The White House National Science and Technology Council’s Committee on STEM Education (CoSTEM) has developed a pair of portals to connect undergraduates and graduate students to Federally-sponsored opportunities. These resources compile programs across federal agencies, which may be searched or browsed by discipline, location, and more.

• STEMUndergrads.science.gov includes listings for undergraduate fellowships, scholarships, courses, internships, prize, and institution-based awards for undergraduate programs.

• STEMGradStudents.science.gov includes listings for graduate fellowships, scholarships, traineeships, internships, and collaborations; scientific meeting support; thesis research; prizes; and institution-based awards for graduate programs.

Among the agencies who are included in the new portals are the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Institutes of Health, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Science Foundation (NSF), Smithsonian Institution, U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and U.S. Geological Survey.

CoSTEM was established in 2011 to coordinate Federal programs and activities in support of STEM education. Its co-chairs are France Córdova, Director of NSF, and Jo Handelsman, Associate Director for Science at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture is seeking applications for its Research and Extension Experiential Learning for Undergraduates (REEU) program offered through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and its Education and Literacy Initiative. The program seeks to “promote research and extension experiential learning for undergraduates such that upon graduation they may enter the agriculture workforce with exceptional skills.”

Through support of REEU Fellows, USDA will enable undergraduates to acquire laboratory research and extension skills, benefit from strong mentoring, and gain valuable experience to prepare them for future careers in the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. In addition to responding to the 2012 report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology, Agricultural Preparedness and the Agriculture Research Enterprise, this program also follow from the 2009 National Research Council report on Transforming Agricultural Education for a Changing World.

Applications may request up to $300,000 total for up to four years, which is expected to be predominantly for student support (e.g., stipends, housing, meals, travel, lab fees). Fellowships may be provided for up to two years for each undergraduate student, who must be U.S. citizens, nationals, or permanent residents. USDA strongly encourages the involvement of underrepresented students and those early in their college careers. At least 50% of the supported undergraduate fellows must come from outside the host institution or organization.

The review process will give preference to projects that lead to a self-sustaining model for increased/enhanced experiential learning for a diverse undergraduate student population. USDA also encourage the development of new collaborations with institutions that have limited STEM opportunities and partnerships with industry.

REEU awards will support projects relevant to AFRI’s six identified challenge areas: agricultural and natural resources science for climate variability and change, childhood obesity prevention, food safety, food security, sustainable bioenergy, and water resources.

Projects should also be aligned with one of the six AFRI Foundational Areas:

• Plant health and production and plant products
• Animal health and production and animal products
• Food safety, nutrition, and health
• Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment
• Agriculture systems and technology
• Agriculture economics and rural communities

Application information

• Request for Applications: Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative
• Application Deadline:  March 24, 2016, 5:00 pm local time

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is seeking applications for predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships offered through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) and its Education and Literacy Initiative. The fellowships will support training and students and postdocs relevant to AFRI’s six identified challenge areas: childhood obesity prevention, climate change, food safety, food security, sustainable bioenergy, and water.

Projects should also be aligned with one of the six AFRI Foundational Areas:

• Plant health and production and plant products
• Animal health and production and animal products
• Food safety, nutrition, and health
• Bioenergy, natural resources, and environment
• Agriculture systems and technology
• Agriculture economics and rural communities

According to the request for applications, “predoctoral and postdoctoral fellowships serve as a conduit for new scientists and professionals to enter research, education, and extension fields within the food, agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. The aim of these fellowships is to cultivate future leaders who are able to address and solve emerging agricultural challenges of the 21st century.”

Predoctoral fellowships

The predoctoral program seeks to support current doctoral students in their dissertation research. As such, those seeking predoctoral support must have advanced to candidacy, as per institutional requirements, by the application deadline of February 11, 2016. Documentation from the graduate advisor or institution is required.

Predoctoral applications may request up to $95,000 total for up to two years including the following elements:

• Stipend of up to $25,000 per year
• Tuition, fees, fringe benefits, supplies, travel, workshops, and publications of up to $19,500 per year
• Institutional allowance (in lieu of indirect costs) of up to $3,000 per year

Postdoctoral fellowships

To be eligible for the postdoctoral program, individuals must have satisfied all doctoral degree requirements between January 1, 2013, and November 11, 2016. Documentation from the graduate advisor/committee or the institution is required.

Postdoctoral applications may request up to $152,000 total for up to two years including the following elements:

• Salary support
• Fringe benefits, supplies, travel, workshops, and publications of up to $30,000 per year
• Institutional allowance (in lieu of indirect costs) of up to $3,000 per year

Although a proposed project may be related to the mentor’s scientific area, Postdoctoral Fellows are expected to “initiate an independent scientific program,” rather than merely an extension of ongoing projects in the mentor’s lab.

Application information

NIFA recommends that applications be submitted through the mentor’s institution so that the institution will ensure proper stewardship of federal funds, although students may also apply on their own behalf.

Those seeking support must be a citizen, national, or permanent resident of the U.S.

• Request for Applications: Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources and Human
• Sciences Education and Literacy Initiative
• Application Deadline:  February 11, 2016, 5:00 pm local time