As we enter the season of gratitude, we’re thankful for our EPSCoR team, partners, and community who make our work possible. Your continued collaboration drives Chemurgy 2.0 forward.
Wishing you a joyful and restful Thanksgiving!
Fall 2025 Science with Cyclones Highlights
Now in its third year of partnership with the Iowa NSF EPSCoR Program, the Science with Cyclones event at the ISU Department of English brought interactive, hands-on science exhibits—created and presented by Iowa State students—to visitors of all ages at Reiman Gardens. Under the guidance of English department faculty, science students enrolled in the Science Communication certificate program showcased engaging demonstrations on how lightning forms, the benefits of prairie strips in Iowa, and how blood functions. Even Scientist Cy joined in on the discoveries!
Inspired by the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science’s Flame Challenge at Stony Brook University, the event encourages students to creatively explain complex scientific ideas through fun, accessible, and memorable activities.
Thank you to everyone who participated and helped make this year’s event a success!
View all the photos on our Flickr page here.
Learn more about the Science Communications certificate here.
First Gen Student Spotlight: Daniela Sanchez
Daniela Sanchez is a graduate research assistant in the Nanovaccine Institute and Narasimhan Lab, where she advances particle-based vaccine technology as part of the Chemurgy 2.0 team. As a first-generation scholar, Daniela’s interdisciplinary work bridges the gap between chemical engineering and real-world biomedical innovation, with a focus on sustainability. Her recent research article, co-authored with Dr. Balaji Narasimhan—one of Chemurgy’s Focal Area Co-Leads in Proteins for Diagnostics and Therapeutics—highlights breakthroughs in protein release and vaccine formulation, furthering Iowa’s EPSCoR-supported bioscience initiatives. Read Daniela and Balaji’s recent publication here.
How does EPSCoR help your projects?
My project is one of many funded by the Chemurgy 2.0 grant from EPSCoR. I’ve enjoyed working on such a large grant across the state of Iowa because it has connected me with graduate students from ISU and other universities. Being part of a large group like this has also helped me connect my work to others and start to see the “big picture” of the project's goals.
What inspires you?
The constant progress of science: there are so many breakthroughs and discoveries still being made that are adding to the overall knowledge of the world and also making people’s lives better. Most of them don’t get their spotlight moment, but I find it inspiring that science, as a broad field, is constantly moving forward.
What is “advanced biomanufacturing” to you?
To me, advanced biomanufacturing is about connecting two fields that seem different but can actually have significant overlap. The future work on my project is a great example. The polymers I work with to create particle-based vaccines could one day be produced in a more sustainable way – connecting vaccines to green chemistry.
What advice would you give today’s young scientists?
Find something you’re passionate about, but don’t be afraid to step outside of it. I decided that I wanted to be a biomedical engineer in high school, but that didn’t stop me from exploring research that focused on biofuels. Ultimately, I didn’t end up sticking to that, but I’m glad I took the time to step outside of the biomedical focus that I had at the time.
Can you share a specific challenge you've faced in your research and how it has shaped your approach moving forward?
During the first couple of years of doing research, I didn’t get the results that I wanted. The way I moved past it was by changing my perspective and focusing more on what I was learning from these results – not just learning the protocols and improving my technique, but also what the "negative" results were telling me about the materials that I was working on. That’s a long-winded way of saying that the negative/unexpected results that I got still taught me a lot about the materials and my research going forward.
As a first-gen scholar, what sparked your interest to pursue an education in science?
I can’t think of a specific moment that sparked my interest. Science has always interested me. What motivated me to pursue graduate school was my participation in an REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) program, along with shadowing a graduate student during my undergraduate studies. There was a long of uncertainty around graduate school, only because I didn’t personally know anyone who was familiar with the process. Thankfully, there were a lot of resources available to me, so it was doable, and now I’m here!
Call for Summer 2026 Undergraduate Research Proposals
The Iowa NSF EPSCoR PUI Network invites faculty from primarily undergraduate institutions to submit proposals for 2026 summer research projects that connect with the statewide Chemurgy 2.0 initiative. Participating faculty and students will join a collaborative effort linking undergraduate research with Iowa’s advanced biomanufacturing goals.
Key Dates:
- Student applications open: December 15, 2025
- Student application deadline: January 31, 2026
Learn more about previous projects here or submit your proposal here.
Faculty interested in joining the PUI Network can sign up here.
Student Presentation: Heather Koska
Heather Koska, a graduate student in the Williams Research Group at The University of Iowa, shares insights on the group’s latest research on lignocellulose.
Watch Heather's presentation here.
Learn more about the Williams Lab here.
Call for Summer 2026 Undergraduate Research Proposals
The Iowa NSF EPSCoR PUI Network invites faculty from primarily undergraduate institutions to submit proposals for 2026 summer research projects that connect with the statewide Chemurgy 2.0 initiative. Participating faculty and students will join a collaborative effort linking undergraduate research with Iowa’s advanced biomanufacturing goals.
Key Dates:
- Student applications open: December 15, 2025
- Student application deadline: January 31, 2026
Learn more about previous projects here or submit your proposal here.
Faculty interested in joining the PUI Network can sign up here.
From Lab to Life: A Biomanufacturing Podcast, Episode 5
This student-produced podcast was funded through the first round of our EWD Seed Funding program. As part of the Iowa NSF EPSCoR Chemurgy 2.0 project, The University of Iowa School of Journalism and Mass Communication students created a content marketing campaign to raise awareness of Iowa’s growing biomanufacturing industry and inspire the next generation to pursue careers in the field.
Listen to Episode Five of From Lab to Life with Austin McKee, Innovation Coordinator at Proto Studios and UI Ventures. He explores how research, entrepreneurship, and rapid prototyping come together through 3D printing, anatomy, and mentoring student innovators, shaping the future of biomanufacturing.
More student-produced episodes highlighting Iowa’s biomanufacturing community will be shared in our upcoming newsletters and on our website.
Listen on Spotify here.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No.2242763
Seed Funding Opportunity
The Iowa NSF EPSCoR Chemurgy 2.0 EWD Seed Program supports innovative education and workforce development projects that strengthen Iowa’s biomanufacturing talent pipeline. We are accepting rolling proposal submissions through January 30, 2026, at noon or until the round 2 funding has been awarded, whichever comes first. Submissions are reviewed as they are received.
Up to $15,000 is 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.
Update: The committee has extended the deadline for Round 2 EWD Seed Funding Proposals. We are accepting rolling proposal submissions through January 30, 2026, at noon or until the round 2 funding has been awarded, whichever comes first. Submissions are reviewed as they are received.
View the full solicitation here.
For details or to discuss project ideas, contact Marcy Seavey at marcene.seavey@uni.edu
News
SMART Scholarship Offers STEM Students Full Tuition, Career Opportunities
The Department of Defense (DoD) SMART Scholarship-for-Service Program gives STEM students the chance to earn full tuition, annual stipends, paid summer internships, and guaranteed civilian employment after graduation. SMART is open to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students, and now also welcomes incoming college freshmen with no prior college credit, extending the opportunity to high school seniors preparing to enter college. It is the largest DoD STEM workforce development initiative, placing scholars at more than 150 facilities leading research in fields such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and space. Applications accepted through December 5.
Learn more and apply here.
EGFP Designated Awardee Institutions and Programs
The NSF EPSCoR Graduate Fellowship Program (EGFP) provides funding for graduate students who received an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program Honorable Mention within the past three years. Iowa State University offers a program focused on training biologists to drive discovery and strengthen Iowa’s bioeconomy, while the University of Iowa supports fellows in biological sciences, engineering, and technology innovation. The application window is open now and closes May 15, 2026.
View full solicitation here.
Events
Chemurgy 2.0 Lunch and Learn Events
Join us for Chemurgy 2.0’s upcoming Lunch and Learn events, featuring leaders in biomanufacturing sharing industry insights and expertise. These sessions offer valuable opportunities to learn from and engage with experts shaping the future of advanced biomanufacturing in Iowa.
Save the dates for our upcoming virtual Lunch and Learn events:
- Fermentation at Cargill - December 12 at 12:00 PM CT - Calendar link
- High Performance Computing System at the University of Northern Iowa - January 23 at 12:00 PM CT - Calendar link
- Skroot Lab - February 13 at 12:00 PM CT - Calendar link
Save the Date: 2026 Iowa NSF EPSCoR Symposium
The 2026 Iowa NSF EPSCoR Chemurgy 2.0 Symposium will be held on July 28, 2025, at The University of Iowa.
Agenda, registration, and poster submission details will be provided as the symposium date approaches.
Stay tuned for more details! Calendar link here.
Stay up-to-date with our Events here!
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Award No.2242763