The Convergence Research (CORE) Institute, funded by the NSF Convergence Accelerator, is designed to catalyze an impact network of researchers, practitioners, and industry and public policy professionals committed to collaboratively engaging in convergence research. Our CORE Fellows program provides participants with a foundational experience to position them for impact throughout their careers on the most challenging societal issues of our time. Fellows will gain the skillsets and networks to identify use-inspired problems and build convergence research solutions that: 1) are driven by a specific and compelling societal problem, 2) require deep integration across disciplines and sectors, and 3) are designed with intentional pathways to sustainable integration into existing societal systems.

 

2024 CORE Fellows 

 

Each year the CORE Institute selects a thematic focus related to a societal grand challenge for the Fellows Program. The theme for 2024 is “Leveraging Data and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Regional Food Systems”. Ideal applicants will have experience and/or interest in areas like regenerative agriculture and other nature-based solutions, data science approaches to monitor and address food security issues at the local level, community-based food systems mapping, and data-driven technologies for efficient and sustainable supply chains. If you are passionate about collaborating with a diverse, multidisciplinary cohort to shape a use-inspired research agenda for just and resilient food systems, this fellowship is for you!

 

We welcome applicants from the public and private sectors as well as from academia and nonprofit or non-governmental organizations who are interested in broadening their network and skills through a convergence research and data-informed approach. We encourage applications from researchers, practitioners, community leaders and activists working to achieve sustainable regional food systems. Applicants can be in career phases ranging from graduate students to early and mid-career professionals. 

 

The CORE Fellowship

 

The CORE Fellows will participate in the Fellows Academy and the CORE Summit, described below. The Fellowship includes funding for travel expenses including lodging and domestic travel. In addition, selected Fellows will be offered funding to host their own workshops at the CORE Summit.
 

The Fellows Academy: Over the course of two days, the Fellows will meet at UC San Diego to learn from one another and gain hands-on exposure to the convergence research approach. Through interactive workshops with the CORE Institute team and network, the fellows will participate in a guided process to define a use-inspired research agenda. The curriculum comprises two distinct segments: 1) foundations of convergence research; and 2) breakout sessions for fellows to engage in problem definition and new solution ideation. During the Fellows Academy, participants will identify research areas with potential for innovative solutions that can be integrated into existing systems through close collaboration with end-users.

 

The CORE Summit: A two-day event to facilitate peer-to-peer networking and discussions around the main challenges and opportunities to create more sustainable regional food systems. CORE Fellows will be invited to submit workshop proposals for the 2024 CORE Summit. Selected proposals will be funded by the CORE Institute. 

 

Application

 

Interested applicants will be asked to upload their resume along with a letter of interest by March 21, 2024. Your application should address the ways in which your experience and interests will contribute to a diverse cohort defining an ambitious use-inspired research agenda for sustainable regional food systems. Please include any previous experience working with multidisciplinary, multi-sector teams and specify how this program will support your professional goals.

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Timeline

• Deadline for submitting letter of interest and resume: March 21, 2024

• Selection Committee decisions published on:  April 1st, 2024

• Virtual Orientation: April 25, 2024

• In-person Fellows Academy:  May 16-17, 2024

• CORE Summit Workshop Proposals: June 17, 2024

• CORE Summit: Fall 2024 (dates TBD jointly by CORE Institute and selected fellows)

 

Contact: For questions contact the CORE Institute at coreinstitute@ucsd.edu

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