Seeking 10 Bold Researchers to Build the DERISC Food Fellowship

Did you know many ingredients in your favorite alternative protein products were grown on the Canadian prairies? That’s right, the yellow peas in your plant-based burgers and oats in your oat milk were most likely grown and harvested sustainably here in Canada’s breadbasket.Cell ag will be no different.That is why we are thrilled to be building the DERISC Food Fellowship, a new manifestation of New Harvest’s Fellowship Program designed to connect cellular agriculture with primary agriculture.What does DERISC Food stand for? Defining, Enhancing, and Refining Agricultural Inputs and the Supply Chains of Cellular Agriculture and Biomanufacturing of Food.

Illustration by Nick Counter for New Harvest // CC BY-NC-SA  4.0

All we need is 10 bold researchers to join us. If we are successful, we will secure funding from the Canadian government to launch the project.Researchers in this 10-fellow cohort will be focused on prototyping various cellular agriculture inputs using Canadian agricultural resources to create a sustainable and innovative food system. These prototypes will be supported by life cycle assessments, techno-economic analyses, and safety strategies to aid in the business development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).This fellowship project is part of a larger Canada-wide, New Harvest-led initiative to build out food biomanufacturing, push value-added agriculture, and create a more food secure future while strengthening Canada’s agriculture sector.We are currently seeking applicants to be part of this cohort.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.

Read the Call for Applications & Apply Here

The deadline to apply for these positions is January 5, 2025.  Please visit our website to explore all available positions, their lengths and their specific requirements. This initiative will offer all fellows a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between cellular agriculture SMEs and agricultural processors. The interdisciplinary nature of this work will help potential fellows develop leadership skills and foster collaboration to accelerate advancements in cellular agriculture.We welcome all qualified candidates to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority. If suitable Canadian citizens or permanent residents cannot be found, other individuals will be considered. We encourage applicants from underrepresented groups to apply.Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or need clarity!