Location: Plant, Soil and Nutrition Research
Project Number: 8062-21000-050-036-A
Project Type: Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: Sep 1, 2024
End Date: Aug 30, 2025
Objective:
ARS engages in research on many topic areas including plant pathogen problems and the nutritional impact of crop-based foods. Unfortunately, much research effort and the resulting benefits and opportunities for utilization are often poorly transferred to stakeholders, including consumers. This effort will engage Cooperator extension graduate students to work with ARS scientists to better translate scientific findings and benefits to stakeholders including growers, producers, processors, retailers and consumers. Graduate students work for one semester on an extension project with an ARS and/or Cooperator mentor in an applied agricultural field (food science, entomology, horticulture, or plant pathology).
During this semester the graduate students develop skills and get experience translating research into accessible information for those who need it. This is an important development opportunity for graduate students and a work force training exercise for these important agricultural sectors that will facilitate translation of ARS research to those who can benefit from it.
Approach:
The goal of this agreement will be to engage extension graduate students in ARS research and in particular its extension to ARS and State of New York stakeholders. One semester graduate fellowships will be offered to existing graduate students to work with ARS scientists partnered with collaborating Cooperator researchers. During this period, the graduate student will participate in ARS research projects and focus efforts toward identifying and engaging stakeholders, assessing how they will benefit from the research and relaying research activities while simultaneously returning information that may be useful in adjusting research objectives to optimally suite relevant stakeholders. Students who prove to be especially interested in an ARS research project will be invited to collaborate with the ARS and Cooperator PIs toward a longer term effort, possibly including a thesis dissertation project centered on ARS research objectives.
