The CALS Global Fellows Program supports CALS undergraduate students from any major in pursuit of challenging, professionally-focused summer internships and research placements that enhance and complement their career goals and academic progress, while enriching their undergraduate experience with diverse cultural and international immersion. Through key partnerships, the Global Fellows Program provides a platform for students to make positive and definable contributions to global organizations and communities.

Acceptance to the program is competitive and a limited number of students are selected each year. 

Students who are accepted into the CALS Global Fellows Program will be required to complete 3 parts to the program:

• 3 in-person Spring 2024 pre-engagement workshops focusing on health and safety, cultural awareness and logistics; 
• a continuous 7–8-week internship or research placement in an international setting,
• and a 1-credit post-engagement course in the first 7 weeks of the Fall 2024 semester (ALS/GDEV 3105).

Information Session:

• CALS Engaged Symposium on Thursday, October 19 from 4-5:30pm.  Location: Mann B75There will be a FALL 2023

Placement Opportunities

Placements: 3-4 (in-person)

With the foundation MATE (Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences), one of the largest agricultural-focused, multi- disciplinary higher education institutions in Europe was established on 1 February 2021, with nearly 15.000 students and 15% international student body.

The backbone of the new university infrastructure is provided by our prominent campuses where our professional teaching staff and a unique green environment make the students feel welcome.

Budapest (commonly cited as one of the most beautiful cities of Europe), Gödöllő, Gyöngyös, Kaposvár and Keszthely Campuses offer constantly renewed degree and training programs and make significant investments in order to strengthen their ties to international higher education.

Suggested majors and/or professional interests: Environment and Sustainability, Animal Science, Agricultural Sciences, Plant Sciences, and Biological Sciences

• Zoology in a Changing World (2 placements): The focus, Insights to Zoology in a Changing World, is offered in the Zoology and Animal Ecology department at Szent István University. The department’s professional interest covers a broad range within the world of animals from terrestrial worms through various arthropod groups (mainly decomposers and pollinators) to spectacular bird species. Students will be provided consultative and orientative support, guidance through laboratory and field work sessions.
  • Preferred Qualifications: Students are offered several options to participate in field and laboratory activities, including scientific and public events. Candidates with experience and interest in fieldwork are preferred. The ideal candidate has preliminary education in supraindividual biology (ecology) and/or conservation biology/environmental biology.
• Conservation in Practice: Fish germ cell, cryopreservation and transplantation (1 placement): Students will be involved in experiments on the cryopreservation of fish sperm and gonadal tissue, transplantation of germ cells into suitable recipients, culture of germ cells. They will be trained in the microinjection of cells, cryopreservation techniques, fish handing and manipulation, induced spawning, basic histology techniques and cell culture. Students are expected to help in the maintenance and feeding of the common carp and zebrafish broodstocks and generally show interest in the work.
  • Preferred qualifications: Students must have an interest in biology, life sciences, and aquaculture. Desired qualifications: Student must be able to work both independently and in a team, able to persevere and complete tasks.

We encourage you to apply to your first-choice program only. There is a space within the application to indicate if you have a second choice. If you are interested in two opportunities that are very different from one another and would prefer to write two statements of purpose, you may upload both to the same application in ONE document. Make sure they are clearly titled with the correct placement opportunity IF you are writing two statements. For reference, click here to review examples of statements from past participants.   

You may preview the application without starting an application by clicking on the “preview application” button next to the apply button. All applications contain the same questions and all information related to the program can be found within the experience page. There is no additional information within the application.