Funding available for students of Agriculture, Food, Forestry or Environment to conduct study or research in the USA!

Thursday 14^th September 2017: The 2018-19 Fulbright-Teagasc Student Award application period is now open with a deadline of 4pm on 31^st October 2017. This Award offers a unique opportunity for a student of Agriculture, Food, Forestry or Environment to conduct postgraduate study or research at a U.S. institution of their choice.

“This Award is a great platform for postgraduates who wish to launch their research careers and advance their research skills in fields of food, agriculture, forestry and environment” says Ms Jaswinder Kaur, a 2017-18 Fulbright-Teagasc Awardee.

Kaur is a PhD candidate with the Shannon Applied Biotechnology Centre at Limerick Institute of Technology. She recently travelled to the USA to begin her Fulbright-Teagasc scholarship at Michigan State University, “I am a Fungal biologist and with the help of this prestigious Fulbright-Teagasc Award I will be able to carry out further research in area of fungal genomics under the direction of an outstanding supervisor in one of the best research labs in the States. I know the experience will greatly benefit my overall growth and experience as a researcher.”

Founded in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright to “expand the boundaries of human wisdom, empathy and perception through educational and cultural exchange”, the Fulbright Program is active in 155 countries worldwide. Fulbright Awards were first offered in Ireland 60 years ago giving rise to a rich and diverse fellowship of Irish and U.S. Fulbrighters.

Kaur says of the opportunity, “I would advise all individuals who are inspired by the research in their current fields of food, agriculture, forestry and environment to boldly apply for this award with their ideas – backed up with the scientific rationale, to the best of their abilities. And like any scientific research, this application requires some effort and innovation on part of the applicant, however the rewards of this grant are truly remarkable.”

Fulbright-Teagasc Award Alumni include Mr Shane Crowley and Ms Mary Carey. Crowley was a PhD student at UCC when he applied for an Award in 2013. He travelled to the University of Wisconsin, Madison to conduct research on the isolation of individual dairy proteins in order to fortify foods and enhance their nutritional profile. Carey was a part-time Walsh Fellow with Teagasc and a PhD candidate at UCD when she received her Fulbright-Teagasc Award in 2015. Her research at the University of Missouri focused on the impact of agri-businesses on the rural economy.

To apply for a 2018-2019 Fulbright-Teagasc Student Award, candidates should visit www.fulbright.ie and contact the Fulbright Commission in Ireland for further information.

ENDS

For further information please contact:
Emma Loughney, Fulbright Commission: Emma.loughney@fulbright.ie / 01-6607670