The FFAR Fellows Program trains PhD students in food and agriculture sciences in leadership, communication and career skills. North Carolina State University runs it with the Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR).
Cohorts of about 30 meet four times in person over three years (Raleigh, Washington, DC and St. Louis) plus monthly online sessions, and each fellow works with an industry mentor on a yearly development plan.
Benefits & funding
- Three years of cohort training, mentoring and industry site visits.
- No stipend for the 2027–2030 cohort: only the Professional Development category runs, as the stipend and scholarship categories are suspended for lack of funding.
- Your sponsor pays US$15,000 over three years (US$5,000 a year, invoiced by NC State), matched by FFAR.
- Duty: about 20–25 hours a semester on fellows activities.
Eligibility
- Student at any U.S. or Canadian university, holding residency, a study visa or a green card.
- A master’s degree or one PhD year completed by August 2027, and accepted into a PhD by 1 May 2027.
- Three years left in the degree (fall 2027–spring 2030); two years remaining is also considered.
- A confirmed PhD advisor.
- A committed match sponsor using non-federal funds (no USDA, NIH or NSF grants; no in-kind support); a university department may sponsor.
- Research must address an FFAR priority area: agroecosystems, food systems or production systems.
- Must attend the full orientation week in Raleigh, 8–14 August 2027.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Residence required
USA · Canada
Education required
Master Enrolled · Master · PhD Enrolled
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Application process
- 1Get a financial commitment letter from your sponsor (US$5,000 a year for three years, plus a pledge to mentor you).
- 2Submit three essays, your CV, your advisor’s CV, transcripts and three reference letters (four if you hold an MS but are not yet in a PhD) on the NC State portal by midnight EST, 1 March 2027.
- 3Finalists may have an online interview with the selection committee.
Program timeline
Applications open
1 Nov 2026
Deadline (midnight EST)
1 Mar 2027
Decisions
19 Mar 2027
Orientation week, Raleigh
8–14 Aug 2027
Program ends
Spring 2030