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
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Jessica Anderson
Titonka, IA
Peking University in Beijing, CHINA
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Nick Battles
Indianola, IA
The S.M Sehgal Foundation in Gurgaon, INDIA
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Nate Bowser
Syracuse, IN
Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA) in Londrina, BRAZIL
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Isabella Culotta
Ithaca, NY
The International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) in Kathmandu, NEPAL
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Jorge Del'Angel
Orrville, AL
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in El Batán, MEXICO
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Alyssa Dougherty
Epworth, IA
Hormel Foods Inc/CeSSIAM in Sololá, GUATEMALA
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Sara Gammon
Drexel, MO
M.S Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF) in Chennai, INDIA
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Cheyenne Gerlach
DeWitt, NE
ICIPE-African Insect Science for Food and Health in Nairobi, KENYA
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Hailey Hampton
Darlington, ID
The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC) in Tainan, TAIWAN
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Sarah Heiller
Madrid, IA
EARTH University in San Jose, COSTA RICA
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Hannah Heit
New Hampton, IA
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA
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Lavina Kalwani
Katy, TX
International Potato Center (CIP) in Lima, PERU
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Rebekah Klassen
Mountain Lake, MN
Maharashtra Hybrid Seed Company Limited (Mahyco) in Jalna, INDIA
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Emily Miller
New Paris, IN
China National Hybrid Rice Research & Development Center (CNHRRDC) in Changsha, CHINA
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Jack Pieper
Donnellson, IA
EARTH University in San Jose, COSTA RICA
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Jonathan Poole
Chicago, IL
International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) in El Batán, MEXICO
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Hans Riensche
Jesup, IA
Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (CAAS) in Beijing, CHINA
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Jacob Schultz
Melvin, IA
ICIPE-African Insect Science for Food and Health in Nairobi, KENYA
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Alyssa Swehla
Sumner, IA
The World Vegetable Center (AVRDC)- Regional Center for South Asia in Patancheru, INDIA
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Daniel Vogwill
Chicago, IL
China Agricultural University (CAU) in Beijing, CHINA
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Mara Weis
Afton, IA
International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) in Los Baños, PHILIPPINES
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Kelli Wicks
Rockford, IA
International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) in Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA
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Kayla Zhu
Farmington Hills, MI
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) in Patancheru, INDIA
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