The World Food Prize Foundation

2017 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 2017, twenty-four interns were selected to travel to 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. 

Luke Alpers

Stafford, KS

The WorldFish Center in Penang, MALAYSIA

Jessica Anderson

Titonka, IA

Peking University in Beijing, CHINA

Nick Battles

Indianola, IA

The S.M Sehgal Foundation in Gurgaon, INDIA

Nate Bowser

Syracuse, IN

Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) in Londrina, BRAZIL

Isabella Culotta

Ithaca, NY

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

Jorge Del'Angel

Orrville, AL

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

Alyssa Dougherty

Epworth, IA

Hormel Foods Inc/CeSSIAM in Sololá, GUATEMALA

Sara Gammon

Drexel, MO

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

Cheyenne Gerlach

DeWitt, NE

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

Hailey Hampton

Darlington, ID

The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) in Tainan, TAIWAN

Sarah Heiller

Madrid, IA

EARTH University in San Jose, COSTA RICA

Hannah Heit

New Hampton, IA

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

Lavina Kalwani

Katy, TX

International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima, PERU

Rebekah Klassen

Mountain Lake, MN

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

Emily Miller

New Paris, IN

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

Jack Pieper

Donnellson, IA

EARTH University in San Jose, COSTA RICA

Jonathan Poole

Chicago, IL

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

Hans Riensche

Jesup, IA

Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in Beijing, CHINA

 

Jacob Schultz

Melvin, IA

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

Alyssa Swehla

Sumner, IA

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

 

Daniel Vogwill

Chicago, IL 

China Agricultural University (CAU) in Beijing, CHINA

Mara Weis

Afton, IA

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

Kelli Wicks

Rockford, IA

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

Kayla Zhu

Farmington Hills, MI

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

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