World Food Prize Foundation Selects 13 Students for Distinguished Borlaug-Ruan International Internship

Today, the World Food Prize Foundation announced it has selected 13 students for the Borlaug-Ruan International Internship, a unique experience preparing students for high impact careers in science, agriculture and global development.

These students hail from five U.S. states, India, Mexico and Sierra Leone. The 2026 Borlaug-Ruan intern cohort will explore issues related to global food security and sustainability during eight-week internships in Brazil, China, Costa Rica, India, Kenya, Mexico, Peru and Taiwan.

The prestigious Borlaug-Ruan International Internship provides students with hands-on professional experience working alongside scientists and policymakers at leading research and development organizations around the globe.

"My internship experience was life changing," said Isabell Olsasky, 2025 Borlaug-Ruan Intern at the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center in Mexico. "I learned how the scalability of research directly affects farmers and developed skills that will last me a lifetime. Experiencing agriculture in such a global context gave me perspectives I'll carry forever."

Established in 1998 by Norman Borlaug and John Ruan Sr., the internship program enables high school and early college students to engage in projects alongside experts at agricultural research institutions. Participants gain firsthand exposure to scientific research, development initiatives and policymaking related to global food security, contributing through lab work, fieldwork, data collection and policy analysis.

The Borlaug-Ruan International Internship differs from other study abroad and internship programs by offering students the opportunity to complete original research alongside World Food Prize Laureates and international researchers. Interns become integral members of their teams, spending significant time in laboratories, in the field and in local communities conducting research and gathering data to address challenges in food security, agriculture, nutrition and environmental stewardship.

"The Borlaug-Ruan International Internship exemplifies our commitment to cultivating the next generation of leaders in food security," said Mashal Husain, President, World Food Prize Foundation. "By immersing students in real-world research and connecting them with global experts, we are empowering them to carry forward Dr. Borlaug's legacy and develop solutions to the world's most pressing challenges."

Many of the Borlaug-Ruan Interns will return to Des Moines and attend the annual Global Youth Institute in October. During this week-long academic conference, students have the opportunity to engage with their peers from across the world while deepening their understanding of global food security, agriculture and sustainability. Additionally, student delegates will present their research to global leaders, participate in interactive workshops, attend the Norman E. Borlaug International Dialogue and more.

The 2026 Borlaug-Ruan International Internship cohort is:

Descil Bondi | Binkolo, Sierra Leone | International Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology (icipe), Mbita, Kenya

Kristin Davis | Warren Center, Pennsylvania | Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (Embrapa), Londrina, Brazil

Emily Eayre | Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania | World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), Tainan, Taiwan

Lily Ferguson | Boone, Iowa | S M Sehgal Foundation, Gurugram, India

Mateen Hasan | Wexford, Pennsylvania | International Centre of Insect Physiology & Ecology (icipe), Mbita, Kenya

Dev Karan | Noida, India | International Potato Center (CIP), Nairobi, Kenya

Keona Laurence | Plymouth, Minnesota | China National Hybrid Rice Research & Development Center (CNHRRDC), Changsha, China

Anna Lu | Johnston, Iowa | International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Hyderabad, India

Adalyn McKeag | Ames, Iowa | S M Sehgal Foundation, Gurugram, India

Payton Moore | Waukee, Iowa | International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Nairobi, Kenya

Andrea Payán | Mexico City, Mexico | EARTH University, Guácimo, Costa Rica

Moitri Santra | Oviedo, Florida | World Vegetable Center (WorldVeg), Tainan, Taiwan

Michael Schruckmayr | Arden, North Carolina | International Potato Center (CIP), Lima, Peru