RICE IS A STAPLE FOOD CROP THAT FEEDS MORE THAN HALF THE WORLD. IT IS ALSO A MODEL SPECIES FOR CEREALS. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT MOLECULAR AND GENETIC RESOURCES FOR RICE WHICH ENABLE A MULTITUDE OF STUDIES. AS RESOURCES BECOME MORE LIMITED, US FOOD SECURITY AND SAFETY RELY INCREASINGLY ON ROBUST, SCIENCE-BASED APPROACHES THAT INCREASE AGRICULTURAL AND NATURAL RESOURCE SUSTAINABILITY; THESE CHALLENGES WILL REQUIRE LOCAL AND GLOBAL SOLUTIONS AND PARTNERSHIPS. THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON RICE FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS (ISRFG) IS THE ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR SCIENTISTS WORKING ON RICE FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS. THE ISRFG CONVENES PARTICIPANTS WITH A STRONG COMMITMENT TO RESEARCH AND APPLICATION IN RICE FUNCTIONAL GENOMICS INCLUDING CUTTING-EDGE APPROACHES FOR RICE CROP IMPROVEMENT.THE GOAL OF THIS PROPOSAL IS TO OBTAIN FUNDING SUPPORT PRIMARILY FOR EARLY CAREER US SCIENTISTS- STUDENTS, POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARS, AND PRE-TENURE INVESTIGATORS- TO PARTICIPATE IN THE 20TH ISRFG. THE REQUESTED SUPPORT WILL PROMOTE ADVANCES IN RICE RESEARCH MADE IN THE US RESEARCH COMMUNITY, PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR US SCIENTISTS TO LEARN ABOUT THE LATEST DEVELOPMENTS IN STRUCTURAL, FUNCTIONAL AND EVOLUTIONARY GENOMICS AND GENETICS RESEARCH, AND FACILITATE INTERNATIONAL COLLABORATIONS IN RICE RESEARCH,