Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004031
Apply for USDA NIFA AFRI 004031
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture education environment natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (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 Dec 19, 2012 and posted on Dec 6, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Mar 14, 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: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) 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 Small businesses Nonprofits having a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Individuals Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) 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. The student applying for the fellowship may opt to submit the application on his/her own behalf. If such an application results in an award, the student, in accepting the grant award will be certifying that he/she will ensure stewardship of Federal funds, will manage all aspects of the project in accordance with sound practices, and will comply with all applicable laws and regulations and the terms and conditions of the grant award. The individual (i.e., student) seeking support via the application (whether as the applicant or through the mentor institution) must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the United States as defined in Part VIII (note that this does not preclude the individual from doing all or part of the proposed work at a non United States organization). In addition, the following requirements apply as noted Predoctoral Student The individual must have advanced to candidacy, as per institutional requirements, by March 7, 2013, and provide documentation from the graduate advisor or the institution by the application deadline. The intent of the NIFA Pre doctoral Fellowship Program is to support current doctoral students who are at the stage of conducting dissertation research, ultimately leading to completion of the dissertation and respective terminal degree. Predoctoral students, inclusive of those with Baccalaureate and/or Masters degrees, who meet the aforementioned criteria, may apply. Postdoctoral Student All doctoral degree requirements must be satisfied no earlier than January 1, 2010 and no later than December 7, 2013, and provide documentation from the graduate advisor/graduate committee or the institution by the application deadline.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) NIFA Fellowships Grant Program (Funding Opportunity Number USDA NIFA AFRI 004031) is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The FY 2013 request for applications is centered on building the next generation of leaders in the food, agriculture, forestry, and related sciences. The main purpose is workforce development: helping highly promising predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers gain the skills, experience, and mentoring needed to become strong, independent professionals who can tackle major agricultural and societal challenges through research, education, and extension work.
At its core, the program funds fellowships for talented, highly motivated doctoral candidates and postdoctoral trainees in the United States who show exceptional potential. NIFA frames these awardees as future leaders with the capacity for significant accomplishments in agricultural science. The fellowship emphasis is not only on producing research results, but also on deliberate training and career preparation. For predoctoral fellows, the aim is to strengthen technical and academic competence at the dissertation-research stage. For postdoctoral fellows, the focus expands to building research independence along with teaching competencies, positioning fellows to move into professional roles where they can lead projects and mentor others.
A distinguishing feature of this opportunity is its expectation of structured, highly interactive mentoring and training. Applications are meant to describe well-developed plans that actively build the fellow's capabilities, rather than treating professional development as an afterthought. The work supported must fit within NIFA challenge areas and may be proposed in several formats: single-function projects (Research only, Education only, or Extension only) as well as integrated projects that combine Research, Education, and/or Extension components. This structure allows applicants to propose anything from a tightly focused research fellowship to broader programs that blend discovery with teaching and outreach.
The total estimated funding for the competition is $6,000,000, and the CFDA number is 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative). There is no cost sharing or matching requirement listed, which can lower barriers for applicants and sponsoring institutions. The opportunity was posted December 6, 2012, created December 19, 2012, with an original closing date of March 7, 2013; the current closing date was extended to March 14, 2013. The archive date is April 13, 2013.
Eligibility is broad in terms of the kinds of applicants that can be involved, including public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations), small businesses, other for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), certain tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), federal agencies, national laboratories, and other research institutions and organizations. Even with that broad list, the program strongly encourages submission through the mentor's institution, with the mentor's institution serving as the applicant organization. NIFA specifies eligible mentor institutions to 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 collaborations made up of two or more of those entities. Foreign and international organizations are not eligible as mentor institutions, though the announcement notes that the fellow may conduct some or all of the proposed work at a non-U.S. organization.
An individual student may also submit an application on their own behalf, rather than through an institution. However, if the student applies directly and receives an award, they are responsible for stewardship of federal funds, management of the project using sound practices, and compliance with all applicable laws, regulations, and award terms and conditions. Regardless of whether the applicant is an institution or an individual, the person who would be supported by the fellowship must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or U.S. permanent resident as defined in the solicitation.
The fellowship has specific timing and status requirements depending on the applicant's career stage. For the predoctoral fellowship, the individual must have advanced to candidacy under their institution's rules by March 7, 2013 and must provide documentation from the graduate advisor or institution by the application deadline. The intent is to support doctoral students who are actively engaged in dissertation research and moving toward completion of the terminal degree, and it explicitly allows eligible students to apply whether they entered the doctoral program with a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, or both. For the postdoctoral fellowship, all doctoral degree requirements must be satisfied within a defined window: no earlier than January 1, 2010 and no later than December 7, 2013, with documentation required from the graduate advisor/committee or institution by the deadline.
For practical support and submission issues, NIFA directs applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement to the NIFA Help Desk (202-401-5048) during business hours (Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays). The official announcement also provides a place to seek help with application content questions.
AFRI NIFA Fellowships Grant Program (USDA NIFA AFRI 004031) FAQs
1) What is the AFRI NIFA Fellowships Grant Program?
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) NIFA Fellowships Grant Program is a discretionary grant program run by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). It funds fellowships for highly promising predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers in the United States who are expected to become future leaders in food, agriculture, forestry, and related sciences.
2) What is the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose is workforce development. The program is designed to help talented predoctoral and postdoctoral researchers gain the skills, experience, and structured mentoring needed to become strong, independent professionals who can address major agricultural and societal challenges through research, education, and extension work.
3) Who is this fellowship intended to support?
The opportunity is intended to support two groups: (1) predoctoral researchers who are doctoral candidates at the dissertation-research stage, and (2) postdoctoral trainees who have recently completed (or will complete within the defined window) all doctoral degree requirements.
4) What kinds of activities or project types can be proposed?
Projects must fit within NIFA challenge areas and may be proposed as:
- Single-function projects: Research only, Education only, or Extension only
- Integrated projects that combine Research, Education, and/or Extension components
This allows proposals ranging from focused research fellowships to broader efforts that blend discovery with teaching and outreach.
5) What makes this fellowship different from a standard research grant?
A key expectation is structured, highly interactive mentoring and training. Applications are expected to describe well-developed professional development plans that actively build the fellow's capabilities, rather than treating training as a minor add-on to research.
6) What is the total estimated funding available for this competition?
The total estimated funding for the competition is $6,000,000.
7) What is the CFDA number for this opportunity?
The CFDA number is 10.310 (Agriculture and Food Research Initiative).
8) Is cost sharing or matching required?
No cost sharing or matching requirement is listed in the information provided for this opportunity.
9) What are the key dates for this funding opportunity?
- Posted: December 6, 2012
- Created: December 19, 2012
- Original closing date: March 7, 2013
- Current (extended) closing date: March 14, 2013
- Archive date: April 13, 2013
10) Who is eligible to apply (organizations)?
Eligibility is broad and includes public and private institutions of higher education, nonprofits (including 501(c)(3) organizations), small businesses, other for-profit organizations (other than small businesses), certain tribal organizations (other than federally recognized tribal governments), federal agencies, national laboratories, and other research institutions and organizations.
11) Does the application have to be submitted by a university or institution?
The program strongly encourages submission through the mentor's institution, with the mentor's institution serving as the applicant organization. However, an individual student may also submit an application on their own behalf.
12) If an individual student applies directly, what responsibilities come with that?
If a student applies directly and receives an award, they are responsible for stewardship of federal funds, managing the project using sound practices, and complying with all applicable laws, regulations, and award terms and conditions.
13) What citizenship or residency requirements apply to the fellow?
The person supported by the fellowship must be a U.S. citizen, a U.S. national, or a U.S. permanent resident (as defined in the solicitation), regardless of whether the applicant is an institution or an individual.
14) What are the eligibility timing requirements for the predoctoral fellowship?
For the predoctoral fellowship, the individual must have advanced to candidacy under their institution's rules by March 7, 2013. Documentation from the graduate advisor or institution must be provided by the application deadline.
15) Does it matter whether a predoctoral applicant entered the doctoral program with a bachelor's or a master's degree?
No. The opportunity explicitly allows eligible students to apply whether they entered the doctoral program with a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, or both.
16) What are the eligibility timing requirements for the postdoctoral fellowship?
For the postdoctoral fellowship, all doctoral degree requirements must be satisfied no earlier than January 1, 2010 and no later than December 7, 2013. Documentation from the graduate advisor/committee or institution is required by the application deadline.
17) What kinds of institutions can serve as 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 collaborations made up of two or more of those entities.
18) Are foreign or international organizations eligible as mentor institutions?
No. Foreign and international organizations are not eligible as mentor institutions under the information provided.
19) Can the fellow conduct research or training at a non-U.S. organization?
Yes. While foreign and international organizations are not eligible as mentor institutions, the announcement notes that the fellow may conduct some or all of the proposed work at a non-U.S. organization.
20) Where can applicants get help if they cannot access the full announcement?
NIFA directs applicants who have trouble accessing the full announcement to the NIFA Help Desk at 202-401-5048 during business hours (Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, excluding federal holidays).
21) Where can applicants ask questions about application content?
The official announcement provides a place to seek help with application content questions (the specific contact details are referenced as being in the official announcement).
22) What is the overarching focus area for the FY 2013 request for applications?
The FY 2013 request for applications is centered on building the next generation of leaders in the food, agriculture, forestry, and related sciences, with an emphasis on deliberate training, mentoring, and career preparation.
23) What is the emphasis for predoctoral fellows specifically?
For predoctoral fellows, the aim is to strengthen technical and academic competence at the dissertation-research stage, supporting doctoral students who are actively engaged in dissertation research and moving toward completion of the terminal degree.
24) What is the emphasis for postdoctoral fellows specifically?
For postdoctoral fellows, the focus expands to building research independence along with teaching competencies, positioning fellows to move into professional roles where they can lead projects and mentor others.
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