Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004368
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004368
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "AFRI NIFA Fellowships Grant Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.310 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI).
- This funding opportunity was created on Oct 29, 2013 and posted on Oct 29, 2013.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Feb 20, 2014 A Letter of Intent is required and is a prerequisite for submission of an application. The Letter of Intent must be submitted by December 12, 2013.. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $6,000,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Eligible applicants include: For profit organizations other than small businesses Nonprofits that do not have a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) Individuals Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Small businesses Private institutions of higher education.
- It is highly encouraged that applications be submitted through the mentors institution with the mentor institution listed as the applicant (see Part IV, B.1.). Eligible mentor institutions include (1) State Agricultural Experiment Stations (2) colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher) (3) university research foundations (4) other research institutions and organizations (5) Federal agencies, (6) national laboratories (7) private organizations or corporations (8) any group consisting of two or more entities identified in (1) through (7). Eligible institutions do not include foreign and international organizations.
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Opportunity Summary:
The AFRI NIFA Fellowships Grant Program (FY 2014) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), CFDA 10.310. Its central purpose is workforce development: building the next generation of leaders in food, agriculture, forestry, and related sciences who can address major, long-term societal challenges. Rather than funding projects for institutions alone, this program is designed around supporting high-potential individuals, specifically doctoral candidates and postdoctoral trainees, and pairing them with strong mentors and structured training plans so they emerge as capable researchers, educators, and extension professionals in the United States.
The program is aimed at applicants who show exceptional promise and motivation, with the expectation that funded fellows (referred to as NIFA Fellows) will become influential contributors to agricultural science. A key emphasis is deliberate professional development. For doctoral candidates, the fellowship is meant to strengthen technical and academic competence. For postdoctoral trainees, the focus expands to building research independence and teaching competency, preparing them to lead their own programs and contribute meaningfully to education and extension missions. The work supported should align with NIFA AFRI Challenge Areas, and the proposal is expected to include well-developed, highly interactive mentoring and training activities rather than treating mentorship as an afterthought.
In terms of what gets funded, the solicitation allows both single-function and integrated projects. Single-function projects may be focused solely on Research, Education, or Extension. Integrated projects may combine Research with Education and/or Extension, reflecting AFRI's interest in proposals that not only generate knowledge, but also translate it into learning, practice, and public benefit. This structure gives applicants flexibility to design fellowships that match their discipline and career trajectory, whether their path is heavily research-centered or intentionally blends discovery with teaching and outreach.
Administratively, this opportunity was posted on October 29, 2013, with an application deadline of February 20, 2014, and an estimated total funding level of $6,000,000. A Letter of Intent (LOI) is mandatory and serves as a prerequisite for submitting a full application; the LOI deadline is December 12, 2013. There is no stated cost-sharing or matching requirement, which typically reduces barriers for applicants and mentor institutions.
Eligibility is broad in terms of organizational types, including public and private institutions of higher education, small businesses, for-profit entities (other than small businesses), nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations), certain tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments as listed), individuals, and additional categories as clarified in the full announcement. However, the program strongly encourages applications to be submitted through the mentor's institution, with that institution listed as the applicant. Eligible mentor institutions include State Agricultural Experiment Stations, colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher), university research foundations, other research institutions and organizations, federal agencies, national laboratories, private organizations or corporations, and consortia made up of two or more of these entities. Foreign and international organizations are not eligible as institutions under this program, reinforcing the program's focus on developing US-based professional capacity.
For support, NIFA provides a help desk for technical access issues (phone 202-401-5048 during business hours, Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays) and directs applicants with content-related questions to the guidance in the full announcement. Overall, the AFRI NIFA Fellowships are best understood as a competitive, mentorship-driven investment in individual scientists and professionals, funding not only the proposed work but also the training environment and career development plan needed to produce future leaders across research, education, and extension in the food and agricultural sciences.
AFRI NIFA Fellowships Grant Program (FY 2014) FAQs
What is the AFRI NIFA Fellowships Grant Program (FY 2014)?
The AFRI NIFA Fellowships Grant Program (FY 2014) is a discretionary grant opportunity from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI), CFDA 10.310. It is designed to support high-potential individuals through structured, mentor-driven fellowships.
What is the main purpose of this fellowship program?
The central purpose is workforce development: building the next generation of leaders in food, agriculture, forestry, and related sciences who can address major, long-term societal challenges. The program emphasizes professional development, strong mentorship, and structured training plans.
Who is this program intended to support?
This program is designed around supporting individuals, specifically doctoral candidates and postdoctoral trainees, paired with strong mentors and interactive training activities.
What qualities are expected of applicants?
The program is aimed at applicants who show exceptional promise and motivation, with the expectation that funded fellows (NIFA Fellows) will become influential contributors to agricultural science.
How does the program differ for doctoral candidates versus postdoctoral trainees?
For doctoral candidates, the fellowship is intended to strengthen technical and academic competence. For postdoctoral trainees, the focus expands to building research independence and teaching competency, preparing them to lead their own programs and contribute to education and extension missions.
What types of projects can be funded (single-function vs. integrated)?
The solicitation allows both single-function and integrated projects. Single-function projects may focus solely on Research, Education, or Extension. Integrated projects may combine Research with Education and/or Extension.
What does NIFA mean by an integrated project in this program?
An integrated project combines Research with Education and/or Extension, reflecting AFRI's interest in proposals that generate knowledge and translate it into learning, practice, and public benefit.
Do proposals need to align with specific topic areas?
Yes. The work supported should align with NIFA AFRI Challenge Areas, as described in the solicitation.
How important is mentoring and training in the proposal?
Mentoring and training are a key emphasis. The proposal is expected to include well-developed, highly interactive mentoring and training activities, rather than treating mentorship as an afterthought.
When was this opportunity posted?
The opportunity was posted on October 29, 2013.
What is the application deadline?
The application deadline is February 20, 2014.
Is a Letter of Intent (LOI) required?
Yes. A Letter of Intent (LOI) is mandatory and serves as a prerequisite for submitting a full application.
What is the LOI deadline?
The LOI deadline is December 12, 2013.
How much funding is expected to be available under this solicitation?
The estimated total funding level is $6,000,000.
Is cost-sharing or matching required?
No cost-sharing or matching requirement is stated in the provided information.
What types of organizations are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, small businesses, for-profit entities (other than small businesses), nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations), certain tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments as listed), individuals, and additional categories as clarified in the full announcement.
Should applications be submitted by the individual fellow or by an institution?
The program strongly encourages applications to be submitted through the mentor's institution, with that institution listed as the applicant.
What institutions can serve as eligible mentor institutions?
Eligible mentor institutions include State Agricultural Experiment Stations; colleges and universities (including junior colleges offering associate degrees or higher); university research foundations; other research institutions and organizations; federal agencies; national laboratories; private organizations or corporations; and consortia of two or more of these entities.
Are foreign or international organizations eligible to apply as institutions?
No. Foreign and international organizations are not eligible as institutions under this program, consistent with the program's focus on developing US-based professional capacity.
What does the program ultimately aim to produce?
The program aims to develop future leaders across research, education, and extension in the food and agricultural sciences by funding both the proposed work and the training environment and career development plan.
Where can applicants get technical help related to access issues?
NIFA provides a help desk for technical access issues at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Eastern Time), excluding federal holidays.
Where should applicants look for guidance on application content questions?
For content-related questions, applicants are directed to the guidance in the full announcement.
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