Established in 2018 in collaboration with North Carolina State University, the FFAR Fellows Program provides professional development training and opportunities to bolster Fellows’ professional networks. Select Fellows also receive funding for research that aligns with FFAR’s Challenge Areas. All Fellows are paired with industry and other mentors who provide career guidance and facilitate students’ transition to the workforce. This unique program prepares a career-ready science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) workforce by breaking down disciplinary silos and focusing on professional development and soft skills.
The Program requires Fellows to secure matching funds to participate. Specifically, the Fellows must secure $5,000 annually, or $15,000 over the three-year program, to participate in the Program; students in the research tracks must secure these funds in addition to the matching research funds. Fellows from smaller universities or those with less-established research departments may struggle to secure the matching funding necessary to participate. The requirement to secure funding further stifles the inclusion of important research areas and the diversity of individual perspectives engaged in food and agriculture research.
The Rockey FFAR Fellows Fund aims to make the professional development trainings available to all participants by not requiring them to secure matching funds. With less financial burden, the Program will be more accessible to students who may not otherwise have the resources or connections to participate. Bolstering the diversity of Fellows paves the way for the development of a well-rounded scientific workforce prepared to tackle future food and agriculture challenges.
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Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research
The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) builds public-private partnerships to fund bold research addressing big food and agriculture challenges. FFAR was established in the 2014 Farm Bill to increase public agriculture research investments, fill knowledge gaps and complement the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s research agenda. FFAR’s model matches federal funding from Congress with private funding, delivering a powerful return on taxpayer investment. Through collaboration and partnerships, FFAR advances actionable science benefiting farmers, consumers and the environment.
Connect: @FoundationFAR | @RockTalking