Graduate students to represent CAS in 3M Thesis Competition

Normal Theatre, located in Uptown Normal, will again be hosting the Three Minute Thesis Competition.

Four graduate student researchers will represent the College of Arts and Sciences in the university-wide Three Minute Thesis competition on February 29 at 6 p.m. at the Normal Theater. This event is free and open to the public. Please come and support our students!

Stein wins prestigious Kavli Foundation Award

image of Wolfgang Stein in his lab

Dr. Wolfgang Stein, professor of neurophysiology, is one of seven international researchers who are recipients of the Neurobiology and Changing Ecosystems Kavli Exploration Awards. The awards, which total $3.7 million, will fund three different projects pursuing investigations into how nervous systems may enable organisms, such as crustaceans, cephalopods, and zebrafish to adapt to environmental challenges that may have influences on neurophysiology and behavior.

College announces new internal research grant program

An image of the sculpture in front of Stevenson Hall.

The College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) is excited to announce a new internal research grant opportunity—the Dean’s Research Challenge Grant. Full-time CAS faculty from all college divisions, including Visiting Professors and non-tenure track faculty, are eligible to apply. The Principal Investigator’s (PI) primary appointment must be in a CAS unit. Interdisciplinary teams are encouraged, and teams can have non-CAS members.

S is for your support in STEM

Katie Helmink sitting next to an atmosphere glove box.

Katie Helmink is now a senior completing her degree in chemistry. Originally from Breese, Helmink received the 2023 Redbird Chemistry Fellowship, 2023 Summer FIREbird grant, and the Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship. All three fund undergraduate research.

Driving change: Inclusive, equitable and just STEM education

Dr. Keenan Wimbley (left), Dr. Rebekka Darner, Dr. Lisa Tranel, and Dr. Dan Holland standing in front of the HHMI logo

The program focuses on undergraduate students who have historically been excluded from STEM areas of study. The desire is to foster institutional change toward inclusive, equitable, and just STEM education. The ISU program will provide support to these students so that they may excel and become leaders in the STEM field, as well as professional development opportunities for STEM faculty and staff.