New American Floral Endowment scholarship supports global floriculture research

© Royal Heins, professor emeritus at Michigan State University.

A new named fund through the American Floral Endowment for Ph.D. students in floriculture, established in January 2026, supports semester-long international research experiences that help them grow both scientifically and professionally.

“I chose to work with AFE because it has a long-standing, trusted track record of supporting scholarships and research that advance the floriculture industry,” said Royal Heins, professor emeritus at Michigan State University and longtime industry researcher.

Created through a commitment from Heins, the Royal Heins International Floriculture Research Scholarship Fund will be awarded annually to a U.S. student enrolled in a Ph.D. program in floriculture or controlled environment research at a U.S. or Canadian institution. Engineering and AI application to floriculture/greenhouse/controlled environment production will also be considered.

Additionally, if the student is past the research phase of their graduate studies, a proposal will be considered where the student shows the professional growth expected during the international experience prior to their graduation.

The inaugural deadline is May 1. Beginning in 2027, the deadline will align with other AFE post-graduate opportunity deadlines of Feb. 1.

This scholarship complements the student’s dissertation work by providing access to research opportunities, facilities or expertise not available at their home university. Students must secure a host adviser at an institution outside the U.S. or Canada, reinforcing the fund’s emphasis on global scientific collaboration.

The annual scholarship awarded through this new fund ranges from $30,000 to $35,000 and is designed to remove financial barriers that often limit international research experiences. Rather than being awarded directly to a student, funds are distributed to the student’s university, with oversight from the major professor.

The scholarship covers replacement costs for the student’s graduate assistantship during the semester abroad, a housing allowance at the international location and travel expenses. This structure ensures continuity for both students and faculty while supporting meaningful off-campus research.

The scholarship reflects Heins’ long-standing belief in applied research, mentorship and learning through experience.

“My academic mentor, Dr. Harold F. Wilkins, believed deeply in the value of a global perspective. During the first week of my graduate studies in 1975, he departed on an around-the-world trip that included taking the Trans-Siberian Railway during the height of the Cold War. His example was eye-opening. He later invested in my professional growth by sending me to Europe to meet with international scientists — an experience that shaped my career,” Heins said.

Throughout his career in academia and industry, he emphasized pairing strong scientific foundations with real-world applications. Colleagues and industry leaders frequently note his influence on modern greenhouse production practices and on the many students he mentored.

“As a horticulture faculty member at Michigan State University, I strove to provide that same opportunity by sending my Ph.D. students to work in foreign laboratories for a semester. They invariably returned with a deeper appreciation of other cultures and new knowledge that enriched their research. Recognizing that not all faculty have the resources to fund these exchanges, I established this scholarship to help send American Ph.D. students abroad, ensuring they gain that vital cultural and scientific exposure,” Heins said.

After joining the faculty at Michigan State in 1978, Heins spent decades teaching crop production and greenhouse environmental physiology while mentoring undergraduate and graduate students. His research focused on annual flowering potted plants, herbaceous perennial flowering physiology, plant development temperature responses, and decision-support systems, such as graphical tracking, and helped establish practices now widely used in commercial greenhouse production.

Over his academic career, he 16 sixteen graduate students and authored or co-authored hundreds of scientific and industry articles.

One of those students was Erik Runkle, who followed in his footsteps and is now a professor at Michigan State.

With the support of Heins, “I spent one semester at the University of Reading in the U.K. during the first year of my Ph.D. program, and it was an exceptionally rewarding experience both personally and professionally. I gained valuable insight into how researchers in a different academic setting interact and design experiments while also immersing myself in U.K. culture,” Runkle said.

“The experience allowed me to build professional relationships, some of which continue to this day. It was also highly productive: I completed an experiment later published in a well-respected journal while advancing manuscripts from my M.S. research. I remain deeply grateful for this opportunity and strongly encourage students to apply.”

That same philosophy is embedded in the design of the Royal Heins International Floriculture Research Scholarship Fund. By supporting semester-long research experiences outside a student’s home institution, this opportunity encourages young scientists to gain new technical skills, work within different research cultures and view their work in a broader global context — experiences Heins has long viewed as essential to professional growth.

His career has centered on preparing people to think critically, adapt and lead. This scholarship extends that legacy, investing not only in individual students but in the future strength and relevance of floriculture research.

“AFE’s mission aligns closely with what I want this scholarship to accomplish: developing the next generation of scientific leaders. AFE brings the governance, credibility and industry connections needed to administer a scholarship thoughtfully and ensure the investment has lasting impact,” Heins said.

To learn more about this scholarship and apply, click here. You can also explore more than 30 additional AFE scholarship opportunities in addition to the research grant program.