Do you know any graduate students who are passionate about the pork industry? If so, encourage them to apply for the 2024 Real Pork Scholars program. Applications are now available for the 2024 cohort.
The Real Pork Scholars program builds upon the previous Pork Scholars program focused on animal science research, but now includes more emphasis on development than the research itself, the National Pork Board explains. The program is seeking students from a variety of disciplines, including ag law, agricultural economics, ag communications, animal science, biosystems, data science, human nutrition, engineering, feed science and management, human resources, public health, statistics, veterinary science and more.
Academic excellence is an important criterion, the National Pork Board says, as is the applicant’s ability to think critically, engage with a multi-disciplinary cohort of colleagues, and transfer learning to action with enhanced communications advocacy and media skills.
The two-year experience is designed to launch students into the next phase of their careers. The program offers:
- Mentorship and Peer-to-Peer Network Building
Scholars participate in monthly conversations with hand-selected mentors relevant to their field of study and multiple in-person and virtual events with peers in the scholar cohort.
- Skills Advancement
Professional training to help students communicate highly technical information to various audiences will equip scholars to effectively share their expertise in a way that resonates with non-scientific audiences. Part of the training will be provided by the Real Pork Trust Consortium, a multi-university effort that applies research-based communications techniques to build consumer trust in agriculture.
- Financial Support
Real Pork Scholars invests in students doing relevant research. Up to $60,000 for two years is available for cohort members to support their academic and professional development, not directly fund their research.
- Opportunity to Make a Tangible Difference
Real Pork Scholars want to drive the discussion, understanding and efforts to continually advance the health of people, pigs, the planet and our communities.
In the first year of the program, scholars will meet regularly with a mentor currently working in a segment of the pork industry relevant to the scholars’ interests and area of study. In addition to mentorship, the scholars will receive hands-on experiences to learn more about the pork industry. The program’s second year will continue the mentorship experience and focus on its communication training component.
The application deadline will close Jan. 15. Selected scholars will be notified on March 1, 2024 with agreements signed by April 1. For more information, click here.
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