Understanding how cells sense and respond to mechanical stress while dividing. Investigating the material inefficiencies that significantly reduce the performance of quantum computing systems. Studying unexpected periods of inactivity in the Atlantic Ocean during hurricane season to better understand why tropical storms sometimes fail to develop during the busiest time of the year.
This is just a sampling of the groundbreaking research that 25 College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (LAS) undergraduate students conducted alongside Iowa State faculty mentors during spring semester 2026. The students were compensated for their work thanks to the LAS Dean’s High Impact Award for Undergraduate Research.
Following is a more in-depth look at some of the students’ research projects. A list of all spring semester 2026 recipients appears at the end of this article.