwide nonprofit dedicated to the assistance of grazing lands, both private and public.
In partnership with Powerflex Supply and administered by NatGLC, the Land & Legacy Scholarship provides financial support for farmers and ranchers interested in attending any of Noble Research Institute’s 2025 educational courses. Topics range from regenerative ranching techniques to business management strategies aimed at fostering long-term profitability and environmental stewardship. Each scholarship awarded will cover the full cost of a single Noble course registration.
Course participants will gain practical insights from Noble’s experienced regenerative ranching advisors, connect with like-minded peers, and learn how to implement innovative solutions to elevate their operation and bottom line.
The scholarship is open to farmers and ranchers interested in expanding their skills and knowledge of regenerative land and business management practices.
Application deadline: January 15, 2025