Global Agriculture Programs

Young Scientist To Scientist Program

(USDA, USAID and Iowa State University)

Iowa State University, USDA, and USAID plan to offer short-term training programs for young scientists from Serbia and Montenegro to foster increased collaboration and networking among agricultural scientists from those two countries and the U.S. The program is slated for the 2003-04 academic year.

Program Objectives

• To provide highly skilled young scientists from Serbia and Montenegro an opportunity to work with Iowa State University scientists for four weeks and learn the latest developments in science in various areas of agriculture, marketing, and international trade and policy so that they are able to apply this newly learned knowledge for their countries’ development and in their own research programs.
• To foster increased collaboration and networking among Serbia, Montenegro, and US agricultural scientists.

Eligibility/Qualifications

• Applicants to this program must be Serbia or Montenegro citizens who are less than 40 years of age.
• Must have at least MS degree in their respective fields with at least three years of practical experience at an institution of higher learning. Must be currently employed at an Institution of higher learning in their country and have a strong recommendations from their home institution to participate in this program and serve the institute for a minimum period of two years after their return.
• Must have good working knowledge of English language.

Priority Areas of Training Program

For the first module, the focus will be on biotechnology, including but not limited to, plant and animal genomics, GMO’s for food fiber, and pharmaceuticals, vaccines and diagnostics, biotechnology policy and ethics.

As we develop the program, future modules may focus on many aspects of agricultural research, including, but not limited to, animal waste management, water quality monitoring, management and watershed models, organic farming, Integrated Pest Management, food safety and food quality standards, value addition to crops and meat products, animal disease, health, and vaccinations, seed and grain processing, storage, and quality.

Application Procedure

Interested applicants will complete an application form (to include name, year of birth, address, telephone and fax number, e-mail address, authorized signature of the sponsoring institution), write one page essay on their area of research interest and how this training will improve their knowledge and skills, provide a transcript of college degrees, and two page curriculum vitae, and two letters of recommendation.

Review Procedure

Applications will be reviewed by a technical expert at USDA/FAS/ICD and a technical expert at Iowa State University. Selected candidates will be interviewed by a team of two ISU scientists and at least one USDA representative.

Preparation

Each participant will develop a plan of work with his/her faculty mentor, planning in advance as much as possible through email correspondence. The plan of work may include auditing of classes and graduate seminars and laboratory or field work. It will include a professional development experience such as attending a regional or national meeting.

Training at Iowa State University

The selected participants will be sent to Iowa State University in groups of 5 scientists each. Iowa State will provide international transport and local housing, transportation and meals. Group orientation to the campus and the ISU Biotechnology Center will be provided. During a four-week period, the candidates will have an opportunity to learn new research techniques, access fully equipped libraries, and learn about public-private partnerships in the U.S. They will learn about discussions/controversy re: biotechnology in the US, and how scientists, university officials, and the public interact.

Follow-on Activities
Upon return to their home institution, the participants will be able to apply their knowledge for the development of their home country and in their own research programs. Participants will be required to present a seminar on their research activities at their home institution when they return. This will be monitored by in-country staff.

In addition, combination seminar/workshops will be scheduled at the institutions that are home to Young Scientist participants, one meeting in Serbia, and one in Montenegro. The first day will be seminar presentations, open to the “academic” public. Following will be a workshop for a smaller number of people, including the young scientist program participants and other scientists from their institutions, participating scientists from the US institutions, and policy-makers. The purpose of the workshop is to discuss the possible uses of biotechnology in Serbia and Montenegro, and identify areas of mutual interest for further collaborative research. As has been found with longer-term Faculty Exchange programs, these activities will foster increased collaboration and networking among scientists in Serbia, Montenegro and the U.S.