Plant, Environmental and Agroecology Sciences Fellowship
- 2025 PEAS Fellowship Informational Video (Aggie Video)
#PEAS #PlantsAreCool
Are you interested in getting hands-on research experience in Agroecology and Sustainable Agriculture sciences? Do you want to broaden your perspectives and understanding of plants, agricultural systems, and ecological approaches to management? Spend a summer leading your project and explore what it means to be a researcher, see if you like it!
PEAS is hosted by the Department of Plant Sciences in partnership with the Undergraduate Research Center (URC) to provide mentorship and financial resources for undergraduate students to engage with research and professional development opportunities in the field of agroecology, sustainable agriculture and relevant plant, soil and biological sciences. The goal is to gain experience in real-world settings, prepare you for a carrier in your field and create more inclusive pathways for undergraduates from different backgrounds to meaningfully engage in research.
Fellows will propose a project that they will be responsible for developing and managing over the summer with mentorship from project partners and UC faculty, staff and graduate students. This may take many forms, depending on the area of study, and is intended to provide a dedicated period in the summer for research when academic activities are typically light. Research may take place at UC Davis, research stations, on-farm, in farming communities and private and non-profit organizations. Fellows will have opportunities to participate in workshops proposed by the URC and receive a stipend and funds for travel, conference attendance and/or research supplies.
- Program Requirements
- - This program will provide 3 fellowships / year to candidates who meet the following criteria.
- Be a continuing undergraduate student, not in their final year of study and enrolled through the completion of your projects.
- Be in a lab or have a campus position (e.x. Lead Student Farmer, etc.)
- Be majoring in Plant Sciences and/or biophysical, socio-economic and political sciences with interests in agroecology and sustainable food systems. Students engaged in interdisciplinary Majors (IAD, SAFS) and indigenous studies are welcomed to apply.
- Participate in 1 unit course during the spring quarter to develop your project and mentorship structure.
- Conduct 8-10 weeks of full-time research over the summer.
- Attend Undergraduate Research Center summer workshops.
- Present results at the Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activities Conference.
- Students from underrepresented minorities are encouraged to apply. Your inclusion in this group is based on the ethnicity identity you reported to UC Davis at time of admission. - Financial Support for Scholars
- - Summer stipends for each Fellow of $3,500
- $1,500 for supplies and materials and/or travel funds needed to carry out your studies. - Timeline and Application Deadlines
- Application for 2025 CLOSED
- Application for 2026 opens in January and closes in mid-February
- Tentative timeline:- Application Review - Feb 19 - Mar 8
- Interviews for select applicants - Mar 11 - Mar 15
- Notice of acceptance - March 2026
- Project development - 1 credit course, Spring 2026
- Undergraduate Research Program (URP) Summer Workshops - Mid June 2026 - Mid August 2026
- No recommendation letter is needed
- You do not need to include your research project idea in this initial application form. We will follow up to allow you more time to brainstorm your project.
2025 PEAS Fellows
Chen Li
Hemp grain and fiber performance across agroecosystems.
“I got into agriculture through my research on cannabis breeding, and what keeps me inspired is knowing that the seeds I help develop might one day grow in fields far beyond my own. I love that research allows us to make tangible contributions that connect with communities and support real-world change. For my PEAS project, I’m excited to explore grain and fiber variety trials in cannabis and see how this work can lead to more sustainable and diverse options.”
Princesa Ceballos Madrigal
Advancing agroecological pest nematode management practices through integrated field trials and ecosystem-based assessments.
“I’m from Porterville, California where my interest in agriculture was shaped by my experiences growing up in a farmworker family and seeing firsthand the challenges and resilience within the industry. As a PEAS Fellow, I’m excited to partner with Corteva Agriscience on pesticide trials that aim to improve crop health and contribute to more sustainable farming systems.”
Itzel Villagran
Soil health at the UC Davis Student Farm
“Being from an urban area in Los Angeles County, I’m passionate about making sustainable agriculture more accessible in cities like my hometown. As a PEAS fellow I'm excited to research no-till practices at the UC Davis Student Farm to better understand their impact on soil health and potential applications in urban farming!”
Morgan Wlaschin
Identifying resilient wheat varieties to maintain high agronomic performance, nutritional composition and bread-making quality under drought conditions in Mediterranean-climate regions.
“I'm from Seattle, Washington, and I became interested in small cereal grains after working as a research assistant in the Grain Cropping Systems lab this past summer, where I was fortunate to interact with passionate and knowledgeable individuals. My proposed project aims to investigate the effects of water stress on the nutritional composition and baking quality of grain, thereby improving human health and maintaining a reliable food system.”
2024 PEAS Fellows
Adazsofia Lengyel
Rooting for Health: Urban Agriculture Influence on Soil Ecosystem
"I am excited to be working with the PEAS fellowship in order to develop research skills, engage in participatory research, and further my education about sustainable urban agriculture systems that increase food accessibility through my own personal project!”
Sriram Srinivas
Effects of Cultural Burning on Soil Carbon and Microbial Communities
"I’m excited to get to design my own project and contribute to our understanding of the benefits of cultural burning”
Lynnea Hanna
Impacts of Sheep Grazing on Plant Community and Soil Microbiomes in Riparian and Adjacent Agroecosystems
“I am so excited to be a PEAS fellow because it has given me the opportunity to learn about so many different aspects of the research process, to follow my own curiosity, and to learn from local farmers and land managers - all with the support of a wonderful community!”
Contacts
Faculty Director and PI: Dr. Amelie Gaudin, https://gaudin.ucdavis.edu, agaudin@ucdavis.edu
Office 2136 PES | Lab 2133 PES
Administrative Director: Lolita Adkins, https://urc.ucdavis.edu/, lrnelson@ucdavis.edu
Undergraduate Research Center, 2300 Student Community Center
Donors
We are thankful to the Barbara Webster Foundation, the Maxwell Hanrahan Foundation, and the University of California Office of the President for supporting this program.