The FFAR Fellows Program
Krista Marshall, 2019-2022 FFAR Fellow
The FFAR Fellows Program was established to provide professional development and career guidance to the next generation of food and agriculture scientists across the Foundation for Food and Agriculture’s Challenge Areas and strategic initiatives. The consensus among employers is that U.S. universities could better prepare a career ready STEM workforce by breaking down the disciplinary silos and increasing the focus on professional development and “soft-skills”, which would result in more well-rounded graduates. By providing early career support to graduate students, the program cultivates supportive relationships between graduate students and industry peers to equip students with the skills needed to facilitate their transition to the workforce and prepare future leaders for food and agriculture. Fellows will be co-mentored over the 3-year program by university and industry representatives and engage with their peers in professional development programming both virtually and at the annual one-week residential sessions.
The FFAR Fellows Program is lead by the Academic Programs Office at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at North Carolina State University.
Meet the 2020-2023 FFAR Fellows!
North Carolina State University and the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research is pleased to announce the 2020-2023 FFAR Fellows! This year, the FFAR Fellows program invited 23 students from across the country. Each Fellow is supported by an industry or analogous sponsor, which funds half of the student’s expenses for an intensive in-person and virtual professional development program held over the three-year period. North Carolina State University leads the program and holds a one-week orientation session in August for each cohort. As a sign of the times, this year the session was held virtually.
Our 2020 FFAR Fellows! (click to enlarge)
FFAR Fellows
Cohorts of 16-20 Fellows are selected, with cohort members meeting together for three-years as they continue through their graduate program. The program concluded recruitment of the 2020-2023 cohort and anticipates additional cohorts for 2021-2024, 2022-2025, and 2023-2026. Each Fellow is supported by an industry or analogous sponsor, which funds half of the student’s expenses related to the fellowship’s professional development programming. For the 8-10 stipend fellows, sponsors also funds half of the student’s stipend, fees, tuition, and related costs. The remaining half of these funds are matched by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research. All fellows receive professional guidance by one or more mentors from their sponsoring organization, in addition to their faculty adviser.