The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program aims to promote food security and economic growth by increasing scientific knowledge and collaborative research to improve agricultural productivity. In Romania, this program built upon the Young Scientist Program that was established in 2001, has provided promising young scientists and policymakers from Romania with an opportunity to spend 5 weeks in the United States and work one-on-one with a U.S. scientist in their fields. During the five-week program, participants learn new research techniques, gain exposure to the latest scientific developments in various fields of agriculture, access fully-equipped laboratories and libraries, and learn about unique public-private partnerships that help fund agricultural research and science. Equally important, this program provides the Romanian scientists and policymakers with opportunities to establish long-term contacts with U.S. scientists and apply the newly gained knowledge from U.S. laboratories to Romania’s research and development programs.

The Norman E. Borlaug International Agricultural Science and Technology Fellows Program for Romania is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and administered and managed by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Foreign Agricultural Service, International Cooperation and Development, Research and Scientific Exchanges Division.

To date, over 35 young Romanian scientists and policymakers have participated in this five-week program. Participants have come from a variety of Romanian institutions serving all regions of the country. Some of these institutions include: Institute for Bovine Breeding Research and Production, Balotesti; Institute for Bioresources, Bucharest; University of Iasi, Zoology and Ecology; Research Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry, Bucharest; University of Veterinary Sciences, Obstetrics and Reproductive Biology, Cluj; Academy of Agricultural and Forest Sciences, Timisoara; Institute of Food Research and Biotechnology, Bucharest; and the National Sanitary Veterinary and Food Safety Authority (ANSVA.

Objectives:

• Provide young Romanian scientists and policymakers an opportunity to work one-on-one with U.S. scientists in fields of agricultural research at a U.S. university
   
• Provide young Romanian scientists and policymakers with opportunities to establish long-term contacts with U.S. scientists
   
• Enable young Romanian scientists to apply newly gained knowledge from U.S. laboratories to Romania’s research and development programs
   
• Provide young Romanian scientists with practical experience and exposure to new technologies that can enhance their own research endeavors
   
• Foster increased collaboration and networking between Romania and U.S. agricultural scientists and policymakers

Eligibility:

2005/2006 Program Details: