The World Food Prize Foundation

2016 Borlaug-Ruan Interns

AN ALL-EXPENSE-PAID, EIGHT-WEEK HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE, the prestigious Borlaug-Ruan International Internship provides exceptional high school students the opportunity to work with world renowned scientists and policymakers at leading research centers in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Middle East.

In the summer of 2016, twenty-four interns were selected to travel to Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Costa Rica, Ethiopia, Guatemala, India, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal, Peru, Philippines, and Taiwan to get a firsthand view of pressing food security and nutritional problems in poverty-stricken areas and take part in ground-breaking field and laboratory-based research.

Each intern develops a research report documenting their personal experiences and the outcomes of their research projects.These reports are posted below each intern's name. To learn more about the research centers, click on the corresponding links. 

Nosa Ali

Des Moines, IA

Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) in Londrina, BRAZIL

Francine Barchett

Benton Harbor, MI

International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Patancheru, INDIA 

Akriti Bhattarai

Wethersfield, CT

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in El Batán, MEXICO

Hanna Bjelica

Charles City, IA

The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC)- Regional Center for South Asia in Patancheru, INDIA

Priyanka Naithani

Barrington, RI

The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) in Tainan, TAIWAN

Elaina Conrad

Mt Pleasant, IA

Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee (BRAC) in Dhaka, BANGLADESH  

David DeLaFuente

Somerset, TX

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA

Joey Edgington

Delaware, OH

The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, NEPAL

Matthew Ellis

Alexander, IA

The WorldFish Center in Penang, MALAYSIA. 

Holly Enowski

Russellville, MO

ICIPE-African Insect Science for Food and Health in Nairobi, KENYA

Michayla Goedeken

North Madison, NE

International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in El Batán, MEXICO

Samuel Gostomski

Pipe Creek, TX

The S.M Sehgal Foundation in Gurgaon, INDIA

Nicholas Grandstaff

Emmetsburg, IA

M.S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Chennai, INDIA 

Jessica Kohntopp

Boise, ID

China National Hybrid Rice Research & Development Center (CNHRRDC) in Changsha, CHINA 

Nishanth Krishnan

San Diego, CA

Peking University in Beijing, CHINA

Dylan Lampe

Fairbank, IA

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA

Katriel Marks

Carmel, IN

China National Hybrid Rice Research & Development Center (CNHRRDC) in Changsha, CHINA 

Rico Mirti

Gainesville, FL

ICIPE-African Insect Science for Food and Health in Nairobi, KENYA

Alana Platte

Fairbank, IA

Hormel Foods Inc/CeSSIAM in Sololá, GUATEMALA

Cassandra Proctor

Ithaca, NY

International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, PHILIPPINES

Harrison Qu

Bettendorf, IA

International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima, PERU

Morgan Smith

Stuart, IA

China Agricultural University (CAU) in Beijing, CHINA

Madeline Song

San Diego, CA

Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company Limited (Mahyco) in Jalna, INDIA 

 

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