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N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative

Undergraduates, Graduate Students and Beyond

Training the next generation of plant sciences.

An array of opportunities awaitS students

Extension intern with faculty member, looking at plants in a greenhouse

Internships

N.C. PSI students can receive experience from a variety of different internship opportunities.

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Jabeen, an AgBioFEWS, in the N.C. PSI greenhouse

Fellowships and Awards

There are a variety of funding opportunities for N.C. PSI students to support their education.

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Shelly Hunt standing in a field

N.C. PSI Certificate Programs

N.C. PSI offers two certificate programs, one for Ag Data Science and the other for Regulatory Science in Agriculture.

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Imani Madison in a research laboratory

Professional Development Opportunities

Explore the unique resources and professional development opportunities offered to N.C. PSI students and postdocs.

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Undergraduates, Graduate Students and Beyond

N.C. PSI provides a unique training ground for NC State students and postdoctoral scholars. Not only can they gain practical experience beyond higher education in the form of mentorships, internships and early-stage concept incubation, we work to enhance their access to prospective employers — whether here in North Carolina or around the world — leveraging the extensive footprints of some of our region’s leading employers.

Our impact is not limited to NC State. The N.C. PSI is forming partnerships with other higher education institutions, including minority-serving institutions and community colleges, to provide greater connectivity among students to N.C. PSI areas of focus, drive research collaborations and enhance overall career readiness among students.

We collaborate to provide professional opportunities to college students and professionals across North Carolina and beyond.

Training the Next Generation of Plant Science Leaders

In addition to internship and fellowship opportunities, we constantly provide students with professional development opportunities, such as industry tours, career panels and research symposiums that highlight research and engage industry.

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Goals

  • Work to develop and grow programs that address the real-time industry workforce needs, with an emphasis on those that involve applied experience
  • Establish partnerships with academies and training programs to provide graduate student rotational placements within N.C. PSI-affiliated projects
  • Offer N.C. PSI internship and fellowship programs, leveraging existing frameworks to place undergraduate and graduate students with N.C. PSI industry partners
  • Connect undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral students with new or existing programs that enhance career readiness and promote access to workforce opportunities in agriculture

Preparing Next-Gen Ag Formulations Innovators

A new NC State University course helps fill a need for scientists with the interdisciplinary knowledge essential for creating next-generation chemical and biological solutions for agriculture.

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Tractor sprays crops.

Researching Agricultural Challenges on the Backroads

In the second annual N.C. PSI Backroad Tour, graduate students and postdocs from several colleges visited farmers and producers across the state.

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N.C. PSI graduate students pose in a farm field near a tractor
Participants on the second annual N.C. PSI Backroads Tour at Gary Hendrix’s cotton farm in Hoke County.

Bridging Disciplines, Generating Solutions

At the annual N.C. PSI BRIDGE Symposium, graduate students and postdocs discuss creative bridges across disciplines that could lead to improvements in the economy, environment and people’s lives.

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BRIDGE Symposium participants standing at the front of a room

NEWS FROM N.C. PSI’S EDUCATION PLATFORM

Hundreds of people, a humanoid robot and NC State mascots pack an entryway and two staircases.

AI in Agriculture Conference Explores the Future of Farming

Over 460 academics, students, researchers, extension professionals and industry leaders from across the country took part in the 2026 AI in Agriculture Conference at NC State, chaired by the N.C. PSI’s Daniela Jones. 
Aerial of tractor spraying fields at the Lake Wheeler Road Field Laboratory

NC State to Host Industry Feedback Session for New Ag Formulations Program

Agricultural industry representatives are invited to a feedback session to shape a groundbreaking NC State University program to train workforce-ready formulations professionals. 
Two students, one speaking into a microphone, present research ideas.

Grad Students Build Bridges for Agricultural Innovation

The N.C. PSI’s BRIDGE Symposium provided a window into the bold ways graduate students are collaborating across academic fields to solve a range of agricultural challenges.