Dr. Adina Howe lab

The project the RET participant worked on aims to use genomic data from soil samples obtained from bioenergy cropping systems to formulate conditions targeting bacteria that are thought to have a critical role in regulating the nitrogen cycle. As a part of our team, they gained a wide range of experiences from isolating microbial organisms from soil to computational techniques to guide laboratory discovery. They learned about the principles of microbiology, including bacterial physiology, ecology, and fungal biology, and foundational skills in computational biology. They got hands on experience of how biology, engineering, and data science merge to enhance discovery of the biological world around us. Most importantly, they contributed to building a road to a sustainable future.

Dr. Amy Kaleita lab

The RET participant conducted research to explore how  computer simulation models can be used to estimate if and how much perennial groundcover in between corn rows could reduce runoff and soil erosion from farm fields?

Dr. Raj Raman lab

Our lab looks at making reliable pictures of the perennial cover. The REUs a "light box" to help block the sun and take reliable picture. The tested the new light box on many different plants under various conditions, and then used a computer to analyze the images. They looked to see if the computer could tell where there is groundcover and where there is bare soil. They also looked to see if the computer could detect how green or brown the groundcover is.

Dr. Michelle Soupir lab

The main project was looking at the impact of combined field management/ conservation practices on crop yield, water quality, and soil health in a corn-soybean rotation. The specific question the RET participant address with this portion of the project was if there are measurable differences in the soybean and cover crop growth with poultry manure vs chemical fertilizer treatment. Our 27 quarter-acre research plots receive one of 9 treatment combinations. Treatments included a combination of chemical (urea ammonium nitrate) or poultry manure fertilization, with either cover crops or no cover crops. All plots were managed with strip till. They collected plant samples (above and below ground biomass and soybean root nodules) and other field data to evaluate plant growth at various stages.

Dr. Eric Underbakke lab

The RET participant aimed to understand the molecular-scale communications between proteins involved in tuning brain neuron connections.

Dr. OLGA ZABOTINA lab

The RET partcipant researched cotton fiber quality and growth. They used glycome profiling of cotton cell walls. The participant was involved in cotton fibers dissection, fractionation and compositional analyses.

Dr. Young-Jin Lee lab

The RET Participant participated in Mass Spectrometry imaging of isotope-labeled plant metabolites.

Dr. Ratul Chowdhury Lab

The RET participant worked on developing a predictive model using sequence and structural features of enzymes to estimate their catalytic efficiency (e.g., kcat & kM values). By leveraging curated datasets from BRENDA, UniProt, and PDB, the model could integrate amino acid composition, 3D structures, and substrate properties. Deep learning architectures like graph neural networks were employed to capture complex patterns. The project aimed to accelerate enzyme engineering by prioritizing candidates for experimental validation, ultimately aiding in synthetic biology, biocatalysis, and metabolic pathway optimization.

Dr. Eric Cochran Lab

The teacher/undergraduate pair was charged with the investigation of a potential hard segment, e.g., L-lactic acid or acrylated isosorbide. The teacher learned new synthetic chemistry skills, and achieved an appreciation of the challenges and dedication required to successfully master a polymer synthesis. The teacher learned about thermal and rheological analyses used to characterize the properties (glass transition and crystallization) of a “hard segment”. In the final weeks of the internship the pair designed the chemical steps needed to integrate the hard segment polymer into poly(soybean oil) chain architecture to yield a thermoplastic elastomer.

Dr. Surya Mallapragada Lab

The REU participant worked closely with a research scientist in the Mallapragada laboratory on miRNA-based combination therapies for pancreatic cancer. The work involved synthesis and formulation of combination therapies involving microRNA and chemotherapeutic agents for targeted delivery to pancreatic cancer cells and tissues.  

Dr. Zengyi Shao Lab

The RET participant used genetic engineering to modify microbes (yeasts) to produce high-value compounds such as polymer precursors and nutraceuticals.

Dr. Kaoru Ikuma Lab

This project the RET participant worked on studies the encapsulation of complex microbial communities in a hydrogel matrix (possibly using a 3D-bioprinter) to aid in wastewater treatment. The goal is to ensure that the microorganisms are not only viable but show relevant physiological functions (such as biodegradation of organic carbon and ammonia oxidation) for 10+ days after encapsulation.

Dr. Matthew Hufford Lab

How do plants growing next to each other compete for resources in the soil? The RET participant measured soil and plant root properties in corn planted between rows of perennial grasses. We want to see how perennial grasses are affecting soil resources (nutrients & water) and distribution of roots.

Dr. Jeanne Serb Lab

It is assumed that eyes and associated neural tissue take a lot of energy to use and maintain. That means in environments without a lot of light or food would have organisms with reduced eyes. We want to understand what types of visual and ecological changes that drive eye regression.

Dr. Amy Toth Lab

This project focuses on the epigenetic effects of maternal behavior on developing offspring. To do this we will be behaviorally manipulating wasp nests, and quantifying gene expression of adult wasps that experienced our treatment as developing larvae. The RET will assist us in setting up the experiement, which will be conducted both in the lab and in the field. He will also help collect behavioral data of wasps interacting with larvae on the nest. If we collect samples for gene expression analysis before the end of the teachers time, we may also have him/her assist in qRT-PCR.

Dr. Nicole Valenzuela Lab

The RET participant participated in a research project of a PhD student of Prof. Valenzuela, investigating the effect of floating vegetation on turtle habitat preferences, to test whether turtle behavior might offset the negative effects of excessive floating vegetation by actively avoiding the area covered in floating vegetation. This study will provide new insights into how turtles interact with macrophyte cover related to light availability and will help us better understand the impact of habitat changes on turtle populations.

Dr. Michelle Guo Lab

Our lab research is to try to understand how plants grow while responding to environmental conditions, such as warm temperature and salt stress conditions, using molecular biology, genetics and functional genomics. 

Dr. Dior Kelley Lab

Our lab studies hormone regulated plant growth and development, genetics and genomics.  

Dr. Yanhai Yin Lab

Our lab tries to understand how plants grow under drought and salt stress conditions.

Dr. Shuizhang Fei Lab

The REU participant focused on research to identify and develop perennial groundcovers for maize production in the field in the Sorenson Farm west of Ames, IA.  The goal was to identify the best perennial groundcover species/cultivar that will result in minimal or no grain yield reduction while providing ecological services.  They also investigated soil moisture and nutrient status in conventional maize production and PGC-based maize production systems. 

Dr. Mark Wright Lab

The RET participant's project consisted of gaining experience in a thermochemical laboratory. The project focused on converting lignocellulosic biomass into fuels and chemicals via a process called fast pyrolysis. The operated a lab-scale pyrolysis reactor to convert biomass, such as red oak, into a liquid (bio-oil), solid (biochar), and gas product. These products were analyzed in our lab to understand their chemical and elemental composition. The mentee gained an understanding of the process and broader significance of pyrolysis. Along with this understanding, the mentee got hands on experience with the operation of lab-scale reactors and analytical equipment.

Dr. Amber Crowley-Gall Lab

The RET experience involved participation in projects examining the effect of microbes on bee behavior and health assisting in maintenance of laboratory bumblebee colonies, and general microbial techniques (maintenance of microbial isolates and creation of microbial suspensions).

Dr. Larry Halverson Lab

The RET participant looked understand how bacteria interact with other members of a community. They used model bacterial communities to understand these interactions and how those interactions benefit plant health. They also explored how bacterial can be used to decrease nitrogen fertilizer use.