Awards of US$2,000 each will be conferred to deserving graduate students in sciences relevant to plant nutrition and management of crop nutrients.
The Award will be made directly to the student. No specific duties will be required of the recipient.
The Award will be granted independent of any assistantship, scholarship, or other award that the student presently holds.
Eligibility
Graduate students attending a degree-granting institution located in any country with an IPNI program are eligible. See countries included: http://www.ipni.net/regionalprograms
(For example, students in Japan, England, etc., are not eligible.)
Candidates for either the M.S. or Ph.D. degrees, who are enrolled in a program of graduate study as of the application deadline, are eligible. Applicants who have already completed their degrees are ineligible. In the case of Ph.D. candidates, preference will be given to students who have a minimum of one year remaining before completion of their studies.
Priority will be given to the relevance of the proposed research in support of IPNI's mission (see below). Students in the disciplines of soil and plant sciences including agronomy, horticulture, ecology, soil fertility, soil chemistry, crop physiology, and other areas related to plant nutrition are encouraged to apply.
Winners are not eligible for reappointment; the awards are for one time only.
(NOTE: Students in Africa - If your university is not located in a region with an IPNI program but your research is being done with research institutions in Africa—including the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR), Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), and National Agricultural Research Systems—you are eligible to apply. Your research work should be in Africa and at least one of your main supervisors should be based in Africa.)
Requirements
In order to complete the application process, you will need the following:
1. Electronic copies of transcripts of all college work, including cumulative and final grade average records (GPA or percentage).
2. Electronic copies of three (3) letters of reference supporting the application, one of which should be from your major professor or supervisor. Letters must be signed by the person providing the reference letter and should be written on official letterhead. Letters must include a phone number and e-mail address of the letter writer.
3. A description of the focus of your thesis or dissertation research presented in a manner that will permit evaluation of its originality, depth, and scope, innovative approaches, and relevance to IPNI's mission.
4. You will be asked to briefly describe any honors or awards you have received, employment, career goals, and other activities you pursue.
Note: You will be required to upload the electronic copy of the transcripts and support letters during the on-line application process. You should have an electronic copy of these documents prepared in advance.
IPNI's Mission
The mission of IPNI is to develop and promote scientific information about the responsible management of plant nutrition for the benefit of the human family.
IPNI is a global organization with initiatives addressing the world's growing need for food, fuel, fiber and feed. There is widespread concern for issues such as climate change and relationship of crop production to the environment and ecosystems, and IPNI programs are achieving positive results. Best management practices (BMPs) for nutrient stewardship encourage the concept of applying the right product (source), at the right rate, at the right time, and in the right place.