St. Louis, Mssouri, USA
January 25, 2011

Any student or parent knows higher education can be very expensive. Luckily, scholarship and other funding opportunities exist. The United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff have announced the opening of the application period for their graduate-level research fellowship.
Tom Seversike recognizes the value of fellowships beyond just helping pay for his Ph.D. work at North Carolina State University.

“There is more value to a fellowship than the dollar amount you receive,” says Seversike, recipient of the first USB fellowship in 2007. “Fellowships are very competitive, so receiving this sort of funding sets you apart from other applicants and improves your chances to get into the top graduate research programs. Working in the top research programs then gives you the experience and skills that will prepare you to start a successful career of your own. That is where the real value lies.”

The USB Research Fellowship promotes graduate education in the area of plant sciences, focusing on improved ways to grow soybeans. USB encourages graduate students focusing on agronomy, phytopathology, weed science, molecular biology, extension service and other disciplines intended to improve the ways to grow soybeans to apply for the fellowship.
“As farmer-leaders on USB, our goal is to ensure that U.S. soybeans stay competitive by making sure we have the next generation of researchers in place to continue the work of improving soybean production,” says Jason Bean, USB Production program chair and a soybean farmer from Holcomb, Mo. “We’re looking for qualified students interested in being a part of that effort. If it’s focused on the science of soybeans, we want to hear from them.”

The fellowship provides a $25,000 annual stipend to the student for up to four years, provided the student makes satisfactory progress toward degree completion. USB provides the funds through the American Society of Agronomy.

Some eligibility requirements include:
• The applicant will have applied to become a doctoral candidate in plant sciences, focusing on improving ways to grow U.S. soybeans.
• The applicant must be a U.S. citizen.
• The applicant will submit proof of graduate school acceptance in the plant science/soybean area before receiving the fellowship.

Find more information on eligibility requirements, nominee qualifications and the application process at www.agronomy.org/awards/award.

The deadline for initiating a nomination/application for the fellowship is March 22, 2011, with all materials due by March 29.
 

Website: http://www.unitedsoybean.com

Published: January 25, 2011