This predoctoral fellowship proposal addresses the food safety, nutrition, and health priority area and novel foods and innovative manufacturing technologies

The Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture awarded Cornell University $180,000 on May 1, 2026, under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) program (CFDA 10.310) to support a predoctoral fellowship developing a novel fermentation process that converts dairy effluents into vinegar products, addressing food loss and waste reduction in the dairy industry.

The fellow will develop technical expertise in experimental design and fermentation biology while receiving structured mentoring and completing a detailed professional development plan focused on advancement as a scholar, science communicator, teacher, mentor, and leader. The work directly supports AFRI's priority area of Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health and the program's emphasis on novel foods and innovative manufacturing technologies. The fellowship is designed to cultivate research leaders capable of addressing emerging challenges in agriculture while advancing sustainable food technologies.

Performance runs from May 1, 2026, through April 30, 2029, at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. Cornell's Office of Sponsored Programs administers the award. The assistance type is a Project Grant.

Food loss and waste pose major challenges. This proposal directly supports afri's goals of reducing food loss and waste by developing a novel fermentation process to convert dairy effluents (e.g. wastewater from milk production) into vinegar products. The proposed technology could provide a route for transforming dairy effluents, which are challenging to manage and place economic and environmental burdens on dairy producers. The predoctoral fellow will develop technical expertise in experimental design and fermentation biology. He will also receive mentoring and complete a detailed professional development plan to refine his skills as a scholar, science communicator, teacher, mentor, and leader. Funding this proposal will support the development of novel, sustainable food technologies while advancing the EWD goal of cultivating research leaders who can address emerging challenges in agriculture.