Climate, Food and Farming – Global Research Alliance Development Scholarship (CLIFF-GRADS) Program 2019

Applications are open for interested and suitably qualified candidates for the Climate, Food and Farming – Global Research Alliance Development Scholarship (CLIFF-GRADS) Program 2019. The full application details for the CLIFF-GRADS Program can be accessed below.

CLIFF-GRADS Program

CLIFF-GRADS builds the capability of early-career scientists and graduate students from developing countries to conduct applied research on climate change mitigation in agriculture with the goal of expanding knowledge and experience in quantification of agricultural greenhouse gases and food loss and waste.

Applications are open for the Climate, Food and Farming – Global Research Alliance Development Scholarship (CLIFF-GRADS) Program 2019. The CLIFF-GRADS program invites applications for short-term (4-6 month) scientific training and research on the measurement and management of greenhouse gas emissions and carbon storage in agricultural systems.

Students from developing countries who are currently enrolled in PhD research related to agricultural greenhouse gas quantification or mitigation are eligible to apply. Research will be conducted in association with CCAFS and GRA scientists’ projects. Applications are requested on either of two themes:

• Measurement and mitigation of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions or carbon storage in agricultural systems in developing countries, including in the context of enhancing food security;
• Quantification and mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions from reduced food loss in high emission supply chains (e.g. dairy, beef, vegetables, fruits) in developing countries, including estimation of costs and constraints to mitigation.

Background

CLIFF-GRADS is a joint initiative of the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security’s (CCAFS) Low Emissions Development Flagship and the Global Research Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA).

CLIFF-GRADS integrates the Global Research Alliance Development Scholarship and the Climate Food and Farming Research Network with the common goal of providing grants to PhD students in developing countries to expand their knowledge and experience in quantification of agricultural greenhouse gases. Research projects are hosted by CCAFS and GRA members and partners. Funding for CLIFF-GRADS is provided by the Government of New Zealand, USAID and by the CGIAR Trust Fund and bilateral agreements in support of CCAFS.

Grant

• Selected students will be sponsored in the amount of $10,000 – $12,000 USD.

Eligibility

• Applicants must be currently enrolled Ph.D. students in a field related to the quantification of greenhouse gas emissions or carbon sequestration in agricultural systems
• Applicants must be students from a developing country
• Previous CLIFF-GRADS grantees are not eligible to apply

Selection Criteria

Applicants will be selected based on three criteria:

• Overall research qualifications,
• The relevance of thesis topic or other research experience to the research opportunity to which the student is applying, and
• Clear description of how the CLIFF-GRADS experience will improve the student’s scientific capacity.

How to Apply for

Applicants must complete the CLIFF-GRADS Student Application online survey and submit the necessary documentation as described below to cliffgrads@globalresearchalliance.org.

Applications must be in English and include the following documents merged into one PDF file:

• 1-2 page motivation letter (described below)
• 1-page curriculum vitae that includes your contact details
• Letter of support from your Ph.D. supervisor at your current host university

The motivation letter, which must be no more than two A4 pages, must include the following:

• Your name, citizenship and the country where you are conducting your graduate study
• The objectives of your graduate research
• The specific research opportunity (number and title) to which you are applying (see list below). If you are interested in more than one research opportunity, please list your preferred research opportunities (up to 3) in order of preference.
• Your qualifications to conduct research on greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture or soil carbon storage in agricultural systems, as relevant to the research opportunity for which you are applying
• A description of how scientific training with CCAFS/GRA scientists will improve your graduate research and contribute to your career.

Application Deadline: September 30, 2019.

For more information, visit CLIFF-GRADS.