Congratulations to the following ISRC faculty affiliates and collaborators who were recently recognized with University Awards.

_{Kan Wang, Charles F. Curtiss Distinguished Professor in Agriculture and Life Sciences, agronomy, Global Professor in Biotechnology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences}

• Helped establish and lead the first public plant transformation facility in the world, which has made a lasting impact on the field of plant biotechnology. 
• Elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (2020) for advances in genetic engineering in plants using Agrobacterium tumefaciens.
• Led groundbreaking research on using nanoparticles to deliver DNA into plant cells, opening new avenues for research and applications in plant genetic engineering. 
• Secured more than $13 million in grants and funding for research that has provided valuable resources and infrastructure for the broader research community. 
• Trained 21 graduate students, 22 postdoctoral research fellows, and 19 visiting scientists from 12 countries who continue to make significant contributions in the field. 

_{Eric Cochran, Award for Achievement in Economic Development in Iowa}

Professor, chemical and biological engineering; and Mary Jane Skogen Hagenson and Randy L. Hagenson Professor in Chemical and Biological Engineering

• Developed biobased products to extend the life and reduce the environmental impact of asphalt and concrete roads and lots, significantly contributing to the Cultivation Corridor in Central Iowa.
• Constructed a $5.5 million pilot plant at the BioCentury Research Farm, producing nearly 100 tons of demonstration material and proving the viability of soy oil-based asphalt binders in projects across 10 states.
• Founded SoyLei Innovations (2020) to license and commercialize technologies developed at Iowa State, resulting in more than $2.5 million in sales and 14 new jobs.
• Listed as inventor on more than 70 patents and patent applications.
• Invited to the U.S. Capitol to lead a two-hour briefing (February 2024) on the sustainability and economic advantages of his team's technologies.

_{RegenPGC Team, Interdisciplinary Team Research Award}

RegenPGC Team (Regenerating America's Working Landscapes to Enhance Natural Resources and Public Goods through Perennial Groundcover)

Daniel Andersen, associate professor, agricultural and biosystems engineering (Extension Theme Leader); Cynthia Bartel, research scientist, agronomy; Amani Elobeid, teaching professor, economics, and Ron and Lynn Deiter Endowed Chair for Sustaining Excellence in Ag Business; Shuizhang Fei, professor, horticulture; Susana Goggi, professor, agronomy; Amy Kaleita, professor and chair, agricultural and biosystems engineering; Anne Kinzel, project deputy director, agricultural and biosystems engineering; Thomas Lubberstedt, professor, agronomy, and K.J. Frey Chair in Agronomy; Marshall McDaniel, associate professor, agronomy; Ken Moore, Distinguished Professor, agronomy; and Raj Raman, project director and Morrill Professor, agricultural and biosystems engineering

• Working to establish year-round groundcover on working lands the norm for Midwestern agriculture. 
• Hosted hands-on field days to inform farmers of benefits of perennial ground cover.
• Engaged with the agriculture commercial sector to create a stakeholder advisory board, on-farm trials and research partnerships.
• Mentoring graduate students on the impact of each step of the project to establish relationships that will benefit students in the future.

Full list of awardees