June 2025 Newsletter

July 2, 2025

2025 Iowa NSF EPSCoR Symposium
Poster Registration

Poster registration for the Iowa NSF EPSCoR 2025 Chemurgy 2.0 Symposium is now open and must be completed by July 3, 2025. Only one poster and one registration form per strategic plan objective will be accepted.

Poster registration link

Poster presenters must register to participate.

The symposium will be held on July 24, 2025, at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI), Schindler Education Center, 2300 Indiana St., Cedar Falls, IA 50614.
Check-in is from 8:15 to 8:40 a.m.

If you haven’t registered for the symposium yet, here’s the link.

Seed Funding Opportunity - Round 2 Now Accepting Applications

The Iowa NSF EPSCoR Chemurgy 2.0 EWD Seed Program supports innovative education and workforce development projects that strengthen Iowa’s biomanufacturing talent pipeline. Round 2 proposals open on or before July 1, 2025, with up to $15,000 available per project in two priority areas:

Growing Future Biomanufacturing Professionals
Projects that engage high school through undergraduate students or those who influence student career choices.

Sharing Authentic Iowa Biomanufacturing Stories
Projects that collect and share real stories about biomanufacturing careers in Iowa. Eligible Iowa schools, nonprofits, and government organizations are encouraged to apply.

Proposals are due by August 4, 2025.
View the full solicitation here.
For details or to discuss project ideas, contact Marcy Seavey at marcene.seavey@uni.edu

News

Summer 2025 Mentored Research Projects

We are thrilled to announce the Summer 2025 EPSCoR Undergraduate Research Projects! The initiative offers students at Primarily Undergraduate Institutions (PUIs) the chance to engage in cutting-edge bioscience and advanced manufacturing research.

This year's program features four exciting projects:

Molecular Simulations of Protein Interactions

Location: Dordt University, Sioux Center, IA
Mentor: Dr. Manuela Ayee-Leong
Focus: Computational modeling of proteins for diagnostics and therapeutics

Analyzing Polymerization Kinetics in Nucleoprotein Macromolecules

Location: University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
Mentor: Dr. Ali Tabei
Focus: Developing computational codes using hidden Markov models and nonlinear fitting techniques

Synthesis of Isatins through DMSO-Mediated Oxidation of Indigo

Location: Central College, Pella, IA
Mentor: Dr. James Shriver
Focus: Low-cost synthesis of indirubins for potential pharmaceutical applications

Synthesis of Superabsorbent Polymers from Renewable Sources

Location: Central College, Pella, IA
Mentor: Dr. Jay Wackerly
Focus: Developing novel polymeric products from corn-derived molecules

Please join us for a webinar, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, June 12th at 11am CST to learn more about these projects from these mentor/student teams. More info and Zoom link to come.

Announcing the Summer 2025 Chemurgy 2.0 REU and RET Participants

We are pleased to welcome our Summer 2025 Chemurgy 2.0 cohort. This year’s participants include both Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) students and Research Experiences for Teachers (RET) educators, each contributing to the advancement of STEM education and research.

REU Participants

Abby Remus (Eric Cochran, DJ Lab)
Emery Breitharth (Eric Cochran, Baker & Vivek Lab)
Greta Musgrave (Surya Mallapragada, Dr. Susheel Nethi Lab)

RET Participants

Joshua Selep (Mark Wright, Vedanti Sharma Lab)
Matt Cain (Ratul Chodhury, Dr. Karuna Anna Sajeevan Lab)

We look forward to the contributions and insights these talented students and teachers will bring to the Chemurgy 2.0 program this summer.

Events

NSF I-Corps Innovation Workshops
The University of Iowa NSF I-Corps program, powered by Iowa JPEC, helps faculty, staff, students, and entrepreneurs explore the commercial potential of STEM-based innovations through hands-on customer discovery and Lean Startup training. Participants gain valuable insights, refine their ideas, and prepare for funding opportunities.
Summer Session: In person, Mondays, July 7, 14, 21, 28, 4–6 p.m.
Open to all UI innovators.
Advance registration required, sign-up here.
► NSF I-Corps Hub Great Lakes Region

EPSCoR Live!

A virtual session on "EPSCoR Workshop Opportunities" will be held Wednesday, July 9, from 3–4 p.m. CT. This event is designed for researchers and research administrators in NSF EPSCoR jurisdictions. Program Director Ben McCall and Professor Samee Khan will provide an overview of the EPSCoR Workshop Opportunities solicitation, share a case study on quantum computing, and answer questions.
Advance registration is required; please use an institutional email to register. Submit questions via the registration form or email epscor-live@nsf.gov.
Register here.

NSF EPSCoR promotional image

2025 Iowa NSF EPSCoR Symposium
The second annual Iowa NSF EPSCoR Symposium will be held on July 24, 2025, at Schindler Education Center (SEC), 2300 Indiana St., Cedar Falls, IA 50614, at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls.