The DERISC Food Fellowship is a transformative opportunity for PhD and post-doctoral researchers passionate about shaping the future of cellular agriculture. This program, spearheaded by New Harvest, bridges the gap between cellular agriculture and primary agriculture, aiming to prototype sustainable food systems using Canadian agricultural resources. Ten bold researchers will be selected to join this groundbreaking initiative, which, if successful, will secure funding from the Canadian government to launch a comprehensive project.
The fellowship emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and interdisciplinary research, focusing on life cycle assessments, techno-economic analyses, and safety strategies to empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Fellows will work closely with six principal investigators across four leading universities and industry partners, forming the foundation of Canada's first cellular agriculture value chain ecosystem.
Successful applicants will:
- Be in a PhD or postdoctoral position, supervised by one of the 6 principal investigators (PIs) at one of the 4 participating universities we have co-designed this project with;
- Join the New Harvest Fellowship program, collaborating closely across the 10-fellow cohort;
Work with industry partners and New Harvest to establish the first cellular agriculture (including precision fermentation and cultured meat) value chain ecosystem. - Join a groundbreaking multidisciplinary project to build the agricultural foundations of cellular agriculture.
This program is part of a broader initiative to enhance Canada's food biomanufacturing capabilities, strengthen agricultural value chains, and drive food security. With applications due by January 5, 2025, this is a unique chance for researchers to develop leadership skills and advance cellular agriculture while contributing to a more resilient and innovative food system.
Learn more about available projects and academic partners here!