National Potato Council Accepting Scholarship Applications

Washington Luis da Silva Photo credit: National Potato Council

Washington Luis da Silva was the recipient of the 2014 NPC scholarship. Photo credit: NPC

The National Potato Council (NPC) is accepting applications for a $10,000 graduate-level scholarship to be applied toward the 2015-2016 academic year. Each year, NPC awards one scholarship to a graduate student pursuing advanced studies (Master’s degree or higher) that will improve the future of the U.S. potato industry.

Final scholarship selection is based on academic achievement, leadership abilities, and the potential commercial value of the applicant’s academic work. The 2014 scholarship winner was Washington Luis da Silva, who is a plant pathology Ph.D. student at Cornell University. His research into Potato Tuber Necrotic Ringspot Disease (PTNRD), a tuber deformity, will offer insight into the ongoing issues the industry faces related to infections from Potato virus (PVY) necrotic strains. His goal to improve the screening process for this issue would have a direct economic benefit for potato breeders and for the potato industry as a whole.

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“This scholarship will help tremendously with the cost of the robust technology necessary to complete my research, affording me the opportunity to be well trained in the pursuit of my future plans in helping the U.S. potato industry to move forward in the fight against current and prospective diseases,” said da Silva. The application deadline for NPC’s 2015-2016 academic scholarship is June 30, and the scholarship winner will be announced in August.

The winner will be invited to display his or her work at the Potato Research Poster Sessions during POTATO EXPO 2016, Jan. 12-14, 2016, in Las Vegas, NV. Application forms are available at http://goo.gl/v2bfmH.

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For more information about the award and past scholarship winners, visit http://nationalpotatocouncil.org/events-and-programs/scholarship-program.

 

Source: NPC press release

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