Andrea Marcela Osorio Doblado from Honduras always dreamed of pursuing her graduate education in the US, but she wasn’t sure she could shoulder the financial burden alone. When she was admitted to the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), she discovered she wouldn’t have to.
As part of a top-tier research university in the southeastern US, CAES makes it easier for graduate students to earn advanced degrees through assistantships, a type of financial support that provide students the opportunity to teach, conduct research, or work in a lab in exchange for a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend.
At any given time, 90% to 93% of CAES graduate students are supported by assistantships.
Attending graduate school can be lifechanging, but it can also come with significant financial burdens. These burdens can be even more significant for graduate students earning their degrees abroad. By providing robust financial support to their students, CAES empowers students to focus on their education because they believe that financial barriers should never stand in the way of student success.
Doblado, one of the many students at CAES supported by an assistantship, is now a thriving PhD candidate exploring nutritional strategies in beef cattle production in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science at CAES.
“The financial support has eased the burden of tuition and living expenses, giving me the freedom to fully focus on my education and research,” Doblado said.
Senior Research Scientist Dr. Soraya Leal-Bertioli said CAES’s assistantships are “transformative,” especially for international students who often face additional challenges when far from home and navigating a new culture. “It not only distinguishes our programmes but also gives students the freedom to contribute significantly to their theses, excel in their scientific fields and explore innovative solutions to global challenges that affect us all,” she said.
Through scholarships and assistantships, UGA College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences ensures that students have the resources they need to thrive and focus on conducting groundbreaking research and achieving academic excellence. Source: University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
With three campuses across Georgia, CAES is tackling some of the world’s most pressing issues, such as population growth, climate change and resource scarcity. UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences students learn directly from researchers who are pioneering new methods, making discoveries and using cutting-edge technology to ensure the future of agriculture and the environment for generations to come.
With notable graduate programmes in poultry science, food science and technology, animal and dairy science, plant breeding, genetics and genomics and more, CAES provides students the opportunity to work alongside the industry’s leading experts and make valuable contributions to their fields before ever even graduating.
“International graduate students bring valuable perspectives to the Department of Food Science and Technology,” said Dr. Manpreet Singh, head of the department. “Their experiences and ideas enrich the research we do in the department to make innovative food products that are of high nutritious quality, safe and contribute to human health while contributing to the sustainability in food manufacturing on a global scale.”
The College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences’ faculty and staff are advancing agricultural and environmental sciences in Georgia and beyond. Source: University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
For Sanket Vanare, a doctoral student in food science and technology from India , the financial support provided by CAES has opened doors and created opportunities he said have “significantly enriched” his academic experience and personal growth.
“I have been able to approach my coursework with greater confidence, engage in meaningful discussions and develop a well-rounded understanding of my field,” he said. “I have also been able to represent CAES at conferences across the country through travel stipends provided by the college. None of this would have been possible without the financial aid and resources provided by CAES.”
In addition to financial support, CAES also provides a variety of other resources to ensure students thrive both academically and personally.
“CAES’s international student programmes, such as the various orientation sessions and cultural integration workshops, have eased my transition into this new academic system and culture,” Sanket said. “The language support services and tutoring programmes provided by the college help me excel in courses I initially found challenging, and the diverse student organisations on campus have provided a sense of community and belonging.”
The UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is transforming students into innovators, problem-solvers and leaders who will shape the future of agriculture and the environment.
“By investing in our students, we are investing in the sustainable solutions that will impact the world for generations to come,” said Dr. Nick T. Place, dean and director of CAES.
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