There is a reported shortage of professionals in natural resource and food conservation, and doctoral degree programs in specialty areas of genetic research are scarce.
The USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture is focused on remedying this problem through a fellowship program that promotes omics, a branch of science that includes the study of molecules and their structures to better understand the biological organisms of plants and animals. The National Needs Fellowship supports integrated omics, which includes areas like genomics, proteomics and metabolomics.
OSU’s animal and food sciences and biochemistry and molecular biology departments support the National Needs Fellowship, and the Ferguson College of Agriculture now offers an academic course to integrate omics technologies. The fellowship emphasizes professional development, teaching experience, mentoring opportunities and STEM outreach activities.
Doctoral students Keayla Harr and Mindy King are wrapping up the fellowship as they prepare to graduate in December.
PHOTO: Scientist analyze biochemical samples in advanced scientific laboratory. Medical professional use microscope look microbiological developmental of viral. Biotechnology research in science lab. (iStock – Nuttawan Jayawan)
