Deadline: 13-Jan-23
The Future of Food: Opportunities and Careers for Undergraduate Student (F2OCUS) Fellowship Program is now open for applications.
Aims
- The Future of Food: Opportunities and Careers for Undergraduate Student (F2OCUS) Fellowship Program aims to provide undergraduate students with experiential learning opportunities to increase their understanding of the future of food systems as it relates to enhancing the safety, quality, and security of their food supply through knowledge sharing, capacity building, and leadership development.
- Food is essential to life and plays an important role in promotion of health and disease prevention. Importantly, both the sustainability and quality of the food supply are key to providing all Americans access to safe and nutritious foods. Thus, there is an increasing need for food professionals and scientists who are trained to address the challenges related to the safety and security of the food supply, have experience working with key stakeholder groups, and are well-equipped with effective leadership and communication skills. To help prepare undergraduate students for careers related to food systems, the F2OCUS Fellowship Program will provide a sustainable mentoring and training program focused on skills to enhance the safety, quality, and security of their food supply.
- F2OCUS undergraduate student fellows will also develop leadership and communication skills by
- connecting with current food industry leaders
- cultivating professional leadership skills
- building communication skills to prepare for their future careers
Benefits
- Each student awarded the F2OCUS fellowship will receive a stipend of $5,000, in addition to room & board and additional financial support for necessary travel.
- In a 10-week summer program (May 22 through July 28, 2023) students will:
- Receive training in skills utilized in academia research, food industry environments, and other careers requiring an understanding of lab skills, experimental design, and data collection and analysis.
- Be mentored by cohorts of faculty and industry partners
- Learn to work within team and individual settings
- Learn communication and presentation skills
- Showcase their work to the public at an end-of-program symposium
- Expand their personal and professional network
Results
F2OCUS undergraduate student fellows will participate in experiential learning activities resulting in the
- development of technical skills in research related to food science
- creation of a novel food product with a team of F2OCUS fellows
- engagement in externships with food industry and cooperative extension partners
Eligibility Criteria
- Undergraduate students who are citizens or permanent residents of the U.S. or their possessions currently enrolled in a U.S. institution from any U.S. institution are eligible to apply. Priority will be given to students from traditionally underserved minorities, first-generation college students, and students from institutions with limited research opportunities.
For more information, visit F2OCUS.