By Whitney Baxter
Twenty years ago, at a time when student debt was at an all-time high and the university faced stiff state and federal funding cuts, the Science with Practice program launched to provide experiential learning opportunities for students and pay them for their work.
The program attracted 15 students during its debut in the spring 2005 semester. Since then, nearly 800 College of Agriculture and Life Sciences students have enrolled in the program and course (AGEDS 3120). Some have participated in multiple semesters.
Mike Retallick, professor of agricultural education and studies and associate dean for personnel and finance, spearheaded the program and said there was no other like it at the time.
“We saw the program as a way to support students and help them see the connection between their coursework or major and their future careers,” Retallick said. “Not only are they earning academic credit for planning and documenting their learning, but they are getting paid to do it.”
Before starting their Science with Practice experience, each student meets with their mentor(s) to create a learning work agreement. The agreement outlines what the student wants to take away from the experience and what will be done to accomplish that.
Over the years, projects have ranged from analyzing methods of measuring moisture and fat in fresh pork, to studying crickets’ ability to consume animal waste and its potential benefits, to creating a species distribution web map of Iowa birds and herptiles for wildlife managers, and so much more.
At the end of the semester, students used to give 15-minute presentations about their projects and the outcomes. Now, a poster session is held at the end of the semester, during which SWP participants explain their projects to faculty, staff and fellow students.
The program pays for half of each student’s salary for the semester, and each student’s mentor pays the other half. Funding initially came from the Agricultural Endowment Board and the college. Now, it also comes from an endowment established by David (’60 animal science) and Sally (’62 home economics education) Van Wert to support SWP students working on projects related to sustainability in production agriculture.
“We’ve had a lot of support systems around us that have really helped the program over the years,” Retallick said. “We see the program as a living entity and have let it evolve and grow based upon the needs of participants.”
Mentees benefit
The program is designed to be more of a mentor/mentee relationship rather than employer/employee. Many alums confirm that was their experience.
Kelly Norris (’08 horticulture, ’11 MS), plantsman and ecological horticulturalist at Kelly D. Norris, LLC, worked on a project with Cindy Haynes, professor of horticulture, studying the DNA fingerprinting of hosta varieties at a time when DNA sequencing and markers were unknown. He said the program taught him how to ask questions, conduct literature reviews and design experiments to test hypotheses.
“The Science with Practice program was formative for me because it set me up for graduate school and gave me a leg up in my applications because of the research experience I had gained as an undergraduate student,” Norris said.
Jessie Juarez (’10 animal science, dairy science, ’12 MS animal science, ’14 DVM veterinary medicine, ’20 MS agricultural and life sciences education), assistant director for student initiatives with the American Veterinary Medical Association, conducted research at Iowa State’s Dairy Farm under the guidance of Leo Timms, professor emeritus of animal science. Juarez studied the effects various disinfectant solutions applied to udders before and after milking had on cows’ overall skin and udder health.
“Having a structured mechanism to learn more about science, a chance to work closely with a mentor who provided expert guidance and mentorship in dairy science and animal health was a major contributing factor to my desire and decision to pursue advanced degrees in animal science and veterinary medicine,” Juarez said.
Lucas Carlstrom (’08 animal science), neurosurgeon and academic physician at Kaiser Permanente, said the program didn’t feel like a class or a job, but rather “a doorway into the world of scientific curiosity, where undergraduates were trusted to contribute meaningfully to real research.”
“Dr. Matthew Ellinwood’s combination of scientific rigor, creativity and humanity set an enduring standard for what great mentorship looks like. He made the lab an energizing place to learn and inspired me to think like a physician-scientist before I even knew what that meant,” Carlstrom said. “The relationships and lessons from that time continue to guide how I mentor residents, fellows and students in my own research and clinical practice.”
Mentors benefit
Stephanie Hansen, professor of animal science, has been mentoring students in the program since she joined Iowa State’s faculty in 2009. She appreciates how the program opens students’ eyes to the possibility of graduate school.
“Science with Practice is like a really soft approach to graduate school,” Hansen said. “Students can learn at their own pace and work with a faculty mentor, testing the waters of what graduate school is like.”
Sherry Hoyer, communication specialist with the Iowa Beef Center and Iowa Pork Industry Center on campus, has her mentees focus on communication projects that target specific industry audiences and the general public. She has served as a mentor since the program’s early years, sharing her experiences as a professional communicator and teaching students how to communicate research-related information and data.
“The program has provided me with student help and offered a unique opportunity for students to earn money and credit while learning. A win for both of us,” Hoyer said. “I don’t teach or advise, and Science with Practice made it possible for me to connect with college students and stay abreast of what’s happening on campus and out in the world beyond my office door. It’s been a positive part of my time at Iowa State, and I wouldn’t trade a minute of it.”
Check out ‘cool science’ on display
This semester’s SWP poster session will take place Dec. 10, from 2-4 p.m. in the Kildee Hall atrium. All are welcome to stop by to learn about the various projects and research students have been working on this fall.
“This program has been a tremendous opportunity to work with students and faculty from across the college and see a lot of cool science happening,” Retallick said. “I’m excited to see where the next 20 years and beyond take the program.”
Students interested in participating in SWP during the spring 2026 semester are encouraged to email swpteam@iastate.edu or visit the Science with Practice website to learn more about the program.