Chemurgy 2.0 is transforming Iowa into a leader in biomanufacturing, focusing on “meeting human needs with things that grow.” Supported by NSF EPSCoR, the project strengthens research, infrastructure, and workforce development in bioscience and manufacturing. Chemurgy 2.0’s technical focus areas are:
Plastics for Additive Manufacturing (PAM)
Fibers for Flexible and Rigid Materials (FRR)
Proteins for Diagnostics and Therapeutics (PDT)
The Education & Workforce Development (EWD) Seed Program funds innovative outreach and education projects to build a diverse, skilled biomanufacturing workforce, especially in rural communities. The next proposal window opens July 1, 2025.
2025 Priority Areas
1. Growing Future Biomanufacturing Professionals
This priority funds projects that shape Iowa’s future biomanufacturing workforce. Projects should engage:
High school, community college, and undergraduate students
Science educators, career counselors, admissions staff, and industry professionals who influence student career paths
Examples:
Afterschool or summer research programs focused on biomanufacturing
Work-based learning pilots or exploratory courses
Field trips to the university or industry labs
Webinars or mentoring workshops for educators and industry professionals
All projects must connect to at least one Chemurgy 2.0 technical focus area and show how they will increase interest or persistence in biomanufacturing careers.
2. Sharing Authentic Iowa Biomanufacturing Stories
This priority supports projects that collect and share real stories from Iowa’s biomanufacturing community. The goal is to build a shared understanding of biomanufacturing’s impact and inspire future professionals.
Target audiences:
Iowa high school students
K12 educators and families
Recruiters from community colleges, universities, and industry
Examples:
Podcasts, videos, or articles highlighting diverse biomanufacturing careers
Lesson plans or best practices documents
Workshops, interviews, or company tours to gather stories
Projects must outline how stories will be collected, created, and shared, and must connect to at least one Chemurgy 2.0 focus area.
Funding Levels:
Mini-grants: up to $5,000
Impact Projects: up to $15,000 (with at least two partner organizations)
Total anticipated funding: up to $100,000 across 6–10 projects.
Key Dates:
Call for Proposals: July 1, 2025
Proposals Due: August 4, 2025
Awards Announced: by late September 2025
For more information or to discuss your project idea, contact Marcy Seavey, marcene.seavey@uni.edu.
View the full solicitation here.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No.2242763