Columbia, MO (Sept. 7, 2011) - The University of Missouri has received a $100,000 grant from the Monsanto Company to support student research in the plant sciences.
The $100,000 gift, to be distributed over the next three years, will be used to support a Monsanto Undergraduate Fellowship Program. The fellowship program will pay high-achieving undergraduate students up to $5,800 per year to do research in plant science laboratories at the University.
Students participating in the Monsanto fellowship program will conduct an extended internship with a plant science research group, where they will participate in research projects, use advanced molecular and genetic methods, participate in fieldwork, and attend lab meetings and seminars. Students also will be encouraged to interact with Monsanto scientific staff and to apply for summer internships at the company.
"The goals of this fellowship program are to expose students to the breadth of research in the plant sciences as well as to prepare them to go on to advanced degrees or research careers in the ag-biotech industry," said Robert Sharp, director of the University's Interdisciplinary Plant Group who will administer the fellowship program for the University.
This grant signifies Monsanto’s ongoing commitment to plant science research at the University of Missouri. The Monsanto Undergraduate Fellowship Program was established in 2002.
“The success of farmers and agriculture tomorrow will hinge on investing in students and their pursuit of plant science research today,” said Bob Reiter, biotechnology lead at Monsanto Company. “During these students’ lifetimes, global population is expected to hit 9 billion, placing tremendous pressure on agriculture production. By studying plant science, these students have an extraordinary opportunity to positively impact our global future through improving the productivity and sustainability of modern agriculture.”
The Monsanto Fellowships will be awarded to students who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement in the sciences and an expressed interest in plant biotechnology, bioengineering, bioscience research, or plant breeding.
