The Borlaug Global Rust Initiative (BGRI) is pleased to announce the call for applications for the first annual Jeanie Borlaug Laube Women in Triticum (WIT) Award for early-career women wheat researchers.

This award, established in 2010, provides professional development opportunities for women working in wheat during the early stages of their career. The award is named after Jeanie Borlaug Laube, mentor to many, and daughter of Nobel Laureate Dr. Norman E. Borlaug. Jeanie Borlaug Laube has served as Chair of the Borlaug Global Rust Initiative since October 2009.

Selection criteria:

• The award is made only to women
• There is no age limit, but the award is intended for early career scientists ranging from advanced undergraduates to recent PhD graduates and post-doctoral fellows. Priority is given to women at the pre-professoriate level.
• Strength of scientific abstract submitted to the BGRI annual technical workshop
• Demonstrated commitment to and passion for agricultural development
• Leadership potential
• Quality of written statement of intent
• 1 Letter of Recommendation from a supervisor, professor, or mentor that speaks to the applicant’s leadership potential

Up to three awards may be granted in a given year. However, the number of awards granted may be fewer in number depending on the quality of applications received.

Recipients of the Jeanie Borlaug Laube WIT award are invited to the annual BGRI technical workshop, to be held in St. Petersburg in 2010. The exact amount of the award will vary with demonstrated need, but is intended to help cover costs associated with attending the BGRI workshop, including economy airfare, hotel, registration fees, and a standard per diem for meals and other incidentals. Award recipients are also eligible to attend a training program at CIMMYT in Obregon, Mexico in 2011, along with the 2011 Jeanie Borlaug WIT Award recipients. Awardees will be publicly honored in St. Petersburg at a lunch seminar talk on gender equity in Agriculture and will also be honored at an invitation-only dinner hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation on the evening of May 31st.

To apply, please complete the application (download the attachment) below and submit along with a letter of recommendation. Applications must be received by MARCH 1, 2010

Electronic submissions may be sent to: WIT@globalrust.org

Applications may be received by mail at:

Jeanie Borlaug Laube WIT Award
c/o Ronnie Coffman, Durable Rust Resistance in Wheat Project
Cornell University
252 Emerson Hall
Ithaca, NY 14851 USA