Opportunity Information: Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 006673
The Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) discretionary grant program designed to strengthen the national pipeline of highly trained professionals in USDA mission areas. The program does this primarily by funding institution-run graduate traineeship programs that recruit, train, and support exceptional students pursuing masters and doctoral degrees in food, agricultural, and natural resource sciences. A second component of the program supports Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA) for eligible NNF fellows, allowing participants to carry out approved international study or research activities that directly contribute to their degree progress and training goals. The overall emphasis is not just on paying for graduate school, but on building structured, high-quality training environments that align with USDA priorities, national science education needs, and workforce shortage data.
Applications are solicited specifically from colleges and universities that award graduate degrees in at least one of the program's Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas (TESAs). These TESAs represent fields where the USDA identifies strong national need and workforce gaps. The listed shortage areas include: (1) animal and plant production, (2) forest resources, (3) agricultural educators and communicators, (4) agricultural management and economics, (5) food science and human nutrition, (6) sciences for agricultural biosecurity, and (7) integrative biosciences training for sustainable food and agricultural systems. In practice, applicants are expected to clearly explain their graduate training philosophy, how their traineeship structure develops advanced expertise, and how the curriculum, mentoring, and research experiences connect back to USDA mission sciences, NIFA priority areas, and broader national education policy considerations.
Eligibility to apply is limited to institutions rather than individuals. Under the authority of section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act (NARETPA) of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152) and implementing administrative provisions in 7 CFR 3402, eligible applicants include: (1) land-grant institutions (1862, 1890, and 1994 institutions), (2) colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments and a demonstrated ability to teach food and agricultural sciences, and (3) other colleges and universities that can demonstrate comparable capacity to teach in these fields. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are also allowed to submit proposals under the request for applications. While the award is made to an eligible institution, the institution may subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible applicants if those partners are necessary to carry out the project. The program is strict about eligibility: failing to meet an eligibility requirement by the application deadline can lead to an application being rejected or, even if reviewed, can prevent NIFA from issuing an award.
A key operational requirement is that institutions receiving an award must select, identify, and appoint fellows within 18 months of the grant's effective start date. If an institution fails to meet this deadline, it must return to NIFA any funds tied to fellowships that were not awarded. The program does not support postdoctoral fellowships under this announcement, and institutions are not allowed to request partial fellowships. Fellowships must be awarded only to registered students in full-time graduate study within the approved TESA and at the degree level supported by the grant (masters or doctoral).
The fellowship support windows are clearly defined. A masters-level USDA fellow who remains in satisfactory academic standing can receive up to 24 months of support within a 30-month total period. A doctoral-level fellow can receive up to 36 months of support within a 42-month total period, again contingent on satisfactory progress. The intent is for fellows to pursue full-time, uninterrupted study and/or thesis or dissertation research, including time spent on USDA-supported IRTA activities when applicable. Fellows are not treated as employees with regular annual leave; instead, they follow the standard student holiday schedule of their institution. The time between semesters or quarters is expected to be used productively as part of the training and research period rather than treated as time off.
The program allows some flexibility for supplemental employment if it directly benefits the fellow's training or research and is approved at the institution's discretion. Examples include teaching or research assignments that enhance professional development or help the student qualify for tuition waivers. However, the fellowship model is built around full-time training expectations, so any additional work is framed as supplemental and training-enhancing rather than a substitute for full-time fellowship participation.
There are also formal rules for interruptions in study. If a fellow needs to pause their program for health, personal, or other reasonable non-academic, non-disciplinary reasons, they must be allowed to resume funded study within six months of the interruption, assuming there is enough time remaining before the overall award period ends (30 months total for masters; 42 months total for doctoral). If a fellow has more than one interruption, the combined leave time across interruptions cannot exceed six cumulative months without causing the fellow to lose NNF eligibility.
From the posted opportunity details, the funding opportunity title is Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program, with funding opportunity number USDA NIFA HEP 006673, CFDA 10.210, administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. The original closing date listed for the competition was 2019-02-12, and the award ceiling shown is $262,500. Overall, the program is structured to fund institution-led graduate training systems that intentionally recruit top talent into high-need agricultural and food system disciplines, move students efficiently through masters and PhD completion, and expand opportunities such as internationally focused research travel when it directly strengthens USDA-relevant expertise.Apply for USDA NIFA HEP 006673
- The National Institute of Food and Agriculture in the agriculture sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 10.210.
- This funding opportunity was created on 2018-11-20.
- Applicants must submit their applications by 2019-02-12. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $262,500.00 in funding.
- Eligible applicants include: Others.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program?
The NNF Grants Program is a USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) discretionary grant program intended to strengthen the national pipeline of highly trained professionals in USDA mission areas. It primarily does this by funding institution-run graduate traineeship programs that recruit, train, and support exceptional masters and doctoral students in food, agricultural, and natural resource sciences.
2. What is the main goal of this grant program?
The program emphasizes building structured, high-quality graduate training environments that align with USDA priorities, national science education needs, and workforce shortage data. It is not focused only on paying for graduate school; it is designed to create intentional, well-supported training systems that develop advanced expertise in areas of national need.
3. Who can apply for the NNF grant: students or institutions?
Only eligible institutions may apply. Individuals (including prospective graduate students) do not apply directly to NIFA under this opportunity. The institution receives the award and then selects and appoints fellows under the institution-run traineeship program.
4. Which institutions are eligible to apply?
Eligibility is defined under section 1417 of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy Act (NARETPA) of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3152) and implementing administrative provisions in 7 CFR 3402. Eligible applicants include:
- Land-grant institutions (1862, 1890, and 1994 institutions)
- Colleges and universities with significant minority enrollments and a demonstrated ability to teach food and agricultural sciences
- Other colleges and universities that can demonstrate comparable capacity to teach in these fields
5. Can a university-related research foundation submit the proposal?
Yes. Research foundations maintained by an eligible college or university are allowed to submit proposals under the request for applications.
6. Can the awardee partner with organizations that are not eligible applicants?
Yes. While the award is made to an eligible institution, the institution may subcontract with organizations that are not themselves eligible applicants if those partners are necessary to carry out the project.
7. What are the Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas (TESAs) supported by this opportunity?
Applications are solicited from colleges and universities that award graduate degrees in at least one of the following TESAs:
- Animal and plant production
- Forest resources
- Agricultural educators and communicators
- Agricultural management and economics
- Food science and human nutrition
- Sciences for agricultural biosecurity
- Integrative biosciences training for sustainable food and agricultural systems
8. What kinds of projects does the program fund?
The program primarily funds institution-run graduate traineeship programs. These programs are expected to clearly explain the institution's graduate training philosophy, how the traineeship structure develops advanced expertise, and how curriculum, mentoring, and research experiences connect to USDA mission sciences, NIFA priority areas, and broader national education policy considerations.
9. Does this program include any international component?
Yes. A second component supports Special International Study or Thesis/Dissertation Research Travel Allowances (IRTA) for eligible NNF fellows. These allowances are intended to support approved international study or research activities that directly contribute to degree progress and training goals.
10. Is this funding intended to cover postdoctoral fellowships?
No. The program does not support postdoctoral fellowships under this announcement.
11. Are institutions allowed to request partial fellowships?
No. Institutions are not allowed to request partial fellowships under this program.
12. Who can be appointed as an NNF fellow?
Fellowships must be awarded only to registered students in full-time graduate study within the approved TESA and at the degree level supported by the grant (masters or doctoral).
13. What is the required timeline for selecting and appointing fellows after an award is made?
Institutions receiving an award must select, identify, and appoint fellows within 18 months of the grant's effective start date.
14. What happens if an institution does not appoint fellows within 18 months?
If the institution fails to meet the 18-month appointment deadline, it must return to NIFA any funds tied to fellowships that were not awarded.
15. How long can a masters-level fellow receive support?
A masters-level USDA fellow who remains in satisfactory academic standing can receive up to 24 months of support within a 30-month total period.
16. How long can a doctoral-level fellow receive support?
A doctoral-level fellow who remains in satisfactory academic standing can receive up to 36 months of support within a 42-month total period.
17. What does "satisfactory academic standing" mean for continued support?
The opportunity states that continued fellowship support is contingent on the fellow remaining in satisfactory academic standing and making satisfactory progress, but it does not define the term in detail. Institutions are expected to administer fellowships consistent with full-time graduate study and progress expectations.
18. Is the fellowship designed for part-time graduate study?
No. Fellowships must be awarded only to registered students in full-time graduate study, and the intent is for full-time, uninterrupted study and/or thesis/dissertation research (including time spent on approved IRTA activities, when applicable).
19. Are fellows considered employees with annual leave?
No. Fellows are not treated as employees with regular annual leave. They follow the standard student holiday schedule of their institution.
20. How is time between semesters or quarters treated under the fellowship?
The time between semesters or quarters is expected to be used productively as part of the training and research period, rather than treated as time off.
21. Can fellows have additional employment while on the fellowship?
Some flexibility is allowed for supplemental employment if it directly benefits the fellow's training or research and is approved at the institution's discretion. Examples include teaching or research assignments that enhance professional development or help the student qualify for tuition waivers. The fellowship is still built around full-time training expectations, so any work is considered supplemental and training-enhancing.
22. Are interruptions in study allowed, and what rules apply?
Yes. If a fellow needs to pause their program for health, personal, or other reasonable non-academic, non-disciplinary reasons, they must be allowed to resume funded study within six months of the interruption, assuming enough time remains before the overall award period ends (30 months total for masters; 42 months total for doctoral).
23. What if a fellow has more than one interruption?
If a fellow has more than one interruption, the combined leave time across interruptions cannot exceed six cumulative months without causing the fellow to lose NNF eligibility.
24. How strict is eligibility for applicants?
The program is strict about eligibility. Failing to meet an eligibility requirement by the application deadline can lead to an application being rejected or, even if reviewed, can prevent NIFA from issuing an award.
25. What is the funding opportunity number and CFDA number for this program?
The funding opportunity number is USDA NIFA HEP 006673, and the CFDA number listed is 10.210.
26. Which agency administers this opportunity?
The program is administered by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
27. What was the listed closing date for the competition?
The original closing date listed for the competition was 2019-02-12.
28. What is the award ceiling listed in the opportunity details?
The award ceiling shown is $262,500.
29. Does this opportunity require the institution to offer degrees in specific fields?
Yes. Applications are solicited specifically from colleges and universities that award graduate degrees in at least one of the program's Targeted Expertise Shortage Areas (TESAs).
30. What is NIFA looking for in a traineeship program design?
Applicants are expected to explain their graduate training philosophy and show how the traineeship structure develops advanced expertise. The program design should connect curriculum, mentoring, and research experiences to USDA mission sciences, NIFA priority areas, and broader national education policy considerations.
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