* All interested applicants must submit their materials by 5pm EST May 4th, 2025. * 

 

About The Organic Center

The Organic Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, established in 2002 and currently housed under the administrative auspices of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) in Washington, D.C. The Center’s mission is to convene and conduct credible, evidence-based science on the health and environmental impacts of organic food and farming, and to communicate peer-reviewed research to the public. Our activities advance the organic industry by building community, filling knowledge gaps, and communicating the benefits of organic to consumers. We work closely with OTA staff to accomplish multidisciplinary goals and are directed by OTA’s Executive Director/CEO and an independent board of trustees.

 

The Organic Center Science Program Fellowships (2025) 

The Organic Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, established in 2002 and currently housed under the administrative auspices of the Organic Trade Association (OTA) in Washington, D.C., and works closely with OTA staff to accomplish multidisciplinary goals. The Center’s mission is to convene and conduct credible evidence-based science on the health and environmental impacts of organic food and farming, and to communicate peer-reviewed research results to the public. Our activities advance the organic industry by building community, filling knowledge gaps, and communicating the benefits of organic to consumers.  

The Organic Center (TOC)’s 2025 Science Program Fellowship is offered in partnership with the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) and is an exciting opportunity for students and recent graduates to engage in meaningful work that increases awareness and education about organic food production. The program gives fellows agency in highlighting the environmental and human health benefits of organic practices, supported by scientific research, while fostering collaboration within the broader food system community. 

This initiative is particularly focused on empowering urban and faith-based communities in Kentucky, targeting locations with existing organic community gardens or plans to establish them. By equipping community members with knowledge about the production of organic food and its benefits, the program seeks to: 

• Empower individuals to make informed decisions about the food they grow and consume. 

• Increase access to resources that can inform the development of accessible, organic gardens and programming for community engagement and education. 

• Increase the demand for organic food and drive the adoption of organic practices in community gardens. 

• Engage youth and young professionals through dynamic outreach activities that promote organic agriculture and its benefits. 

• Build a sense of community through the sharing and collating of stories about meaningful foods and recipes.  

 

Program Overview 

This program provides fellowship appointments for up to three months, with each fellow contributing up to 215 total hours of work. Fellows will be co-mentored by The Organic Center Scientists, Dr. Amber Sciligo, Senior Director, and Dr. Elias Miller, Manager of Science Programs, as well as NRCS staff. Participants will gain hands-on experience in research, community engagement, and program development while collaborating with researchers, government agencies, nonprofits, and agricultural stakeholders. This position will be offered as a 3-month appointment from early June 2025, to late August 2025. 

 

Qualifications and Requirements*

• Completion of at least 2 years of college or university education 

• Current enrollment at a college or university or within 1 year of graduation 

• Proven research skills and experience conducting literature reviews 

• Proficiency in database management/data entry in Microsoft Excel 

• Excellent communication skills, both oral and written 

• Knowledge of Microsoft Office suite 

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills 

• Customer service orientation and experience 

• Knowledge of food and agriculture science and/or policy issues 

• Demonstrated experience leading and managing projects and programs 

*  Please note: Each position below has an additional, specialized requirement 

 

Fellowship Opportunities: 

Three tailored fellowship roles are available: 

Nutrition and Recipes Specialist 

*Experience in discipline of oral history and/or anthropology required  

• Focus: Gather recipes from our participating communities that highlight the histories of community members. Science-backed benefits to health and environment will be included in each recipe. 

• Location: Louisville and Lexington, Kentucky 

• Key Duties: 

• Engage community members to gather recipes and share their stories. 

• Collect and add scientific evidence of the benefits of organic food to recipes. 

• Curate recipes into a cohesive collection that will be printed and shared back with the community and be made widely available to the public digitally. 

• Main Deliverable: 

• A recipe booklet that includes community recipes and the science backed benefits of organic ingredients. 

 

Organic Production Benefits Specialist 

*Experience with spatial data (e.g. ArcGIS, Python, R) and open-source web-mapping tools (e.g. Leaflet, Shiny, Markdown) considered a plus 

• Focus: Develop resources to support the adoption and success of community gardens in urban and faith-based settings.  

• Location: Fully remote 

• Key Duties: 

• Gather tools and materials on organic gardening, urban farming, production of value-added products, market access and education models, to teach children and adults about food systems and the benefits of organic.  

• Collate these materials into a comprehensive resource guide. 

• Research and document the well-being benefits of organic practices. 

• Contribute to a science-backed resource guide for community leaders and gardeners. 

• Main deliverable: 

• Database/map of national food systems organizations working in the organic sector. 

 

Outreach Marketing Content Development Specialist 

*Experience with social media content development, marketing and promotion required  

• Focus: Lead communication strategies to amplify organic education and outreach efforts.  

• Location: Fully remote 

• Key Duties: 

• Create content for social media, websites, and print materials. 

• Collaborate on a cohesive communication plan to enhance engagement. 

• Main deliverable: 

• Social media toolkit to share the science-backed benefits of organic for future TOC content. 

 

Target Audience and Impact 

The program is designed to support Kentucky’s urban and faith-based communities by increasing organic agriculture education and engagement. It aims to foster leadership and skill development while increasing awareness of organic practices among youth and professionals of all ages. 

 

Compensation 

The 3-month fellowship will pay a maximum of 215 hrs at a rate of $30/hr. As a fellowship position, benefits are not included for this tax-exempt opportunity. 

 

Benefits to Fellows 

• Hands-on experience in organic food systems, program development, and community engagement. 

• Exposure to a wide range of stakeholders in organic agriculture and research. 

• Opportunities to develop professional skills in scientific literature review, science communication, community outreach, and nonprofit management. 

Through this program, TOC and NRCS aim to create lasting change by empowering communities with the knowledge and tools needed to support sustainable, health-focused organic practices. 

 

How to Apply 

Please send your CV, a declaration of which position(s) to which you are applying, and cover letter explaining how you meet the positions(s) qualifications to Dr. Elias Miller; emiller@organic-center.org, and CC Dr. Amber Sciligo; asciligo@organic-center.org. 

 

* All interested applicants must submit their materials by 5pm EST May 4th, 2025. *