Research

Wenyu Huang, Ph.D in the lab

We’re changing the world with research and innovation

Every day, scientists and scholars in Iowa State’s academically diverse College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) positively impact Iowa, the nation, and the world with innovative research that pushes the boundaries of science, technology, and the humanities.

Whether it’s in one of our neuroscience or robotics labs or in a state-of-the-art classroom, our community of LAS researchers is forging new paths – both individually and collaboratively.

Student conducts experiment with stem cells in a labStudent discoveries in the making

Undergraduate research is a key component of experiential learning, so LAS encourages undergraduate and graduate students to work with faculty to develop solutions to pressing global challenges. Our students are integral to research efforts, in areas such as energy security, mental health, or cancer treatment. We even have special paid opportunities for undergraduate research.

Creative collaborations

To address the grand challenges of our generation and enable new discoveries, many LAS researchers form collaborations across disciplines and continents. From the U.S. Department of Energy’s Ames Laboratory here on campus to government, industry and community partners across Iowa and the world, we build teams to drive research for the common good.

But we don’t stop there. LAS is preparing students to work in interdisciplinary fields. Our new integrated health sciences degree brings together LAS research strengths and knowledge from disciplines such as genetics, statistics, the humanities, and others from across the university.

True success

We are proud of our faculty members who have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences and earned the National Science Foundation’s prestigious NSF CAREER award. However, the depth of our pride resides in the research conducted by our LAS students and faculty, which truly makes a difference in the world.

Our research matters

Recent discoveries

  • Cotton’s roots trace to Yucatan Peninsula, where wild gene pool runs deepest

    A research team led by Distinguished Professor Jonathan Wendel, Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Organismal Biology, confirmed cotton was domesticated from a diverse population native to Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, a potentially fruitful target for finding genetic traits that could strengthen the world’s most important fiber crop.
  • Writing with AI demands more thought from students, not less

    In a new study, Abram Anders, associate professor of English and the Jonathan Wickert Professor of Innovation, and co-author Emily Dux Speltz suggest the biggest hurdle in teaching students to write with AI isn’t the technology — it’s the students’ assumptions about what writing is.
  • Hydrogen from deep under Iowa? State universities can help build a hydrogen economy

    As companies search for geologic hydrogen deep below Iowa's farms, towns and cities, university scientists, including Professor Elizabeth Swanner, Department of the Earth, Atmosphere, and Climate, are starting to discuss how they could help the state develop a hydrogen economy.

Help us change the world