Applications are opened for the AU-USDA Scientific Exchanges Program. The Scientific Exchanges Program (SEP) supports USDA’s agricultural research goals of promoting collaborative programs among agricultural professionals of eligible countries, agricultural professionals of the United States, the international agricultural research system, and U.S. entities conducting research. SEP is implemented by USDA’s Foreign Agricultural Service, Global Programs, Fellowship Programs.
The SEP Fellowships, in general, was created to operationalize the joint effort of the African Union (AU) And the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to promote food security and economic growth in eligible countries by educating a new generation of agricultural scientists, increasing scientific knowledge and collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity, and extending that knowledge to users and intermediaries in the marketplace. The collaborative nature of the SEP training and research programs benefits the fellow, his or her home institution, and partner country; the U.S. host institution, its professors, researchers, and students; and the global agricultural sector by improving agricultural productivity, systems, and processes in partnering nations through the transfer of new science and agricultural technologies.
This call focuses on applicants interested in establishing and harmonizing SPS regulatory regimes across the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs) of the African Union (AU). The goal will be to empower fellows to advocate for sound SPS policy to peers, decision-makers, and the public. The fellowship will last 12 weeks. All program proposals must include goals that are achievable within that timeframe. After completing the U.S.-based portion of the fellowship, the mentor will visit the Fellow’s home institution within six months to one year after the United States portion of the training
Program Details
- Host institution: Partner institutions in the United States of America.
- Research Topics:: Please find below.
- Number of Awards: Not specified
- Duration: 12 weeks.
- Eligible countries: Opened citizens of African Union member countries.
AU-USDA Scientific Exchanges Program Benefits
Selected candidates for this North America program fellowship will be provided with financial support for travel, training fees, emergency medical insurance, lodging, and food only. The daily maintenance allowance is adequate for meals and incidental expenses, and it will be the only direct financial support provided to the Fellow.
Research Topics
Establishing and harmonizing SPS regulatory regimes across the eight RECs of the AU. Given the depth of potential SPS measures and complexity of topics, the list below may not be exhaustive of all topics. The research areas are aligned within the three overarching areas of SPS including: food safety (WHO Codex), animal health (OIE), and plant health (IPPC) as well as a general category for a researcher who may analyze impacts of SPS implementation on producers, consumers, health outcomes, and/or other areas important to policy-makers. Many of these themes of research cross-over between categories.
Food Safety :
- Nutrition and labeling of food
- Pesticide/antimicrobial usage and residuals
- Food contaminants: chemical and natural
- Food testing and processing procedures
- Consumer food safety and UN guidelines for consumer protection.
Animal Health:
- Regulations for safety of animal source foods Epidemiology of foodborne pathogens
- Surveillance systems for foodborne pathogens
- Proper stewardship of antimicrobials / antibiotic alternatives
- Anti-microbial resistance monitoring
- Diagnostic/veterinary practices
- Biosecurity and biosafety (sanitation, isolation, and traffic control).
Plant Health:
- Agronomic and horticulture research: Plant protection and quarantine o Pest risk analysis o Phytosanitary controls
- Particularly the Diagnostic and Treatments for Regulated Pests (As listed in IPPC : ISPM 27 & 28).
General Policy/Management:
- Economic analysis of SPS implementation : including business drivers
- Risk Analysis, surveillance systems, quarantine practices, inspection/monitoring processes, etc.
- Leadership and science communication
- Understanding political and policy communication
- Inter-regional coordination/ cooperation/ collaboration for SPS implementation.
AU-USDA Scientific Exchanges Program Eligibility
Candidates will be evaluated, interviewed, and selected based on the following criteria:
- Citizen of a country in the African Union.
- Good reading, writing, and speaking skills in English language.
- Master’s degree or higher with at least two years of practical experience (minimum).
- Currently employed by a university, research institution, or other scientific institution in a country in the AU.
- Intention to continue working in a country of the AU for a minimum of two years following the return from the United States.
- Researcher with a clear connection to SPS regulatory regimes, who can adapt lessons learned from the U.S. SPS regulatory model at both national and state levels.
- Proposal directly related to the research topic.
Similar opportunities
- Quebec Merit Scholarship Program for Foreign Students;
- MEXT Scholarship at the University of Tokyo;
- University of Toronto Admission Scholarships for International Students;
- UK Government Chevening Scholarships for Foreign Students;
- The Gates Scholarship Program to Study in the USA.
How to Apply for the AU-USDA Scientific Exchanges Program
Eligible candidates who would like to apply for this fellowship program should submit their applications by email to Cara Conley ([email protected]), CCing Joyce West ([email protected]), at the USDA Offices in Washington, DC and Diana Akullo ([email protected]).
Required Documents
- PAPER Application form (Please click here to download the form).
- Program proposal and research action plan
- Signed approval from applicant’s home institution
- Two letters of recommendation (academic and professional preferred)
- Copies of diploma(s) for college/university degree(s) received
- Copy of passport identification page.
If applicable, in person or Skype interviews with applicants are tentatively scheduled to take place in September/October 2021. Final selection of participants will be made by a FAS/USDA committee in Washington, D.C. Applicants must complete the application in English.
Should you have any questions concerning the program, please contact:
Cara Conley, International Program Specialist
Scientific Exchanges, Fellowship Programs, Global Programs
Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA
1400 Independence Ave, SW
Washington, DC 20250
[email protected]
The application deadline for the Scientific Exchanges Program is . For more details, please visit the official page. To be the first to see latest opportunities, please follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
Any update on this program? Thanks