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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

Plants, Pints & Possibilities: N.C. PSI Graduate Student Social

It’s time to branch out! Join your fellow N.C. PSI graduate students for an afternoon of new connections, opportunities, and maybe even a little BRIDGE partner matchmaking. Come see what’s growing, grab some snacks and a beer, and get rooted in the PSI community! Please Register to ensure we get an accurate headcount!

Date: September 9 at 3pm
Location: Seminar Rooms, Plant Sciences Building

Register Now
Arieal drone photo of the PSB front lawn with people on the lawn, standing in an arrangement to form the letters "PSI".

Call for Assistant Feature Editors

Plant Physiology is now accepting applications to join the Plant Physiology Assistant Features Editor (AFE) program. These are two-year appointments, starting either in January 2027 or 2028. AFEs support the journal by writing News and Views articles about recently published papers and by hosting Plant Physiology webinars on recent research. You will also be included in efforts to explore ways to make our papers more discoverable and accessible to the public.

Application Deadline: September 8, 2026

Learn more and apply 

Share Undergraduate Research! Fall Sidewalk Symposium

NC State undergraduates that participated in research this summer can showcase their research at our annual Fall Sidewalk Symposium. This symposium is different from traditional symposia, as students draw their research with chalk, outside, and share their work with students and others walking across campus. There is no artistic level required! We celebrate students that draw their work in a variety of ways.

Abstract Submission Deadline: September 8, 2026 by 9 am
Sidewalk Symposium Date: Wednesday, September 30 from 11-12:30 p.m.

Learn more and register 

Join the 2026-2027 Sustainability Fund Advisory Board (SFAB)

The Sustainability Fund Advisory Board manages the funds raised through the student sustainability fee that was established in 2013. This fee generates over $155,000 in funding each year. These funds are then made available to the NC State community through the Board’s competitive grant process for sustainability-related projects, education, and other resources that enhance campus and student learning in relation to sustainability. This application is open to undergraduate and graduate students.

Application Deadline: Wednesday, September 9 by 11:59pm

Learn more and apply 

Thriving in Interdisciplinary Teams Workshop Series

Elevate your teamwork skills for academic and professional success. This isn’t just a workshop; it’s a hands-on, four-session experience designed to equip you with practical tools to excel in any team. You’ll engage with peers from various fields, learning a values-based, team-centric approach to leadership. Leverage your unique strengths to build collaborative, cross-functional teams that tackle complex challenges. Becoming a highly effective contributor and leader, these are skills employers truly value. Dates and times vary based on graduate student track.

Applications Deadline: September 9, 2026

Learn more and apply 

A2i+ Career Insights Webinar: Introduction to Management & Leadership Styles

Have you ever considered the difference between being a manager and being a leader? This workshop provides an overview of the distinct characteristics associated with each of these roles. Information about the four general leadership styles will also be provided. Participants will be able to identify when to manage and when to lead as well as learn the type of leadership styles that resonates best with them.

Webinar Date: September 10 from 3-4:30 p.m.

Learn more and register 

Webinar: From Pathways to Impact: Designing Your Career in Industry

What changes when you move from graduate school to industry? And how can you intentionally build a career that grows with your interests, strengths, and aspirations? In this panel, industry professionals will share their career journeys, reflect on the transition from academia to industry, and discuss the non-technical skills that have accelerated their growth. Through candid stories and practical insights, panelists will explore how careers evolve over time, how to approach pivotal career decisions, and how to navigate opportunities, challenges, and change with purpose.

Webinar Date: September 11 from 1-2 p.m.

Learn more and register 

Featured Opportunities

INTERFACE: Data + AI Research Summit

The NC State Data Science and AI Academy invites faculty, students, research support units and local industry partners to to share research, exchange ideas and create new opportunities for collaboration at the first INTERFACE: Data + AI Research Summit. Lead a research session or workshop, present a student research poster, showcase a campus research resource or participate as an industry partner. Participation submissions close Friday, September 11. General registration opens September 21.

Date: Monday, November 2, 2026 from 9 am to 4pm
Location: Talley Student Union

Explore ways to participate
Neural Network Brain
NE Ag expo field day in Shawboro, NC. An extension agent talks about soybean crops. Photo by Marc Hall

Mashup at the N.C. PSI: The Mosaic Company and STEPS

Join us for our next “Mashup” at the N.C. Plant Sciences Initiative! The theme for this Mashup is Plant Health and Nutrient Use Efficiency.
Our industry partner for this Mashup is Dr. Ross Bender from The Mosaic Company. Our NC State speaker is Dr. Ross Sozzani, William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor in the Department of Plant and Microbial Biology, as well as N.C. PSI Platform Director for Plant Improvement and Co-deputy Director of the STEPS Center. A networking mixer directly follows the seminars.

Date: Thursday, September 17 from 4-6pm
Location: Seminar Rooms, Plant Sciences Building

Learn more and register 

N.C. PSI Hackathon

The N.C. PSI Hackathon is an annual event that gives undergraduates, graduate students and postdoctoral scholars the chance to demonstrate their skills in a 3-day competition to solve ag tech related challenges for prizes and, of course, bragging rights. With the goal to accelerate agricultural research using data analytics, machine learning, and hardware fabrication, our annual Hackathons have multiple tracks and are inclusive to participants with various levels of experience.

Event Dates: October 23-25, 2026

Learn more and register 

Concise Communication Workshop

Do people say that your communication style is too wordy? If so, join the Graduate School for the Concise Communication workshop, formerly known as Concise Writing. This in-person workshop will address the challenge of creating clear and concise communication for a variety of verbal and written situations and audiences. We will review concrete strategies, such as Richard Lanham’s famous “Paramedic Method,” to help make your professional communication concise.

Date: September 15 from 3-4:30pm
Location: Conference Room 2328, The Graduate School

Learn more and register 

2026 Seed2Grow Pitch Competition

The Seed2Grow Showcase & Pitch Competition, a high-energy event spotlighting innovations to solve grand challenges in agriculture and the environment. Two pitch competition tracks will be featured, one for current NC State students and one for NC State researchers (faculty, postdocs, research scholars). Six participants will be selected to compete in each track by N.C. PSI leadership and the Seed2Grow Commercialization Council. With industry experts serving as judges and an open audience of investors, industry, and the NC State community, the event will showcase bold new solutions and highlight the strength of North Carolina’s growing agtech ecosystem.

Application Deadline: October 2, 2026
Event Date: November 5 from 3-6:30pm

Learn more and apply 

Virtual Fall Writing Retreat

The two-day Virtual Writing Retreat Sprint offers graduate student and postdoctoral writers the dedicated time and structure to make progress on a major writing project in a supportive online setting. This event is free to attend but registration is required.

Date: October 19-20, 2026

Learn more and register 

Data Science Training Intensive

Need some help building the foundational skills needed for the data work in your graduate program? This two-day intensive training, offered by the NC State Libraries, will provide introductions to essential topics for graduate students working with data to prepare them for coursework, research, and future careers.

Date: October 19-20, 2026

Learn more and register 

Internship Opportunity: Small Grains Breeding & Genetics Program

NC State’s Small Grains Breeding & Genetics Program is looking for several undergraduate researchers for the 2026-2027 academic year. This internship offers a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a public breeding program focused on wheat and oat improvement. Interns will contribute to both field and greenhouse operations and engage with ongoing research projects aimed at enhancing breeding strategies for small grains. To apply or request more information, please contact Dr. Nonoy Bandillo.

Share Your Research at Three Minute Thesis (3MT)

Do you want to strengthen your presentation skills and have a chance to win a $1,000 cash prize? 3MT is an international competition where graduate students share their research projects in just three minutes, with one slide. Sign up is now available for one of our preliminary rounds, which will be held on Sept. 22, Sept. 28, and Oct. 1. Please note that each competitor must attend a preliminary competition before moving to our final 3MT contest.

Preliminary Registration Deadline: Friday, September 18
Competition Date: October 28, 2026 at 3pm

Learn more and register
Man speaking into a microphone in front of a large screen
Cole Hammett presents his interdisciplinary research ideas at an N.C. PSI BRIDGE Symposiu.

Events and Conferences

KIETS Climate Leaders Program Fall Symposium

This two-day symposium is open to everyone interested in addressing climate challenges and seeking viable solutions. The annual fall symposium brings together students, faculty, industry partners, leading experts and community members to highlight interdisciplinary collaboration and transform research into real-world impact. 

Date: October 7-8, 2026
Location: James B Hunt Library: Duke Energy Hall.

Learn more and register 

Research Week at NC State

Research Week at NC State, an annual, campuswide initiative sponsored by the Office of Research and Innovation (ORI), highlights the research, scholarship and innovation happening across the university. Throughout the week, ORI and campus partners host events, conversations, showcases, and programs that help faculty, staff, students, and university leaders connect with the people, ideas and resources advancing research at NC State.

Date: October 19-23, 2026

Learn more and participate 

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 

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 

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

Conferences

NC State Field Days

Explore commodity-specific events across the state

Learn more and register 

Water Environment Federation’s Technical Exhibition & Conference

September 26-30, 2026
New Orleans, LA

Learn more and register 

Auxin 2026

October 4-6, 2026
Albufeira, Portugal

Learn more and register 

35th Annual Plant Molecular Biology Retreat

October 9-11, 2026
Wrightsville Beach, NC

Learn more and register 


Global Bioeconomy Alliance (GBA)

October 26-30, 2026
Monterrey, Mexico

Learn more and register 

CANVAS 2026

November 1-4, 2026
Portland, OR

Learn more and register 

CEAg World Conference and Expo

November 10-11, 2026
Concord, NC

Learn more and register 

AGU Annual Meeting

December 7-11, 2026
San Francisco, CA

Learn more and register 

The International Plant and Animal Genome Conference (PAG 34) 

January 8-12, 2027
San Diego, CA

Learn more and register 

Save the Date: Waste to Worth Conference

April 12-16, 2027
Raleigh, NC

Learn more and register 

Upcoming PSI Events

All PSI Events
Oct 05

Monday2:00 PM

Discover N.C. PSI
Oct 23

Friday

N.C. PSI Hackathon

Internships and Fellowships

Life Science Research Foundation Fellowship

The Life Science Research Foundation (LSRF) believes that fundamental advances in life sciences depend upon the training and support of high quality young scientists at a critical point in their career – their postdoctoral training. With the goal to identify exceptional young scientists and secure funding for their projects, the LSRF Fellowship provides three (3) years of support to a named postdoctoral researcher at a non-profit university or research institution.

Application Deadline: October 1, 2026 by 8:00 p.m. EST

Learn more and apply
Imani Madison in a laboratory

Anthropic Fellows Program

The Anthropic Fellows Program is designed to foster AI research and engineering talent. Offering a weekly stipend, Fellows are expected to work full-time for 4 months under the mentorship of Anthropic researchers. There are multiple cohorts of Fellows each year and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Learn more and apply 

NC Conservation Network Campus Organizing Fellowship

Campus Organizing Fellows will receive first-hand experience working for a statewide environmental nonprofit. This fellowship is 6-10 hours per week of on-campus organizing in both the fall and spring semesters. This is a paid position that will include public outreach to students and the campus community regarding environmental issues such as forever chemical pollution (PFAS), climate action, and environmental justice efforts in North Carolina. Fellows will also engage in non-partisan get-out-the-vote efforts on campus during election season.

Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Positions are open until filled.

Learn more and apply 
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 
Women wearing goggles and gloves in a research lab

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

The Edward Gorey House 2026 Envelop Art Contest

The artist Edward Gorey ornamented his correspondence with elaborate drawings. Each year, the Edward Gorey House on Cape Cod runs an all-ages envelope art contest to submit envelopes decorated in the annual theme. This year’s theme is “The Utter Zoo.” The winner and finalists of each category recieve a nifty prize bundle in the mail. Even if you’re not the best artist, send in an envelope if you feel inspired!

Submission Deadline: December 1, 2026 by 4:00 pm

A drawn image of a black imaginary creature holding a man wearing yellow in his mouth. Underneath is phrase "The Utter Zoo".

Professional Development Workshops

The Graduate School offers an array of career preparedness, communication skills, leadership, teaching, and wellness workshops. These workshops occur virtually, year-round and require registration.

Explore Virtual Workshops 

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 

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
Two people discuss research on hops grown on trellises
Student Gwen Casebeer (left) and researcher Jeanine Davis look over hops growing at Mountain Horticultural Research and Extension Center in Henderson County.
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 
Three people talking in a work space

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 

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 

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