The Global Food Security Graduate Fellows award will support exceptional graduate students who are interested in conducting thesis research in a developing country, in collaboration with a mentor from an International Agricultural Research Center in the Consultative Group for International Agricultural Research (such as CIAT, CIMMYT, ICRISAT, IITA, ILRI, IRRI etc.) or a national research institute devoted to food and agricultural issues. 

The grants have a maximum value of $12,000 for students applying for research stays of three months or longer. Fellows are required to spend a minimum of eight weeks abroad and awards would be adjusted to amount to no more than $1,000 per week abroad. Supplemental awards of up to $1,500 are available to support a visit by the student’s College of ACES advisor to the international research site. We expect to support 2 or 3 Fellows per year.

The Global Food Security Fellowships are made possible through a generous gift from Arlys Conrad.

View previous Food Security Fellows

Status:  We are not currently accepting proposals for the Global Food Security Graduate Fellowship award. Check back next fall. 

ACES International Graduate Grants are intended to fund international activities undertaken by Graduate Students in the College of ACES. Applicants may request funds of up to $4,000 per proposal to support international research opportunities. Applicants must be graduate students in programs housed in the College of ACES to be eligible.

As part of a competitive process, awards are given to students who require international travel as part of dissertation research, thesis research, or some other significant research project.

These awards have been made possible through generous donors including Bill and Mary Lee Dimond, Robert and Barbara Ayre, and the Arlys Conrad Endowment fund.

View previous international grant recipients

Status: We are currently accepting proposals. The deadline is March 10, 2023, at 5 p.m.

Call for Proposals - ACES International Graduate Grants 2023

We wish to fund international activities that contribute to dissertation research, thesis research, or some other significant research project. Applications should emphasize the nature of the international activity that goes beyond attending international conferences or participating in international travel groups. 

Download this information and the Grant Application Form. 

Activities should include international travel. 

A list of previous recipients of the ACES International Graduate Grants and their research topics can be found here: Past International Graduate Grant Recipients | College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences | UIUC (illinois.edu)

Applications:

The application packet should include the following: 1) a completed ‘Grant Application Form’; 2) a project description of no more than 3 pages including budget and timeline (12 point font; single-spaced). These documents should be combined into a single PDF document and emailed by the deadline to the Office of International Programs at aces-oip@illinois.edu.

Letter of support:

An application also requires a letter of support from the applicant's advisor that affirms the significance of this activity and the need for OIP funds. Applicants should request that the advisor discuss both the importance of the proposed activities and any experiences or attributes of the applicant that are relevant to the proposal. The letter of support should be sent directly to the Office of International Programs at aces-oip@illinois.edu.

Criteria:

Applications will be evaluated based on (1) Clarity and quality of motivation, method, and expected outcomes; (2) Importance of the travel for successful completion of project; (3) Feasibility of the project, and (4) Strength of advisor’s endorsement and academic record. Other considerations in allocation of funds may include efforts to support a portfolio of activities that reflects the thematic and disciplinary breadth of the College of ACES. 

Previous recipients are welcome to re-apply; however, priority may be given to students who have not previously received this award. 

All application materials must be received by the deadline of 5 p.m. on Friday, March 10, 2022.

Questions about this call should be sent to aces-oip@illinois.edu.