News

CALS to Welcome UCR Students to Iowa

Celebration of Life for Professor Emeritus Wayne Rowley

PPEM Ph.D. Student Mayowa Aderoju Selected for Prestigious FFAR Fellowship

Mayowa Aderoju, a Ph.D. student in Plant Pathology at Iowa State University's Seed Science Center, has been selected as a fellow in the highly competitive Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) Fellows Program, an honor that recognizes emerging leaders poised to shape the future of agriculture.

The FFAR Fellows Program brings together outstanding doctoral students from across the country and provides advanced training in leadership, communications, policy engagement, and professional development. The program is designed to help scientists expand the impact of their research beyond academia and into industry, government, and agricultural communities.

Peters Receives Marvin Pomerantz Award

One Acre, Two Paychecks: The Promise of Relay Cropping

Around 40 farmers, researchers, industry professionals, and students gathered at Iowa State University's Sorenson Farm near Boone, Iowa, in early June to explore how relay cropping systems could help improve farm profitability, soil health, and crop diversity across Iowa.

Four ISU Alumni Named Inaugural World Food Prize Alumni Ambassadors

Iowa State University (ISU) College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) continues to make its mark on the global stage, with four alumni selected for the inaugural Alumni Ambassador Program by the World Food Prize Foundation. Among them is Morgan Smith, a microbiology laboratory teaching specialist whose journey from student to global advocate reflects the transformative power of youth programs and higher education.

Smith joins fellow Iowa State alumni Nolan Monaghan, Olivia Marti, and Evelyn Heidt as part of an elite group of just 22 ambassadors selected worldwide. Launched this year, the program empowers alumni of the Foundation’s youth initiatives to serve as leaders driving global food security efforts.

Beneath the Surface: The Science Protecting Soybeans from Sudden Death

From the road, an Iowa soybean field can appear flawless, with straight rows, vibrant green leaves, and the promise of a strong harvest. But beneath the surface, a different story may already be unfolding. Soilborne pathogens can infect plants early in the season, spreading silently through roots long before visible symptoms emerge. By the time leaves begin to yellow and die, the damage is often already done. 

From Balloons to Bacteria: FFA Students Explore Microbiology at Iowa State

Iowa State University welcomed more than 7,000 students this week for the Iowa FFA Leadership Conference, and for a group of curious young leaders, the experience included a hands-on dive into the invisible world of microbes.

Small Program, Big Impact: Inside Iowa State’s Microbiology Experience

At Iowa State University, the Microbiology program is more than a degree; it’s a launchpad for discovery, innovation, and diverse career pathways. For alumnus Sean Prell, the program provided not only rigorous academic training but also the flexibility and experiences needed to shape his future in science and medicine.

Prell’s academic journey reflects the interdisciplinary strength of Iowa State’s sciences.  “I majored in microbiology, chemistry and genetics while I was at ISU,” he shared. This combination of disciplines gave him a broad scientific foundation, something he credits as essential to his success after graduation.

PPEM Seminar Explores Integrated Approaches to Managing Soybean Taproot Decline

Crowley-Gall Lab Recognized for Outstanding Safety Practices

Celebrating Leadership and Learning: PPEM Recognizes Outstanding Student Success

The Iowa State University Department of Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology (PPEM) is celebrating a moment of pride and recognition, as Claudia Lemper-Manahl, Associate Teaching Professor, was recently named Student Employee Supervisor of the Year, an honor that reflects not just individual excellence, but the strength of an entire teaching community.

A Digital Field Guide for All: How BugGuide Connects Curiosity to Science

PPEM Seminar Explores Prostaglandin Signaling in Mosquito Biology

ISU-PPEM Microbiology Club Inspires Young Scientists Through Ames School Outreach

Students in Iowa State University’s (ISU) Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology (PPEM) Microbiology Club are bringing science to life for young learners across Ames. Through hands-on demonstrations, interactive activities, and enthusiastic storytelling about the microscopic world, the club is helping spark curiosity about microbes and the scientists who study them.