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FEATURES | SCHEDULE | ELIGIBILITY | FAQ | APPLY
FEATURES
Program
The Reducetarian Fellowship is a unique opportunity for students to begin building the knowledge and skills needed to make a tangible impact on our global food system. Through the program, Fellows get:
Direct access to movement leaders working on cutting-edge ideas and initiatives
Exposure to a wide range of approaches to improving the food system and guidance in critically examining different strategies
Workshops and trainings in networking, writing, public speaking, entrepreneurship, and other skills
Individualized support and guidance through one-on-one mentorship
The chance to gain further exposure and training through a 10-week summer residency at an impactful partner organization
Funding
Each Fellow is offered a $5,750 stipend, contingent upon internship placement at a partner organization.
“Through the fellowship I’ve gained the confidence to bring the topics of animal welfare and industrial animal agriculture into conversations about the environment.”
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SCHEDULE
February–March
Applications open on February 1 and close on March 31 each year.
September–May
Fellows attend an orientation in early September. In October they attend the annual Reducetarian Summit, where they are invited to participate in the full range of enriching conference activities and networking opportunities.
During the fall and spring semesters, Fellows participate in thought-provoking seminars, practical workshops, and eye-opening site visits, and receive individualized guidance and support through one-on-one mentorship with the Fellowship Coordinator.
June–August
During the summer, Fellows continue their training through an immersive 10-week residency at a partner organization. Throughout the residency, Fellows continue to share ideas and encouragement with their cohort through twice-monthly group calls. They also receive ongoing support and guidance through twice-monthly calls with the Fellowship Coordinator.
The year concludes with a ceremony celebrating the Fellows’ hard work and accomplishments. Each Fellow gives a short presentation about their experience to Fellowship staff, residency supervisors, and the incoming cohort, as well as any friends or family they wish to include.
ALUMNI BENEFITS
Fellowship Network
Each cohort is a tight-knit group of diverse students. In addition to supporting and learning from one another during their Fellowship year, they are encouraged to stay connected through the Fellowship’s Alumni Network. Benefits for alumni include:
Ongoing access to and support from Fellowship staff
Opportunity to give back by serving as a mentor to future Fellows
Free or reduced-cost tickets to the annual Reducetarian Summit
Invitations to the annual Reducetarian Fellowship alumni networking event
Access to updates and information about relevant job openings, local events, etc.
“It was a really great experience learning from everybody. This fellowship has made me a more competent human, and talking with everybody helped me expand my own worldview.”
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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
All applicants must:
Have a social security number
Be an undergraduate or master’s student at the time of application
Be able to attend weekly in-person meetings in Washington DC
The Reducetarian Fellowship is a hands-on clinical training experience designed to provide students with job readiness training similar to what would be given in an educational environment. As such, we do not require prior experience with or specific knowledge about topics relevant to the program.
SELECTION CRITERIA
We look for students who are self-motivated and eager to make an impact using the skills and experience they would gain from this program. Qualities sought include (but are not limited to):
Robust interest in creating a more sustainable, healthy, and humane food system
Interest in the Reducetarian philosophy and/or effective altruism
Ability to receive constructive feedback and implement changes in response
Growth mindset (the belief that new skills can be developed through hard work, good strategies, and high-quality input from others)
Ambition, openness, humility, and integrity
APPLICATION PROCESS
Applications open February 1 and close March 31. Once the application review begins, students are notified of their status after each stage of the process. Final selections are made on or before June 7th.
The application stages are as follows:
Stage 1: Short application form
Stage 2: Brief essay or video, or other small creative project (applicant’s choice)
Stage 3: Initial interview (with Fellowship Coordinator)
Stage 4: Final interview (with Fellowship Coordinator and Fellowship Director)
SPEAK WITH US
If you are unsure whether the Fellowship would be a good match for your career goals, we encourage you to register for an information session.
We are committed to ensuring that our application process is as accessible as possible. If you believe you may require accommodations of any kind in order to apply for the Fellowship, please reach out to Sofia at sofia@reducetarian.org.
“Something that the Reducetarian Fellowship really does is push people. The Fellowship really opened my eyes to what factory farming does to communities, more specifically communities of color.”
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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Academic year programming (seminars and workshops) are held in person. One-on-one mentorship meetings can be virtual or in person according to the preferences of the Fellow.
Summer internships at partner organizations are virtual unless:
(1) The organization has an office in the DC area, and both they and the Fellow are happy for the Fellow to complete their internship at that office
(2) The organization has an office elsewhere in the U.S., and both they are the Fellow are happy for the Fellow to travel to that location and complete their internship at that office
Hybrid internships may also be also an option.
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During the academic year, we expect Fellows to spend an average of about 8 hours per week on Fellowship meetings and assignments, with time off for winter break. The summer internship requires a commitment of 32 hours per week for 10 weeks.
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Yes, students currently in an undergraduate or a master’s program at the time of application are eligible to apply to the Fellowship.
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The Fellowship Coordinator will use their understanding of each Fellow’s and each Partner Organization’s needs and interests to produce a list of suggestions. Fellows will interview at the recommended organizations.
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Certainly! You are welcome to apply again the following year, so long as you’ll still meet the eligibility requirements at that time. Repeat applicants will not be evaluated any differently from first-time applicants.
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Acceptances are only made for the current Fellowship year. If you are unable to participate in the year you have been accepted for, you are welcome to apply again the following year (so long as you’ll still meet the eligibility requirements at that time). Repeat applicants will not be evaluated any differently from first-time applicants.
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The Fellowship is designed to prepare Fellows for success in a career aimed at transforming the food system. The program is for training purposes only, however; participation in the Fellowship does not constitute an offer or guarantee of employment.
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The Fellowship is designed to equip students to pursue a career focused on combating industrial animal agriculture. This might mean starting a new non-profit or company, working at an existing organization, pursuing an advanced degree in a relevant field, or a number of other paths. Fellowship staff are committed to supporting Fellows as they progress through their careers.