Plant, Environmental and Agroecology Sciences Fellowship
- PEAS Fellowship Informational Video (YouTube)
#PEAS #PlantsAreCool
Are you interested in getting hands on research experience in Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture sciences? Do you want to broaden your perspectives and understanding of plants, agricultural systems, and ecological approaches to management? Spend a summer leading your project and explore what it means to be a researcher, see if you like it!
PEAS is hosted by the Department of Plant Sciences in partnership with the Undergraduate Research Center (URC) to provide mentorship and financial resources for undergraduate students to engage with research and professional development opportunities in the field of agroecology, sustainable agriculture and relevant plant, soil and biological sciences. The goal is to gain experience in real-world settings, prepare you for a carrier in your field and create more inclusive pathways for undergraduates from different backgrounds to meaningfully engage in research.
Fellows will propose a project that they will be responsible for developing and managing over the summer with mentorship from project partners and UC faculty, staff and graduate students. This may take many forms, depending on the area of study, and is intended to provide a dedicated period in the summer for research when academic activities are typically light. Research may take place at UC Davis, research stations, on-farm, in farming communities and private and non-profit organizations. Fellows will have opportunities to participate in workshops proposed by the URC and receive a stipend and funds for travel, conference attendance and/or research supplies.
2023-2024 PEAS Fellows
Adazsofia Lengyel
Rooting for Health: Urban Agriculture Influence on Soil Ecosystem
"I am excited to be working with the PEAS fellowship in order to develop research skills, engage in participatory research, and further my education about sustainable urban agriculture systems that increase food accessibility through my own personal project!”
Sriram Srinivas
Effects of Cultural Burning on Soil Carbon and Microbial Communities
"I’m excited to get to design my own project and contribute to our understanding of the benefits of cultural burning”
Lynnea Hanna
Impacts of Sheep Grazing on Plant Community and Soil Microbiomes in Riparian and Adjacent Agroecosystems
“I am so excited to be a PEAS fellow because it has given me the opportunity to learn about so many different aspects of the research process, to follow my own curiosity, and to learn from local farmers and land managers - all with the support of a wonderful community!”
Program Requirements
This program will provide 3 fellowships / year to candidates who meet the following criteria.
- Be a continuing undergraduate student, not in their final year of study and enrolled through the completion of your projects.
- Be majoring in Plant Sciences and/or biophysical, socio-economic and political sciences with interests in agroecology and sustainable food systems. Student engaged in interdisciplinary Majors (IAD, SAFS) and indigenous studies are welcomed to apply.
- Participate in 1 unit course during the spring quarter to develop your project and mentorship structure.
- Conduct 8-10 weeks of full-time research over the summer.
- Present results at the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Conference.
- Students from underrepresented minorities are encouraged to apply. Your inclusion in this group is based on the ethnicity identity you reported to UC Davis at time of admission.
Financial Support for Scholars
- Summer stipends for each Fellow of $3,500
- $1,500 for supplies and materials and/or travel funds needed to carry out your studies.
Timeline and Application Deadlines
- Application opens - Now APPLY HERE
- Application Deadline: Monday, February 18, 2025, by 11:59 p.m.
- Application Review - Feb 19 - Mar 8
- Interviews for select applicants - Mar 11 - Mar 15
- Notice of acceptance - March 2025
- Project development - 1 credit course, Spring 2025
- Undergraduate Research Program (URP) Summer Workshops - June 16, 2025-August 22, 2025
- No recommendation letter is needed
- You do not need to include your research project idea in this initial application form. We will follow up to allow you more time to brainstorm your project.
Contacts
Faculty Director and PI: Dr. Amelie Gaudin, https://gaudin.ucdavis.edu, agaudin@ucdavis.edu
Office 2136 PES | Lab 2133 PES
Administrative Director: Lolita Adkins, https://urc.ucdavis.edu/, lrnelson@ucdavis.edu
Undergraduate Research Center, 2300 Student Community Center
Donors
We are thankful to the Barbara Webster and Maxwell Hanrahan Foundations for supporting this program.