Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 003056
Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 003056
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the education sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Food And Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.210 Higher Education Graduate Fellowships Grant Program.
- This funding opportunity was created on Mar 23, 2010 and posted on Mar 23, 2010.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 10, 2010. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $3,600,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $258,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 15 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Others (see text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility for clarification) Public and State controlled institutions of higher education Private institutions of higher education.
- Applications may be submitted by (1) land grant institutions, (2) colleges and universities having significant minority enrollments and a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences, (3) University of the District of Columbia, and (4) other colleges and universities having a demonstrable capacity to carry out the teaching of food and agricultural sciences. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are eligible to submit graduate training proposals under this Request for Application. Individual students may NOT apply to this program to support their graduate training. Applicants should be institutions that confer a graduate degree in at least one of the Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas. Awards are made to eligible colleges and universities. Individuals seeking support to further their graduate education are not eligible to apply for these grants.
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Opportunity Summary:
The Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants, offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), is a discretionary grant program designed to strengthen the national pipeline of highly trained professionals in food and agricultural sciences. The core purpose is workforce development: helping outstanding, committed students complete graduate degrees in areas considered critical national needs, while also pushing graduate programs to deliver training that aligns with USDA mission science, NIFA priorities, and evidence of workforce demand. Rather than funding individual student applications directly, the program funds eligible universities and colleges to run structured graduate training fellowship programs that then select and support fellows.
Funding under this opportunity is structured around two main forms of support. First, it provides a stipend for each fellow, which is intended to help cover the student’s living expenses while they pursue full-time graduate study. Second, it provides a cost-of-education allowance paid to the institution to help cover allowable educational and training-related costs associated with supporting the fellow. The typical project period is up to five years, though some awards may use shorter timeframes as long as they do not exceed the five-year maximum. For the FY 2010 cycle described in the announcement, NIFA planned to support training grants covering both Master’s and doctoral-level study. Postdoctoral fellowships are explicitly not supported under this particular announcement; NIFA instead points applicants toward the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) for predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowship mechanisms.
A notable feature of this announcement is the option for Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA). These IRTA awards are meant to help eligible USDA fellows conduct research or pursue related study outside the United States when that international component directly supports the fellow’s thesis or dissertation or otherwise strengthens the planned training experience. The announcement emphasizes that IRTA is only available as specifically provided within the solicitation, and that current eligible NNF fellows must request IRTA through a standalone application rather than bundling it into another request. In practical terms, this means institutions and fellows need to plan carefully for timing and compliance if international work is integral to the research and training plan.
The program also places heavy emphasis on the quality and rationale of the graduate training environment. Applicant institutions are expected to clearly explain their training philosophy and show how their program prepares fellows with modern, career-relevant capabilities. The announcement frames expectations in terms of building “21st Century skills,” strengthening research-based knowledge, using technology effectively, and applying assessment practices that demonstrate the program is producing measurable results. Proposals are also expected to connect the training design to national guidance and labor-market signals, including recommendations from the National Research Council and National Academy of Sciences, projected workforce needs identified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics, and data from the National Science Foundation’s Survey of Earned Doctorates. A central goal is to advance a next-generation workforce that is both excellent and diverse across USDA mission science areas.
Eligibility is institution-focused. Applications may be submitted by land-grant institutions; colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments and the demonstrated capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences; the University of the District of Columbia; and other colleges and universities that can demonstrate capacity to teach in food and agricultural sciences. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university may also submit proposals. A key restriction is that individual students cannot apply directly for support through this grant. Instead, awards are made to institutions that confer a graduate degree in at least one of the program’s targeted expertise shortage areas, and those institutions are responsible for recruiting, selecting, and supporting fellows consistent with the approved training grant.
For the FY 2010 competition referenced, NIFA anticipated approximately 15 awards, with an estimated total funding level of $3.6 million. Individual awards ranged widely, with an award floor of $4,500 and a ceiling of $258,000. The program did not require cost sharing or matching. The funding opportunity number was USDA NIFA HEP 003056, associated with CFDA 10.210 (Higher Education - Graduate Fellowships Grant Program). The solicitation was posted March 23, 2010, and the closing date for applications was May 10, 2010 (later archived June 11, 2010). While the dates are specific to that cycle, the announcement provides a clear picture of how NIFA framed the program: institution-led training grants that financially support graduate fellows while pushing universities to deliver rigorous, workforce-aligned, mission-relevant training in national-need areas within the food and agricultural sciences.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate Fellowship Grants program?
It is a discretionary grant program offered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to strengthen the national pipeline of highly trained professionals in food and agricultural sciences. The program focuses on workforce development by supporting institution-run graduate fellowship training programs in areas considered critical national needs.
What is the main purpose of this grant opportunity?
The core purpose is to help outstanding, committed students complete graduate degrees in critical national-need areas while encouraging universities to provide training that aligns with USDA mission science, NIFA priorities, and evidence of workforce demand.
Who applies for this funding: students or institutions?
Institutions apply. Individual students cannot apply directly. NIFA funds eligible universities and colleges to operate structured graduate training fellowship programs, and those institutions recruit, select, and support the fellows.
What kinds of support does the grant provide for fellows?
The opportunity provides two main forms of support: (1) a stipend for each fellow intended to cover living expenses during full-time graduate study, and (2) a cost-of-education allowance paid to the institution to cover allowable educational and training-related costs associated with supporting the fellow.
What is the typical project period for an award?
The typical project period is up to five years. Some awards may use shorter timeframes as long as they do not exceed the five-year maximum.
What degree levels are supported under the FY 2010 announcement?
NIFA planned to support training grants covering both Master's and doctoral-level study in the FY 2010 cycle described.
Are postdoctoral fellowships supported under this announcement?
No. Postdoctoral fellowships are explicitly not supported under this particular announcement. NIFA instead points applicants to the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) for predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowship mechanisms.
What is the Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowance (IRTA)?
IRTA is an option that may help eligible USDA fellows conduct research or pursue related study outside the United States when the international component directly supports the fellow's thesis or dissertation or otherwise strengthens the planned training experience.
Can IRTA be included within another request or application?
No. The announcement emphasizes that current eligible NNF fellows must request IRTA through a standalone application rather than bundling it into another request.
What is the key condition for IRTA-supported international work?
The international study or research must directly support the fellow's thesis/dissertation or otherwise strengthen the planned training experience, and it must be requested only as specifically provided within the solicitation.
What does NIFA emphasize about the graduate training environment?
The program places heavy emphasis on the quality and rationale of the training environment. Applicant institutions are expected to explain their training philosophy and demonstrate how the program prepares fellows with modern, career-relevant capabilities, including "21st Century skills," strong research-based knowledge, effective technology use, and assessment practices that show measurable results.
What kinds of evidence should proposals connect to when justifying workforce need?
Proposals are expected to connect training design to national guidance and labor-market signals, including recommendations from the National Research Council and National Academy of Sciences, projected workforce needs identified by the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, and data from the National Science Foundation's Survey of Earned Doctorates.
What is the program trying to build in terms of the future workforce?
A central goal is to advance a next-generation workforce that is excellent and diverse across USDA mission science areas.
Which institutions are eligible to apply?
Applications may be submitted by land-grant institutions; colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments and the demonstrated capacity to teach food and agricultural sciences; the University of the District of Columbia; and other colleges and universities that can demonstrate capacity to teach in food and agricultural sciences.
Can a university-affiliated research foundation apply?
Yes. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university may also submit proposals.
Does the applicant institution need to confer a graduate degree to be eligible?
Yes. Awards are made to institutions that confer a graduate degree in at least one of the program's targeted expertise shortage areas.
If students cannot apply directly, how do fellows get selected?
Institutions that receive awards are responsible for recruiting, selecting, and supporting fellows in a manner consistent with the approved training grant.
How many awards were anticipated for the FY 2010 cycle described?
NIFA anticipated approximately 15 awards for the FY 2010 competition referenced.
What was the estimated total funding level for the FY 2010 cycle?
The estimated total funding level was $3.6 million for the FY 2010 competition referenced.
What were the minimum and maximum award amounts in the FY 2010 cycle?
Individual awards ranged from an award floor of $4,500 to a ceiling of $258,000.
Is cost sharing or matching required?
No. The program did not require cost sharing or matching.
What are the identifying numbers for this funding opportunity?
The funding opportunity number was USDA NIFA HEP 003056, and it was associated with CFDA 10.210 (Higher Education - Graduate Fellowships Grant Program).
When was the FY 2010 solicitation posted and when did it close?
The solicitation was posted March 23, 2010, and the closing date for applications was May 10, 2010. It was later archived June 11, 2010.
Do the posted and closing dates apply to all cycles?
The dates provided are specific to the FY 2010 cycle described, but the announcement illustrates the program structure: institution-led training grants that support graduate fellows and require rigorous, workforce-aligned, mission-relevant training in national-need areas within food and agricultural sciences.
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