News

Effective June 1, Carly Manz of the Department of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology (GDCB) accepted the role of interim director of the interdepartmental Biology and Genetics Programs for a three-year period.

Dior Kelley, genetics, development and cell biology associate professor, recently received the 2026 American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Excellence in Education Award.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences recognizes the exceptional achievements of its faculty and staff.

Yanhai Yin, genetics, development and cell biology (GDCB) chair and professor, was named a 2025 Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher. 

Ella McGrath, an undergraduate student for the past three years in the lab of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology Associate Professor Dior Kelley, received a 2026 Fulbright Internship. 

University leaders shared the names of 68 Iowa State faculty and staff — 61 individuals and two teams —who are receiving a 2026 university award, the highest recognitions available to employees.

The Iowa Board of Regents recently approved the promotions of three genetics, development and cell biology (GDCB) faculty. The Regents approved a total of 46 tenured faculty and 36 term faculty promotions. 

The latest story in the 2026 Innovation at Work series includes Karri Haen Whitmer, teaching professor and associate chair of genetics, development and cell biology, and associate director of integrated health sciences. 

The office of the senior vice president and provost has announced $2.4 million in funding across two years for 24 transformative initiatives to support new academic programs, student success and career readiness, and build additional capacity in a

Iowa State University undergraduate student Ella McGrath is one of 12 students who received a newly funded scholarship this semester, the Wentz-Griswold Agricultural Undergraduate Research Scholars Award.

From exploring ethical considerations of AI to decoding the genetic mysteries of Alzheimer’s disease, Iowa State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) students have been hard at work in the 2025-26 academic year.

Don Sakaguchi was charting a course to medical school as a biology undergraduate at the State University of New York, Albany, when he made a life-changing discovery.

The lab is quiet. Suddenly, a student exclaims, “I figured out how to do it!” These moments of joy keep instructors Jeff Essner and Renu Srivastava motivated.

January 20
Steve Whitham — Iowa State University    
Topic: Effects of increasing atmospheric CO₂ on crop-pathogen interaction
Host: Dior Kelley

A mentee of Genetics, Development and Cell Biology Associate Professor Dior Kelley, Ella McGrath, received World Food Prize honors as she was named the 2025 Lambert "Hunger Fighter" Scholar.

Kaylee Herrig works to improve prosthetic access worldwide.

Geetu Tuteja, genetics, development and cell biology professor, is diving into the genetic development of the placenta. The computational tools her lab creates support other researchers worldwide.

Morrill Professor Don Sakaguchi of genetics, development and cell biology, discusses the importance of undergraduate research in the Iowa State University Foundation's Forward magazine article, "Connective tissue: Educating the next gener

Geetu Tuteja, professor in genetics, development and cell biology, has always enjoyed puzzles. Through her research at Iowa State University, she is studying "one of the most unique puzzles in human biology: the placenta."