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N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative

Professional Development Opportunities

Featured Opportunities
Events and Conferences
Internships and Fellowships
Other Opportunities
Additional Resources

Have an event or opportunity you would like to feature here and in our weekly student emails? Contact Alex Goodnight.

LAST CALL OPPORTUNITIES

VenturePack Challenge: Future of Food 

By 2050, our global food system must nourish 10 billion people while drastically reducing its environmental footprint. This isn’t just a resource problem; it’s an innovation opportunity. NC State Entrepreneurship is looking for the next generation of ‘Think and Do’ entrepreneurs to pitch scalable ventures that redefine how we grow, harvest, and consume food. The Bezos Center for Sustainable Protein is supporting this through $15,000 in awards solely for innovations tied to the future of food! Whether you are engineering climate-resilient crops, advancing animal welfare and productivity, or pioneering the next breakthrough in proteins, the VenturePack Challenge is your platform to turn your business ideas into a market-ready reality. Open to all NC State undergraduate and graduate students. Interdisciplinary teams are highly encouraged.

Application Deadline: February 15, 2026

Learn more and apply now
Man on a stage presenting a talk about plant protection.
As one of nine finalists invited to present at the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization’s Global AgriInno Challenge, Verdia Diagnostics co-founder and CEO Zach Hetzler pitched the Plant Pulse Patch, designed to provide greenhouse tomato growers with artificial intelligence-driven early warning capabilities that enable them to detect disease before symptoms appear.

TEDxNCState 2026 Tiny Talk

TEDxNCState is a student-led, nonprofit organization dedicated to elevating unique ideas and meaningful storytelling within the NC State and Raleigh community. Each spring, they host their annual TEDx conference featuring a lineup of thought-provoking speakers. For the 2026 conference on April 3, 2026, they are looking for NC State undergraduate and graduate students involved in innovative research, sustainable initiatives, or other exciting projects to share their ideas and findings in a bite-sized format. These TEDxNCState Tiny Talks are 3-5 minute presentations that spark curiosity and highlight the creativity of NC State students.

Application Deadline: February 16, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Learn more and apply now

Featured Opportunities

NC State Sustainability Fund Grant

The NC State Sustainability Fund offers grants to current students, faculty and staff who propose high-impact experiences for students while advancing sustainability at NC State. These projects can range from campus facility improvements and educational programs to research initiatives and student internship opportunities.

Application Deadline: February 8 at 11:59 pm

Learn more and apply 

Bayer Crop Science 2026 University Mentoring Program

Are you a late-stage graduate student or postdoc who is interested in pursuing a career in industry?  BayerCrop Science offers a 1 year mentoring program that focuses on the professional (not technical and scientific) skills needed in the industry workforce. There are 3 virtual information Sessions (12/11, 1/21, and 2/09) for interested students.

Application Deadline: February 22, 2026

Learn more and apply 

Finding Summer Research Programs for Undergraduates

Summer research programs (sometimes called REUs or Research Experiences for Undergraduates) are a great way to add research into your time at NC State. Opportunities exist for any field/discipline, and the experience can also help prepare you for graduate school and a research-focused career. Students are paid to conduct full-time research with a paired faculty mentor as part of a larger cohort. The programs include professional development and networking opportunities.

Explore 2026 Summer Research Programs 

Early Modern Plant Humanities Weekend Seminar

The prestigious Folger Institute, part of the Folger Shakespeare Library invites “plant attentive” scholars — faculty members, postdocs and advanced graduate students in any discipline whose work relates to plants — to apply for a seminar on Early Modern Plant Humanities to be held on a late-spring weekend. NC State is a member of the prestigious Folger Institute Consortium, which links major research universities in the U.S. and abroad, fostering high-level scholarly, intellectual and financial collaboration. Plant Humanities is a multidisciplinary field that challenges the cultural abjection of plant life in modernity and corrects what educators diagnose as the West’s constitutional “plant blindness.” Against this paradigm, participants in this seminar will explore the idea that early moderns were profoundly plant attentive.

Event Dates: May 21-23, 2026
Application Deadline: March 2, 2026

Learn more and apply 

NC State’s 2026 Envisioning Research Competition

Share Research Images, Win Prizes!
Envisioning Research is an annual contest to help the NC State research community share the beauty of research. Prizes are awarded annually to university-affiliated applicants, and the winning images are used in a variety of promotional ways across campus to increase visibility. Open to all NC State graduate students, undergraduates, postdocs, faculty and staff, with separate cash prizes for winners and runners-up in four categories based on each contestant’s status at the university. 

Submission Deadline: April 29, 2026

Learn more and submit
First time, somatic embryo formed on suspension culture of rose cells with multiple cotyledons like a flower.

Events and Conferences

Upcoming PSI Events

All PSI Events
Feb 04

Wednesday10:00 AM

NC Biotech Group: Scientific Networking and Product Vendor Show
Feb 09

Monday9:00 AM

Managing Models in SAS Viya (Part One)
Feb 11

Wednesday9:00 AM

Managing Models in SAS Viya (Part One)

Science on Tap!

Science on Tap! takes place at Lynnwood Brewing Concern (1053 E Whitaker Mill Rd) on the second Tuesday of every month from 7:00 – 9:00 pm. Grab a beer, meet local scientists, and hear the stories behind their coolest discoveries—no jargon, just great talks and good company.

Learn more and register to attend

Career Readiness Programs: A2i+ Career Insights

The Graduate School offers an array of career preparedness, communication skills, leadership, teaching, and wellness programs year round. Career Insights (INS) is a series of talks led by A2i+ industry partners to provide you the opportunity to build your network, explore career opportunities that connect to your graduate degree, and prepare for a successful transition to a non-academic career. Each virtual session highlights real career paths, essential skills, and actionable advice for navigating life after grad school.
Why attend? Explore careers, ask questions, and expand your professional network.
Spring 2026 Dates: 1/30, 2/6, 2/20, 3/6, 3/27, 4/10, and 4/24 from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Learn more and register to attend

AI Hot Topics at NC State

The AI Hot Topics monthly series, hosted by the Data Science and AI Academy, is a dynamic forum designed to foster dialogue and collaboration on the rapidly evolving field of artificial intelligence. Whether you’re a seasoned AI practitioner, a curious scholar or simply interested in the transformative potential of AI, this series offers a unique opportunity to connect with leading experts and contribute to meaningful discussions. The AI Hot Topics Series takes place monthly at Raleigh Founded on Centennial Campus (1017 Main Campus Dr.) from 8:45 – 9:45 am.

Learn more and register to attend

Conferences

NC State Field Days

Explore commodity-specific events across the state

Learn more and register 

Southern Cover Crops Conference

February 24-26, 2026
Gainesville, Florida

Learn more and register 

2026 Emerging Issues Forum: Future Forward Water

February 25, 2026
Simultaneously in Asheville, Winston-Salem, & Morehead City

Learn more and register 

Southeastern Student Sustainability Conference

February 27 – March 1, 2026
Boone, NC

Learn more and register 

TechConnect World Innovation Conference & Expo 2026

March 8-12, 2026
Raleigh, North Carolina

Learn more and register 

ASABE Global Symposium on Sustainability of Agro-Eco-Systems through Climate Change Resilience

March 15-18, 2026
Brasov, Romania

Learn more and register 

World Agri-Tech Innovation Summit

March 17-18, 2026
San Francisco, CA

Learn more and register 

AI in Agriculture 2026

March 31 – April 2, 2026
NC State University

Learn more and register 

Astrobiology Science Conference 2026

May 17-22, 2026
Madison, WI

Learn more and register 

Field to Market Annual Meeting & 19th Annual Conservation in Action Tour

June 1-3, 2026
Raleigh, NC

Learn more and register 

2nd International Conference on Agriculture Engineering

June 8-9, 2026
Lisbon, Portugal

Learn more and register 

2026 ASABE Annual Meeting

July 12-15, 2026
Indianapolis, Indiana

Learn more and register 

2nd World Congress on Advances in Plant Science and Plant Biology

July 13-14, 2026
Berlin, Germany

Learn more and register 

17th International Conference on Precision Agriculture 

July 13-16, 2026
Porto Alegre, Brazil

Learn more and register 

Plant Biology 2026

July 18-22, 2026
Ottawa, Canada

Learn more and register 

2026 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium

August 9-14, 2026
Washington D.C.

Learn more and register 

Alternative Protein Symposium: Bridging Science and Society

This two-day event will give an overview of recent technical advancements and explore the social, ethical, and regulatory dimensions of cell-cultivated, fermentation-derived, and plant-based proteins. The symposium will feature keynote speakers, research talks, panel discussions, student presentations, and opportunities for collaboration and interdisciplinary exchange among researchers, industry professionals, and students.

Symposium Dates: April 9-10, 2026
Symposium Location: Plant Sciences Building

Learn more and register

NC State Career Fairs

Explore upcoming career fairs and events offered by various colleges and disciplines across NC State!

Office of University Interdisciplinary Programs

Discover OUIP’s list of interdisciplinary events across NC State

Internships and Fellowships

RCC National Environment Leadership Fellowship (NELF) Program 

The RCC National Environment Leadership Fellowship (NELF) Program is designed to identify outstanding students with a passion for environmental education, organizing, and advocacy, and provide them with financial support to carry out valuable projects and campaigns on behalf of the RCC.
Application Deadline: April 17, 2026

Learn more and apply

Gulf Research Program’s Science Policy Fellowship

The Gulf Research Program’s Science Policy Fellowship helps scientists gain first-hand experience applying science to policy as they spend one year on the staff of federal, state, local, or non-governmental agencies in the Gulf region. With the guidance of a mentor, fellows delve into activities like policy development, evaluation, restoration planning, grants management, and stakeholder outreach and learn what it takes to make scientific information not just useful but useable. Meanwhile, host offices get a talented technical expert with a fresh perspective and a new network of contacts across the Gulf region. Fellows will receive an annual stipend for their participation. Open to all graduate students and postdoctoral scholars.

Application Deadline: February 26, 2026

Learn more and apply
Students talk with each other about science policy
Man in a research lab

SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program

Offers STEM students who are currently pursuing a bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. a full scholarship, internships, annual stipends, and guaranteed employment with the Department of Defense.

Applications Deadline: December 1 at 5:00 p.m. EST
The SMART Program accepts applications annually from August 1 to December 1.

Learn more and apply 
Oak Ridge National Labs

Student Opportunities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Enhance your expertise and collaborate with many of the nation’s leading science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) experts as you complete your research. Opportunities are available for current undergraduate and graduate students to participate as members of research teams at ORNL. All internships come with a stipend.

Learn more 

Micro-Internships for Graduate Students & Postdocs

Micro-internships are short-term, paid, professional assignments that allow you to explore career paths, build your network, and prepare for the transition to industry. These micro-internships allow you to be flexible with your graduate studies, while still being intentional in your career development. These unique projects are posted at all times of year by companies of all sizes,

Learn more and apply 

ePACK

ePACK is NC State’s online platform for openings (internship, leadership development, and full-time job opportunities), upcoming events, online tools, and more that are currently available for you.

Explore ePack
Cooper howling wolf sculpture near greenery and benches

Other Opportunities

Raleigh Trashion Competition

The Solid Waste Services Trashion Show is part of the annual City of Raleigh Environmental Awards ceremony, showcasing garments and accessories crafted from recycled materials. High school students, college students, adults, and aspiring professional designers are encouraged to submit their recycling-inspired creations for a cash prize of $500.

Application Deadline: February 22, 2026

Learn more and apply 

NC State Earth Fair

NC State’s Earth Fair is a sustainability-focused outdoor event featuring exhibits, demonstrations and ideas connected to the global sustainability goals, including learning about food, water, transportation, nature, wellness and so much more. Registration to host a table at the 2026 Earth Fair is now open.

Event Date: April 8 from 11 am – 2 pm
Event Location: Stafford Commons (Main Campus)
Registration Deadline: March 31

Learn more and register 

PDU@Lunch Webinar Series

The Proposal Development Unit invites the NC State community to their webinar series that will provides insights and techniques to think strategically about grant writing. The PDU will balance general guidance with specific examples to help researchers navigate differences among major federal funding agencies and foundations. This webinar series occurs throughout the academic year, and topics and dates are included within the registration form.

Learn more and register 

PDU Resources for Early Career Researchers

Many funding agencies provide unique opportunities to researchers beginning their independent research careers, such as post-docs.Thus, NC State’s Proposal Development Unit (PDU) offers a variety of resources for grant-writing and proposal development at any stage in your career. These resources are accessed via your unity ID in the PDU intranet.

Explore 

Volunteer at the Agroecology Education Farm

Come volunteer at the Agroecology Education Farm. This is a great opportunity to work on the farm, learn about sustainable farming, spend time outside and tour the farm. You are welcome to come alone, bring a friend or a group of friends. If you have questions about the volunteer workday, please contact Sara Snyder, farm manager, at sasnyde4@ncsu.edu.

Volunteer Dates: Various throughout the Spring Semester

Learn more and volunteer

NC State Sustainability Career Development Program

Step into an exciting journey with the NC State Sustainability Career Development Program, where you can explore and build your career in sustainability on your own terms. This unique initiative is designed for NC State students, offering a flexible, “choose your own adventure” approach to career development. Program Enrollment is ongoing and you can join at anytime of year. Whether you’re passionate about protecting the planet, creating innovative solutions, or leading change, this program lets you tailor your experiences to match your interests and goals.

Learn more and enroll
Hops research
Student Gwen Casebeer (left) and researcher Jeanine Davis look over hops growing at Mountain Horticultural Research and Extension Center in Henderson County.

N.C. PSI’s “Spotlight on Growth”

Did you know there are over 400 undergraduates, graduate students and postdocs that are affiliated with the N.C. PSI -all doing incredible work!! In an effort to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of students and postdocs across PSI, we are introducing a new spotlight series: “Spotlight on Growth”. Every few weeks, we will introduce you to one student or post-doc and share some brief facts about their research and themselves. Additionally, these spotlights may be shared on N.C. PSI social media throughout the year.

Step into the Spotlight
Plant Sciences Building at night
Small group talking in a conference room

The Graduate School’s Professional Development Workshops

The Graduate School offers an array of career preparedness, communication skills, leadership, teaching, and wellness programs year round. There are both in-person and virtual workshops offered.

Explore 
students at career fair

NC State LanchPad

NC State Innovation and Entrepreneurship has developed an incubator program to support early-stage undergraduate and graduate student startups.

Learn more and register 

NSF I-Corps Program

The I-Corps Program at NC State offers a NSF training program aimed at helping scientists and engineers extend their ideas, research and inventions into the marketplace. This program consists of a four-session course focused on entrepreneurship and exploring the commercial viability of innovations.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Program Dates Vary.
*If accepted, your team will be placed in the next available cohort.

Learn more and apply 

Have an event you would like advertised here and in our weekly email? Contact Alex Goodnight.

Resources

Career resources

The Arabidopsis Information Resource (TAIR) Job Board

International and domestic postdoctoral, faculty, research, field technician positions and more are listed for those interested in plant science careers.

Visit 

Plantae’s Career Center

Search for jobs, internships and mentorships in the US and abroad across a variety of industries and types of institutions.

Visit 

Ag Career Job Board

Search by sector, specialty and career type for job opportunities in every stage of the food system.

Visit 

National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) Job Board

Job opportunities in ag engineering and all other engineering disciplines.

Visit 

NC State Career Development Center

Take advantage of university career resources available to all NC State students

Explore 

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.

Discover