Georgia

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) is pleased to announce the initiation of The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program (Borlaug Fellows Program) for Georgia. The Borlaug Fellows Program offers training and collaborative research opportunities in international agricultural science, leadership and policy. Training venues usually include U.S. universities, government agencies, and international agricultural research centers. Each Fellow works one-on-one with a mentor who coordinates the Fellow’s training and visits the Fellow's home institution after completion of the training.

The 2006 Borlaug Fellows Program for Georgia is administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in cooperation with the University of Nebraska–Lincoln.

The application deadline for the 2006 Borlaug Fellows Program
for Georgia was April 14, 2006.

Objectives:
  • Provide entry-level Georgian agricultural research scientists, faculty and policymakers with one-on-one training opportunities in the fields of agricultural research (see targeted research areas below);
     
  • Provide scientists, faculty and policymakers with practical experience and exposure to new technologies that can enhance their own research endeavors;
     
  • Foster increased collaboration and networking between Georgian and U.S. agricultural scientists and policymakers to improve agricultural productivity;
     
  • Facilitate the transfer of new science and agricultural technologies to strengthen agricultural practices;
     
  • Address obstacles to the adoption of technology such as ineffectual policies and regulations.

Eligibility Requirements:
  • Georgian citizens in the early-to-mid-level stages of their professional careers;
     
  • Good working knowledge of the English language;
     
  • Minimum Masters degree with 3 years of practical experience or working toward Masters degree with 5 years experience;
     
  • Currently employed at a Georgian research institution, university, government and other research entities with intent to continue working in Georgia for a minimum of two years following their return from the United States.

Program Structure:
  • Priority research areas:
     
    • HACCP/Food Safety;
       
    • Animal Diseases—monitoring, surveillance, risk analysis;
       
    • Biotechnology;
       
    • Dairy;
       
    • Agricultural statistics;
       
    • Agricultural marketing information systems;
       
    • Plant genetic resources—collection and development;
       
  • U.S. host institution: University of Nebraska–Lincoln;
        
  • Fellows will spend 4 weeks at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln during summer 2006 (exact dates will be determined);
     
  • Fellows laboratory and field research will be conducted under the supervision of university faculty and research mentors;
     
  • Fellows and faculty mentors will participate in a scientific follow-up workshop in Georgia to be held in 2007.

Application Requirements:

Eligible candidates are invited to submit the complete application including the following attachments:

  • Application form
     
  • One-page program proposal
     
  • Approval of the home institution
     
  • Two letters of recommendation
     
  • Official copy of transcript of college degrees
     
  • Copy of passport identification page
     
  • Two passport-sized photos

For application materials, questions and to submit applications, please contact:

Maia Mazanishvili
Administrative Assistant
US Department of Agriculture
11 George Balanchine Street
Tbilisi, Georgia 0131
Tel: (995 32) 27-79-34
Fax: (995 32) 53-05-13
E-mail: mazanishvilim@state.gov

For additional information please contact our Washington, DC program staff:

Borlaug Fellows Program–Georgia
E-mail: BorlaugCaucas@fas.usda.gov
http://www.fas.usda.gov/icd/borlaug/borlaug.htm


Back to FAS International Development Information
Home        About Norman Borlaug       Borlaug Program Description
 Geographic Coverage        FAQs        News & Events        Contacts

Last Modified: Wednesday, February 14, 2007