The College of ACES Office of International Programs supports talented and motivated ACES undergraduate students to pursue work related to food and nutritional security in low- and middle-income countries through the Global Food Security Interns program.

As part of this annual program, the students receive salary support for an on-campus internship for the fall semester and additional optional funds to support an associated international travel experience.  

Congratulations to this semester’s interns:

• Olivia O’Leary, supervised by Michelle da Fonseca Santos in the Soybean Innovation Lab (SIL) - working with the SIL Human Nutrition Team
• Julie Hwang, supervised by Matthew Stasiewicz - working on mycotoxin detection methods for corn
• Brighid Zelko, supervised by Stephen Long - studying the phenotypic factors of tropical sorghums for increased efficiency
• Kierstin Benson, supervised by Michelle da Fonseca Santos - working with SIL’s Pan-African Trials commercialization team

As a cohort, the interns will have seminar-style discussions throughout the semester to discuss global food security at the macro-level. They will be given special opportunities to engage with global food security experts in addition to their individual research projects with faculty. Already, the group has enjoyed a guest talk on food security challenges and opportunities in Senegal by Aliou Faye, Director of the Regional Center of Excellence on Dry Cereals and Associated Crops (CERAAS).

The internships are funded by the Arlys Conrad Endowment fund and the Soybean Innovation Lab.

See previous interns.

Image: Interns with Aliou Faye, Director of the Regional Center of Excellence on Dry Cereals and Associated Crops (CERAAS).