Background

At the forefront of the fourth agricultural revolution is applying artificial intelligence to improve food sustainability, animal and crop production and health, and environmental stewardship.  Artificial intelligence (AI) encompasses technologies that can simulate learning and decision-making processes to analyze big and complex data. These deep learning technologies can mine for beneficial adaptations of agricultural species to extreme environments and offer real-time management and decision-making support. The US Department of Agriculture and the private sector are at the forefront of supporting artificial intelligence applications to agriculture and recognize the scarceness of the workforce that has a multidisciplinary understanding of artificial intelligence and agriculture.

Doctoral Training Program in Artificial Intelligence applied to Agricultural Challenges

The goals of this program are to train and matriculate doctoral fellows that have expertise in artificial intelligence applied to solve agricultural-related challenges and to serve as a model for other training programs that support a diverse and strong agricultural workforce.

Our innovative doctoral training path prepares leaders skilled in artificial intelligence, and deep learning applied to resolve agricultural challenges at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. This initiative has the support of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship program, the Graduate College, the College of Agricultural, Consumer, and Environmental Sciences, and the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign campus.

The selected doctoral fellows will receive training in artificial intelligence, agricultural, and biological technologies, and soft skills through coursework and research, that is complemented with teaching, internships, or extension experiential learning opportunities. The fellows will be co-mentored by faculty members that have multidisciplinary and complementary expertise.

Individuals motivated to advance the application of informatics technologies to agriculturally-pertinent challenges and from traditionally underserved and underrepresented communities in the field of agricultural informatics are encouraged to inquire about this opportunity and submit their fellowship application.

Application Information

Eligibility considerations follow the National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship program and training program guidelines, including:

Fellows are expected to be U.S. citizens or national.

Fellowship recipients are expected to be new to the degree program and graduate with a doctoral degree from the Department of Animal Sciences. The requirements of the Ph.D. degree in Animal Sciences are listed at http://catalog.illinois.edu/graduate/aces/animal-sciences-phd/#degreerequirementstext.

Exemptions

Individuals that are not U.S. citizens and students already in the animal sciences doctoral program that interested in the training program are encouraged to contact the program director to explore alternative paths and manners to join the program.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree in agricultural or biological sciences, including coursework or experience in the information or computer sciences, or

Master’s degree in information, statistics, or computer sciences, including coursework or experience in agricultural or biological sciences.

Application Process

Required application materials include the applicant’s 1) undergraduate and master’s academic transcripts (unofficial documents are accepted), 2) resume, 3) personal statement describing the motivation towards doctoral training and career goals, and 4) name and email of 2 references. All application materials must be combined (in the previously indicated order) into one .pdf document and emailed as an attachment to the program director, Sandra Rodriguez Zas (rodrgzzs@illinois.edu)

Application Deadline

Applications are considered on a rolling basis.

Fellow’s Selection Process

Top applicants will be invited to participate in a video platform interview. During the interview, applicants will be asked about their interest in the program and will be informed about expected coursework and experiential learning experiences, faculty mentors, and available dissertation research projects during the three years of the fellowship.  

Fellowship assignments will be communicated within one month of the interview, and the fellows will be expected to begin the doctoral program the following Fall or Spring semester.

Questions about the program or application process can be directed via email to the program director, Sandra Rodriguez Zas (rodrgzzs@illinois.edu)