2018 RIFA Fellows

Meet the 2018 cohort of Research and Innovation for Agriculture Fellows

Beginning this May, 2018 RIFA fellows will be headed around the globe to work on agricultural development projects with focus on vegetable value chain analysis, climate smart agriculture, women's empowerment, digital services for smallholder farmers and more. These fellows work with an in-coutnry host organization and a UC-based mentor to help bring research to action and gain professional experience working in development abroad. Best of luck to our 2018 cohort!

Jessamyn Wead - UC Berkeley, Public Health & Nutrition
Cambodia - Innovations to Build and Scale Safe Vegetable Value Chains, Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia
Meghan Mize - UC Davis, International Agricultural Development
Cambodia - Innovations to Build and Scale Safe Vegetable Value Chains, Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia
Zainab Husain - UC Davis, International Agricultural Development
Peru - Agriculture-nutrition linkages: Improving food and security nutrition in the potato-based highlands systems in the Andes, International Potato Center (CIP)
Layna Lowe - UC San Diego, International Affairs
Peru - Agriculture-nutrition linkages: Improving food and security nutrition in the potato-based highlands systems in the Andes, International Potato Center (CIP)
Aleksandra Taranov - UC Davis, Biostatistics and International Agricultural Development
Mexico - Stochastic stimulation for support decision in plant breeding research, International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT)
Austin Cross - UC Davis, International Agricultural Development
Ecuador - Biomass and nutrient partitioning and nutrient recycling in cacao, Hacienda La Chola/Mars, Inc.
Leah Renwick - UC Davis, Horticulture & Agronomy and International Agricultural Development
Tanzania - Strengthening Capacity in Tanzania to Implement Agriculture Climate Resilience Actions, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
Leanna Kelly - UC Davis, Animal Science and International Agricultural Development
Tanzania - Strengthening Capacity in Tanzania to Implement Agriculture Climate Resilience Actions, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)
Asha Sharma - UC Davis, International Agricultural Development
Ecuador - Exploring Climate Smart Agriculture as a Form of Community Development, Fundación Sol & Montaña
Katie von der Lieth - UC Davis, International Agricultural Development
Ecuador - Exploring Climate Smart Agriculture as a Form of Community Development, Fundación Sol & Montaña
Michelle Einstein - UCLA, Urban & Regional Planning
Honduras - Women's Empowerment through Horticultural Production, Escuela Agricola Panamerica (Zamorano University)
MengYuan Xi - UC Riverside, Plant Biology
China - The impact of re-flood on active microbes responsible for nitrous oxide emission in Chinese paddy soils, Zhejiang University
Elizabeth Deyett - UC Riverside, Genetics, Genomics & Bioinformatics
China - The impact of re-flood on active microbes responsible for nitrous oxide emission in Chinese paddy soils, Zhejiang University
Ira Herniter - UC Riverside, Plant Breeding & Genetics
Ghana - Participatory evaluation of extra early, early and medium maturing MAGIC cowpea lines under both sole and maize/cowpea intercrop, CSIR-Savanna Agricultural Research Institute
Britta Schumacher - UC Santa Barbara, Geography
Kenya - Toward Sustainable Food Systems Profiles for Decision-makers in Kenya and Vietnam, International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT)
Aysha Peterson - UC Santa Cruz, Environmental Studies
Mexico - Agrodiversity for Sustainable Agriculture in Yucatán, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán
Dalynna Jun Moser - UC San Diego, International Affairs
Uganda - Digital platforms for African smallholder farmers to access ‘bundled services’, Olam Internatioanl Ltd.