2026 CIDA Research Innovation Fund (RIF) Student Summer Awards
Cornell's CIDA RIF Student Summer Awards fund student-led digital agriculture research projects that advance sustainability and innovation through interdisciplinary scientific approaches.
Funder: Cornell University
Due Dates (Anticipated): March 2027 (Application deadline for graduate and undergraduate summer research project awards)
Funding Amounts: Graduate: up to $11,500 (full summer) or $5,750 (half summer); Undergraduate: up to $8,500 (full summer) or $4,250 (half summer) per award
Summary: Supports Cornell students in conducting summer research projects in digital agriculture to advance sustainability and innovation in food systems.
Key Information: Requires two faculty mentors from different CIDA supporting colleges; for currently enrolled Cornell students only.
Description
The CIDA Research Innovation Fund (RIF) Student Summer Awards are designed to foster student-led research in digital agriculture at Cornell University. The program supports both undergraduate and graduate students in developing and executing summer research projects that address real-world challenges in agriculture and food systems using digital tools and interdisciplinary approaches. Projects should advance sustainability, productivity, and environmental protection by integrating discoveries across life sciences, engineering, computing, and social sciences. Awardees are expected to engage with the Cornell Institute for Digital Agriculture (CIDA) community, contribute to seminars and workshops, and share findings with broader audiences.
