This project supports Undergraduate Students from UIUC, Purdue, North Carolina A&T, Florida A&M, Tuskegee, and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa to participate in a six-week program at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in the Philippines to learn about the basics of rice research and production and gain an appreciation for the challenges and rewards of international collaboration.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens enrolled at the university during the academic year after participating in PSGFS. While we are primarily targeting current sophomores and juniors (i.e. rising juniors and seniors), outstanding current freshmen will be considered. Successful applicants will have an interest in global engagement and plant science research. Under-represented minorities are especially encouraged to apply.

This program is in its second year. Read about ACES students' previous experiences in this program.

The College of ACES Office of International Programs seeks to support talented and motivated ACES undergraduate students to pursue work related to food and nutritional security in low- and middle-income countries through the Global Food Security Interns program.

Program Description:

ACES students who are selected as Global Food Security Interns will receive:

• Salary support for an approved on-campus internship for 8 to 15 weeks during Spring Semester, 2023. The selected student’s internship supervisor will receive funding to pay the Scholar up to $12/hour for up to 10 hours per week for a period of 8 to 15 weeks.  The internship must provide the student with experience in a program addressing food and nutrition insecurity.
• Up to $1500 to support the costs of participating in an international travel experience of at least two weeks during the summer of 2023 that is associated with the spring semester internship.
• Salary support for the internship during the summer of 2023 for up to 8 weeks at $12/hour for up to 20 hours/week. The international experience of 2 or more weeks is to be part of the internship.
• Selected Scholars will be required to submit a final report or blog post (with image) at the close of the program and may be asked to submit a poster that will be displayed at an event.

Eligibility:

Global Food Security Interns must be enrolled in an undergraduate program in the College of ACES, must plan to graduate no earlier than December 2023, and must be nominated by a faculty member in ACES who will supervise the internship and international travel experiences. 

Selection Process:

Prospective Undergraduate Global Food Security Interns must submit:

1. A nomination from the prospective internship supervisor that describes the planned internship and travel experiences as well as the supervisor’s assessment of the applicant’s capacity to contribute to and benefit from the Global Food Security Interns Program.
2. Academic transcript. (Unofficial is ok)
3. Statement of purpose (2 pages) by the student explaining the interest in global food security, professional or academic goals, and initial plans for the program activities (internship, summer experience).
4. One reference letter from a university faculty or staff member who is not the internship supervisor.

Deadline: December 7, 2022.  Applications will be considered on a rolling basis up to this deadline.

Submit the application and supporting documents to: ACES-OIP@illinois.edu. 

The academic transcript and statement of purpose should be submitted by the student. The letter of reference and nomination should be submitted separately by the reference and the prospective supervisor, respectively.  Please enter the following in the subject line: Undergraduate GFSS_STUDENT NAME.  (eg. Undergraduate GFSS_John Doe).

The Social Shifters and Rathbones seek applications to the Global Climate Challenge. The program is designed to enable young people (18-30 years) to explore ideas that will help accelerate the shift to net zero emissions. The challenge looks for ideas, projects and business solutions from anywhere in the world that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Participants get free access to a digital Incubator program and compete for an award of US$10 thousand to implement their idea.