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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

SAPLINGS “AI in Ag” Graduate Student Training Award

The SAPLINGS “AI in Ag” Graduate Training Award provides 1 year of support to N.C. PSI-affiliated Ph.D. students (stipend + tuition) engaged in machine learning and AI research to identify new solutions in agriculture. We invite N.C. PSI-affiliated faculty to nominate their doctoral student for this 1-year award. Research should focus on the application of Machine Learning, Data Science and/or AI to plant science or agricultural use-cases.

Application Deadline: May 8, 2026 at 5pm

Learn more and apply
A woman and a man standing outside in front of the Plant Sciences Building

2026 BASF North American Research Forum

BASF invites Ph.D. students and academic postdoctoral researchers to apply for the North American Research Forum. The Research Forum offers a unique opportunity for early in career scientists and engineers to gain insight into the chemical industry and learn about R&D, engineering, technology, marketing, and production. The Research Forum participants will also have the opportunity to develop and pitch a solution to a current industry challenge. Application requires an abstract of your research and a LoR from your advisor.

Application Deadline: May 15, 2026
Forum Dates: July 13-15, 2026
Forum Location: Wyandotte, Michigan

Learn more and apply 

Genetic Engineering and Society Graduate Certificate & Fellowship

The GES Graduate Fellowship is a competitive funding opportunity for current NC State graduate students who plan to complete the GES Graduate Certificate. Fellows receive a $10,000 stipend to support interdisciplinary training in the societal, ethical, and policy dimensions of genetic engineering and related biotechnologies. Graduate students from all disciplinary backgrounds are welcome, and students in the humanities and social sciences are especially encouraged to apply.

Application Deadline: May 22, 2026 by 5 pm EST

Learn more and apply 

Webinar: From Bench to Business: Building Plant Science-Based Startups

Plant scientists are doing some of the most important agricultural and environmental work of our time, but the path from a research finding to a real-world product isn’t always obvious. This webinar brings together three speakers who have built careers at the intersection of plant science and industry: a startup founder who took his research from the field to the global market, a venture capitalist who evaluates and funds early-stage ag-biotech companies, and a university innovation director who helps researchers commercialize their work. Together, they offer a holistic view of what it actually takes to move plant science out of the lab and into the world.

Webinar Date: May 28, 2026 at 11 am EST

Learn more and register 

Featured Opportunities

STEPS Center Research Spotlights & Networking Mixer

The Research Spotlights will feature brief, engaging presentations from scholars across disciplines, including environmental science, engineering, agriculture, data science, artificial intelligence, policy, and the social sciences.
Following the presentations, attendees are invited to a networking session to foster connections across academia, industry, and organizational partners.

Event Date: May 28, 2026 from 4-6 pm
Event Location: Plant Sciences Building

Register here!
Water droplet and leaf with letter P

Events and Conferences

Regularly Occurring events

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 

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 

Upcoming PSI Events

All PSI Events
May 08

Friday9:30 AM

N.C. PSI Coffee Social
May 28

Thursday4:00 PM

STEPS Center Research Spotlights & Networking Mixer
Jun 17

Wednesday9:00 AM

NCCC’s 2026 Annual Meeting for Members and Supporters

Conferences

NC State Field Days

Explore commodity-specific events across the state

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 

7th International Workshop on Agriculture & Computer Vision

*As part of the IEEE/CVF CVPR Conference 2026
June 3-7, 2026
Denver, CO

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 

Auxin 2026

October 4-6, 2026
Albufeira, Portugal

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

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

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
People kneeling next to a hill, preparing to plant seedlings

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 

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

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 exterior

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