Borlaug Fellowship Program for Georgia
12/03/2015
USDA Borlaug Fellowship Program in Georgia
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pleased to announce the 2016 Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellowship Program (Borlaug Fellowship Program) for Georgia.
The Borlaug Fellowship Program promotes food security and economic growth by increasing scientific knowledge and research to improve agricultural productivity, economic development, and food security. The Program offers training and collaborative opportunities for agricultural research, international agricultural economics, and policy to researchers in Georgia. Competitively sel ected fellows will work one-on-one with a U.S. mentor who will coordinate the training program. After completion of the 10-12 week fellowship, the mentor will visit the fellow's home institution to continue collaboration on the research topic. USDA will sel ect U.S. host institutions and mentors for each fellow.
The 2016 Borlaug Fellowship Program is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture, Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).
The application deadline for the 2016 Borlaug Fellowship Program for Georgia is December 31, 2015.
Objectives:
• Provide early to mid-career agricultural economists, research scientists, faculty, and policymakers with one-on-one training opportunities in the fields of agricultural policy and research (see targeted research areas below);
• Provide economists, scientists, faculty and policymakers with practical experience and exposure to novel perspectives and/or new technologies that can be applied upon completion of the program in their home institutions;
• Foster collaboration and networking to improve agricultural productivity and trade;
• Facilitate the transfer of new economic, scientific and agricultural technologies to strengthen agricultural practices;
• Address obstacles to the adoption of technology such as ineffectual policies and regulations.
Targeted Research Areas:
Priority 1: Trade facilitation under SPS animal health capacity building including:
• Trade barriers as a result of animal health condition
• How the trade facilitation can cut SPS barriers
• How implementing SPS measures are related to trade transaction cost
• How SPS measures relate to DCFTA regulatory requirements
Priority 2:Veterinary epidemiology - Investigation of infectious disease within animal population populations affecting human health, surveillance, prevention, treatment and containment.
Priority 3: Agricultural Economics and policy analyses – Determine how economic analyses of agricultural data affect policy analyses and decision making processes, with particular emphasis on the integration of statistical projections into policymaking.
Length of Fellowships:
Fellowships last between 10-12 weeks. All program proposals must include goals that are achievable within that timeframe. Fellowships can begin as early as August 2016 or as late as the summer of 2017. After completing the U.S.-based portion of the fellowship, the mentor will visit the Fellow’s home institution approximately one year after the U.S. portion of training.
Eligibility Requirements:
Candidates will be evaluated, interviewed and selected based on the following criteria:
• Citizen of Georgia
• Good working knowledge of the English language
• Master’s degree with at least two years’ of practical experience
• Currently employed by a university, government, research institution, or other institution with the intent to continue working in the home country for a minimum of two years following the return fr om the United States
• Early/mid-stage of professional career
• Experience and focus in one of thetargeted research areas
Application Requirements:
Eligible candidates are invited to submit the complete application including the following attachments no later than December 31, 2015. Submitted applications should include:
• Program proposal and action plan (2-3 pages)
• Signed approval fr om applicant's home institution
• Two letters of recommendation (academic and professional preferred)
• Official copies of transcripts for college/university degree(s) received
• Copy of passport identification page
Submit your completed application by email attachment to:
Demna Dzirkvadze
E-mail: DzirkvadzeD@state.gov
Edward Gerard
E-mail: edward.gerard@fas.usda.gov
Contact Information:
For questions related to the application process please contact:
Demna Dzirkvadze
E-mail: DzirkvadzeD@state.gov
Tel: 995 32 227-7934
U.S. Department of Agriculture/Foreign Agricultural Service
American Embassy in Tbilisi
For additional information about the Borlaug Fellowship Program, please contact the USDA/FAS Coordinators for the 2016 Borlaug Fellowship Program for Georgia:
Edward Gerard
E-mail: edward.gerard@fas.usda.gov
