Faculty Partners
Chemurgy
LAURA JARBOE, DIRECTOR
Research Overview
Chemurgy 2.0 is an NSF EPSCoR-supported, multi-institutional research initiative led by Iowa State University that modernizes the historic concept of chemurgy—applying agricultural materials to industrial needs—by building advanced biomanufacturing capacity across Iowa.
The project aims to position the state as a leader in sustainable biomanufacturing by integrating bioscience and advanced manufacturing research, infrastructure, and workforce development.
Website
Email Contact
Laura Jarboe – Program Director
ljarboe@iastate.edu
Irina Bassis – Program Administrator ibasis@iastate.edu
REGENPGC
RAJ RAMAN, DIRECTOR
Research Overview
The REGEN PGC program (Regenerating America’s Working Landscapes to Enhance Natural Resources and Public Goods through Perennial Groundcover) is a transdisciplinary research initiative led by Iowa State University aimed at transforming conventional row-crop agriculture by integrating perennial groundcover (PGC) systems into fields where annual crops such as corn and soybean are grown.
It is supported by a multi-year, ~$10 million USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Sustainable Agricultural Systems grant.
Website
Email Contact
Raj Raman – Project Director
rajraman@iastate.edu
Anne Kinzel – Deputy Director
akinzel@iastate.edu
Ratul Chowdhury
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Research Overview
Designs novel proteins using structure-aware AI and optimization models, with applications in energy, environmental systems, therapeutics, and critical ionic separations.
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Amber Crowley-Gall
DEPARTMENT OF PLANT PATHOLOGY, ENTOMOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY
Research Overview
Investigates chemical cues in plant-insect interactions, including the role of microbes and their volatile compounds, using behavioral, chemical, and electrophysiological techniques.
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Eric Cochran
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING
Research Overview
Studies polymers such as plastics, resins, and coatings, with a focus on how they are made, what they are made from, and how they can be redesigned to reduce waste and improve sustainability across their life cycle.
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Shui-zhang Fei
DEPARTMENT OF HORTCULTURE
Research Overview
Uses genetics and molecular tools to study agronomic traits such as abiotic stress tolerance in economically important grasses, including ryegrass, bentgrass, switchgrass, and Brachypodium.
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Michelle Guo
DEPARTMENT OF GENETICS, DEVELOPMENT, AND CELL BIOLOGY
Research Overview
Focuses on FERONIA-mediated signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana, examining receptor kinases involved in plant growth, reproduction, and responses to abiotic and biotic stress.
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Larry Halverson
DEPARTMENT OF PLANT PATHOLOGY, ENTOMOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY
Research Overview
Explores how bacteria live and interact within communities, with implications for plant growth, soil health, and reduced nitrogen fertilizer use.
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Matthew Hufford
Department of Ecology, Evolution & organismal biology
Research Overview
Studies maize landraces, gene flow across Zea taxa, and comparative genomics of maize, teosinte, and related grass species to understand evolution and local adaptation.
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KAORU IKUMA
CIVIL, CONSTRUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING
Research Overview
Examines interactions between environmental pollutants and microbial biofilms in aquatic systems, with a focus on environmental justice, ecosystem health, and biological treatment processes.
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Amy Kaleita
AGRICULTURE & BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
Research Overview
Develops information technology for precision conservation, including remote sensing, hydrologic modeling, precision farming, and advanced analytical methods.
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Young-Jin Lee
Chemistry
Research Overview
Develops mass spectrometry techniques for high-resolution imaging at the single-cell level and for analyzing complex bio-oils produced through thermochemical conversion.
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Thomas Lübberstedt
Department of Agronomy
Research Overview
Identifies superior groundcover and corn germplasm to improve perennial groundcover cropping systems by increasing yield, reducing chemical inputs, and enhancing ecosystem benefits.
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Surya Mallapragada
Vice President for research
Research Overview
Designs polymeric biomaterials and bioinspired materials, including systems for genetic material delivery, vaccine delivery, nanocomposites, and neurodegeneration research.
Email Contact
Marshall McDaniel
Department of Agronomy
Research Overview
Studies soil-plant relationships and how management practices such as cover cropping and reduced tillage influence soil health, nutrient cycling, and sustainability.
Website
Email Contact
Ken Moore
Department of Agronomy
Research Overview
Focuses on perennial biomass crops, biomass cropping systems, and plant cell wall structure to improve bioavailability for bioenergy applications.
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Raj Raman
Department of agricultural and biosystems engineering
Research Overview
Develops crop production systems that conserve soil, improve water quality, and increase producer income through integration of perennial groundcovers with row crops.
Email Contact
Richard Roth
Department of agronomy
Research Overview
Engineers nitrogen and sulfur management strategies to improve agronomic efficiency and environmental sustainability in Midwest cropping systems.
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Michelle Soupir
Agriculture & Biosystems Engineering
Research Overview
Studies watershed health and water quality, including nutrient movement and nitrate removal using woodchip bioreactors and field-based monitoring approaches.
Website
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Jeanne Serb
Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology
Research Overview
Examines how biological diversity originates and is maintained, with a focus on the evolution of eyes and the genetic mechanisms underlying complex phenotypes.
Website
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Amy toth
Department of Ecology, Evolution & organismal biology
Research Overview
Investigates the evolution and mechanisms of insect sociality using paper wasps and honey bees, with research in genomics, epigenetics, nutrition, and disease.
Website
Email Contact
Nicole Valenzuela
Department of Ecology, Evolution & organismal biology
Research Overview
Studies how ecology influences genome structure and evolution, particularly sexual phenotypes, using turtles as a vertebrate model system.
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Mark Mba-Wright
Mechanical engineering
Research Overview
Conducts techno-economic and lifecycle assessments of energy systems, including bio-manufactured fuels, sustainable fibers, and renewable electrochemical systems.
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Olga Zabotina
Department of Biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology
Research Overview
Investigates molecular mechanisms of polysaccharide biosynthesis in the Golgi using genetics, structural biology, and biochemistry across diverse cell types.
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Mentor Impacts
These mentor reflections highlight the shared learning, fresh perspectives, and meaningful connections that shaped this summer’s RET/REU experience.
They capture how mentoring strengthens research teams while deepening understanding of teaching, communication, and the impact of real-world science.
“This summer reminded me that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to mentoring. Every RET or REU comes in with a different background, and adapting to their strengths helped me grow just as much as they did.”
“Working with a teacher completely shifted how I think about science communication. Breaking complex ideas into simple, relatable steps wasn’t just useful—it made our research feel more meaningful.”
“Seeing our mentee’s confidence grow was incredible. By the end of the program, they were explaining our research more clearly than I could in some moments—and that’s when I knew the experience had worked.”
“This program gave me a much deeper appreciation for what K–12 teachers navigate every day. Their curiosity, flexibility, and ability to connect ideas across levels pushed me to rethink how I teach and mentor.”
“Having an RET/REU in the lab brought fresh energy and perspective. It added some workload at first, but ultimately strengthened collaboration, improved communication, and reminded me why mentorship matters.”