The Reducetarian Fellowship

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 will 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

Stipend

Each Fellow will be offered a stipend. Receipt of the stipend is contingent upon full and meaningful participation in all components of the Fellowship program.

Professional development

Each Fellow will also be offered additional funding for professional development resources or experiences. This may include—but is not limited to—books, conference fees or travel, an online course, or time with an external advisor or coach.

Cohort and Alumni Network

We anticipate that each cohort will be a tight-knit group of diverse students. In addition to supporting and learning from one another during their Fellowship year, they will be encouraged to stay connected through the Fellowship’s Alumni Network. Benefits for alumni will 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.

SCHEDULE

February–April

Applications open on February 1 and close on April 15 each year.

September–May

Fellows will attend an orientation in early September. In October they will attend the annual Reducetarian Summit, where they will be invited to participate in the full range of enriching conference activities and networking opportunities.

During the fall and spring semesters, Fellows will 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 will continue their training through an immersive 10-week residency at a partner organization. Throughout the residency, Fellows will continue to share ideas and encouragement with their cohort through twice-monthly group calls. They’ll also receive ongoing support and guidance through twice-monthly calls with the Fellowship Coordinator.

The year will conclude with a ceremony celebrating the Fellows’ hard work and accomplishments. Each Fellow will give 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.

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 physically attend weekly 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 are looking 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 April 15. 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 15.

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)

Applications are now closed for the 2024-2025 cohort. Please check back next year!

GET IN TOUCH

If you are unsure whether the Fellowship would be a good match for your career goals, we strongly encourage you to reach out to our Fellowship Coordinator June Ok by email at june@reducetarian.org. June will be more than happy to answer questions, share further details, and help you decide whether to submit an application. (Conversations of this nature will not affect your chances of acceptance to the program in either direction.)

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 the Fellowship Director, Sofia Davis-Fogel at sofia@reducetarian.org.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS