By Whitney Baxter
Twelve students will enhance their research skills this semester thanks to a newly funded scholarship.
The Wentz-Griswold Agricultural Undergraduate Research Scholars Award seeks to engage undergraduate students in research opportunities and get them involved in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Pathways to Innovation and Leadership program. The award is made possible by Michele Griswold in honor of Michele’s grandfather, the late Emanuel Edward Wentz, an Iowa landowner and elevator manager.
This semester’s 12 students have each been paired with a faculty mentor who will guide them as they complete their research project, which is funded through the award. At the end of the semester, the students will present their projects at the Pathways to Innovation and Leadership Showcase to earn an innovation and leadership research impact micro-credential.
“We’re so excited to offer this opportunity to CALS students and to see them grow their research skills throughout the semester. It’s also a great way to introduce and get students involved with the Pathways program, where they can earn micro-credentials and build skills through high impact educational experiences that employers see as valuable,” said Carmen Bain, CALS associate dean for academic innovation. “This would not have been possible without Michele’s generosity.”
The 2026 Wentz-Griswold Agricultural Undergraduate Research Scholars awardees are:
- Lucie Albin, freshman in animal science, “Elucidating Pig Embryo in Vitro Development,” working with Karl Kerns, animal science
- Nathan Collett, junior in animal science, “Biomarkers Quantification in Dogs with Chronic Enteropathy,” working with Maria Merodio, veterinary clinical services
- Joao Freiria, senior in agronomy, “Impact of Planting Depth on Soybeans using Rhizoboxes,” working with Elnaz Ebrahimi, agronomy
- Makenna Hansen, freshman in animal science, “Llama Farming in Iowa,” working with Maria Wurzinger, animal science
- Emma Ihnen, junior in animal science, “Listenia Stress Response to Food Production Environment Conditions,” working with Daniel Unruh, animal science
- Abby Ingersoll, freshman in horticulture, “Quantification of Anomalies Identified During Meiosis Telophase II in ZmPSI Insertion Mutants,” working with Thomas Lubberstedt and Sarah Pfeffer, agronomy
- Ella McGrath, junior in horticulture, “Regulation of Root Development by Auxin Pathway Genes,” working with Dior Kelley, genetics, development and cell biology
- Bhawna Meemrot, junior in agronomy, “Digitizing 1990s Soil Mapping in GIS,” working with Bradley Miller, agronomy
- Daniel Mitzel, junior in agronomy, “Analyzing Soybean Nodulation Under Soil pH Conditions,” working with Jared Flater, agronomy
- Caroline Strawhacker, junior in agricultural business, “Understanding Perspectives on Iowa Farmland and Values,” working with Rabail Chandio, economics
- Nessecity Tuttle, junior in animal science, “Genomic Tools for Sheep Improvement,” working with Gustavo Gutierrez
- Ellie Volkers, senior in animal science, “From Classroom to Career: Analyzing Engagement and Professional Outcomes in Animal Science,” working with Jennifer Bundy, animal science
The Wentz-Griswold award is for one semester but can be renewed for up to two additional semesters if students continue to meet award criteria. Visit the CALS Pathways website to learn more about the Wentz-Griswold Agricultural Undergraduate Research Scholars Award.