USDA Cocoa Borlaug Fellowship Program 2014 for Latin American & the Caribbean

Deadline: June 27, 2014

USDA, in cooperation with the World Cocoa Foundation (WCF), is now accepting applications from candidates in six Latin American and Caribbean countries for 2014 Cocoa Borlaug Fellowships. The FAS Global Cocoa Initiative, under the auspices of the Borlaug Fellowship Program, provides fellow with skills and knowledge to help their countries become more competitive in producing and exporting cocoa and cocoa products. Fellows will work with a mentor at a U.S. university, research center or government agency for up to three months. The U.S. mentor will later visit the fellow’s home institution to continue collaboration.

Eligible Countries: Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, and Trinidad and Tobago

Targeted Research Areas:

• Genetics and breeding
• Plant propagation methods
• Diseases – plant pathology and control methods, particularly for witches’ broom and frosty pod
• Soil fertility and plant nutrition

Eligibility

To be considered for the Borlaug Fellowship Program, candidates must:

• Be citizens of an eligible country
• Be fluent in English
• Have completed a Master’s or higher degree
• Be in the early or middle stage of their career, with at least two years of practical experience
• Be employed by a university, government agency or research entity in their home country
• Demonstrate their intention to continue working in their home country after completing the fellowship

Criteria

• Applicants are selected based on their academic and professional research interests and achievements, level of scientific competence, aptitude for scientific research, leadership potential, likelihood of bringing back new ideas to their home institution, and flexibility and aptitude for success in a cross-cultural environment.
• Consideration is also given to the relevance of the applicant’s research area to the research topics highlighted in the application announcement and to global food security and trade.

For more information, visit the Cocoa Borlaug Fellowships.