Grants and Contracts

Recent research grants

The following 24 new grants totaling $6.97 million were awarded recently to plant science researchers at Iowa State.

Application of Biotechnology to Control of the Soybean Cyst Nematode
University of Southern Illinois -- $71,641
(S. Cianzio, agronomy)

Harmonization of USB Soybean NIR Efforts: Whole Grain Instruments
United Soybean Board -- $29,000
(C. Hurburgh, agricultural and biosystems engineering)

Novel Signaling Components for Plant Steroid Regulated Gene Expression in Arabidopsis
National Science Foundation -- $125,000
(Y. Yin, genetics, development and cell biology)

Plant Resistance to Aphids Mediated by an Insect Virus
Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, Inc. -- $60,000
(B. Bonning, entomology)

Comparative Evolutionary Proteomics of Cotton
Cotton Incorporated -- $35,000
(J. Wendel, ecology, evolution and organismal biology)

Barley Coordinated Agriculture Project: Leveraging Genomics, Genetics, and Breeding for Gene Discovery
USDA -- $23,068
(J. Dickerson, electrical and computer engineering)

Metabolomics: A Functional Genomics Tool for Deciphering Functions of Arabidopsis Genes in the Context of Metabolic and Regulatory Networks
National Science Foundation -- $1,462,700
(B. Nikolau, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology)

Transgenic Maize Seeds with Enhanced Starch Property for Bio-Processing
Nugenplasm Company -- $1,206,815
(K. Wang, agronomy)

Syngas to Synfuels Process Development Unit - Phase 1
U.S. Department of Energy -- $1,200,000
(R. Brown, mechanical engineering)

A Systems Approach to Bio-Oil Stabilization
U.S. Department of Energy, Golden Field Office -- $1,000,000
(R. Brown, mechanical engineering)

GEPR Comparative Evolutionary Genomics of Cotton
National Science Foundation -- $914,190
(J. Wendel, ecology, evolution and organismal biology)

Screening for Genetic Resistance against Soybean Viruses
North Central Soybean Research Program -- $130,000
(J. Hill, plant pathology)

Development of High-Throughput DNA Based Gene Silencing Technology for Soybeans
United Soybean Board -- $125,000
(J. Hill, plant pathology)

SoyMapII: Leveraging Genetic Diversity in Soybean
National Science Foundation -- $88,962
(R. Shoemaker, agronomy)

Collaborative Research on Soybean Cyst Nematode Parasitism Genes
North Carolina State University -- $87,875
(T. Baum, plant pathology)

Improvement of Soybean Protein Content via Storage in Protein Bodies
United Soybean Board -- $66,687
(D. Bassham, genetics, development and cell biology)

Regulatory Enzymes of Glycolysis and Gluconeogenesis
National Institutes of Health -- $311,865
(R. Honzatko, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology)

Development of High-Dimensional Data Analysis Methods for the Identification of Differentially Expressed Gene Sets
National Science Foundation -- $190,325
(D. Nettleton, statistics)

Making Improvements to the PCAP Genome Assembly Program
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services -- $108,702
(X. Huang, computer science)

The Drought-Responsive Metabolome of Maize for the Identification of Biochemical Signatures for Tolerance
Pioneer Hi-Bred International -- $100,385
(O. Zabotina, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology)

Improving the Sequence of the Maize Genome
National Science Foundation -- $100,000
(P. Schnable, agronomy)

Functional Analysis of Soybean Genes through Transposon Mutagenesis
University of Nebraska-Lincoln -- $65,705
(K. Wang, agronomy)

Identification and Utilization of Resistance to Soybean Rust
University of Illinois -- $40,246
(S. Cianzio, agronomy)

Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements
National Institutes of Health -- $1,431,593
(D. Birt, food science and human nutrition)


The following 23 new grants totaling $10.3 million were awarded recently to plant science researchers at Iowa State.

Protein Polymer Product Development
Soy Works Corporation -- $85,864
(D. Grewell, agricultural and biosystems engineering)

Aspects of Integrated Management for Viruses and Phomopsis Infection in Soybean
Iowa Soybean Association -- $59,059
(G. Munkvold, plant pathology)

Plant Resistance to Aphids
Dow AgroSciences, LLC -- $53,893
(B. Bonning, entomology)

Effect of Feeding Corn Genetically Modified to Contain Amylase on Body Weight Gain, Feed Intake, and Feed Efficiency of Feedlot
Syngenta Corporation -- $36,634
(D. Beitz, animal science)

GEPR: Transcription Profiling and Functional Analyses of Bacterial Disease Susceptibility Pathways of Rice
National Science Foundation -- $589,558
(A. Bogdanove, plant pathology)

Rice as a Model System for Elucidating Diterpenoid Metabolism in Cereal Crop Plants
USDA, CSREES -- $325,192
(R. Peters, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology)

Application of New Genetic Resources to the Improved Control of Soybean Sudden Death Syndrome
United Soybean Board -- $295,870
(S. Cianzio, agronomy)

Risk and Benefit Analysis for Genetically Modified Agricultural Products
USDA, APHIS -- $247,198
(M. Misra, agricultural and biosystems engineering)

Genetic Mechanisms Regulating Inflorescence Architecture in Maize and Related Cereals
National Science Foundation -- $239,786
(E. Vollbrecht, genetics, development and cell biology)

High-Accuracy Protein Models Derived from Lower Resolution Data
National Institutes of Health -- $231,555
(A. Kloczkowski, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology)

Soybean Transformation
Dow Agrosciences, LLC -- $90,990
(K. Wang, agronomy)

PIRE: Molecular Engineering for Conversion of Biomass-Derived Reactants to Fuels, Chemicals and Materials
National Science Foundation -- $64,000
(B. Shanks, chemical and biological engineering)

Training Maize Breeders for Sustainable Bioenergy Maize Production
USDA, CSREES -- $499,966
(T. Lübbersted, agronomy)

Genomic Analyses of Shoot Meristem Function in Maize
National Science Foundation -- $358,619
(P. Schnable, agronomy)

Coarse-Grained Models of Proteins
National Institutes of Health -- $315,171
(R. Jernigan, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology)

The Dose-Response Effects of the Amount of Fat in Salad Dressing on the Bioavailability of Carotenoids, Phylloquinone, and Tocopherols in Salad Vegetables
Unilever Research and Development -- $150,772
(W. White, food science and human nutrition)

The Effect of Soy Protein on Blood Pressure in Prehypertensive/Stage 1 Hypertensive Premenopausal Women
Iowa Soybean Association -- $120,000
(W. Franke, kinesiology)

Development and Commercialization of Soy/Corn/Linseed Oil Bioplastics
Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, Inc. -- $54,000
(R. Larock, chemistry)

ERC 2: Center for Biorenewable Chemicals
National Science Foundation -- $3,250,000
(B. Shanks, chemical and biological engineering)

Biofuels Research Program
ConocoPhillips Company -- $2,546,541
(R. Brown, mechanical engineering)

Aphid Luteovirus Interaction: Aphid Receptors, Luteovirus Receptor-Binding Domains and Blocking Luteovirus Transmission
USDA, CSREES -- $400,000
(B. Bonning, entomology)

Biofuels Research Program
Archer Daniels Midland -- $212,077
(R. Brown, mechanical engineering)

Enzyme Digestibility of Starch in Animal Feed
Nugenplasm Company -- $98,473
(J-L Jane, food science and human nutrition)

The following 22 new grants totaling $4.7 million were awarded recently to plant science researchers at Iowa State.

VCA: A Two Component AC/DS Platform for Reverse and Forward Genetic Analysis in Maize
National Science Foundation -- $592,302
(E. Vollbrecht, genetics, development and cell biology)

A Modular Approach for Combinatorial Biosynthesis of Functionalized Terpenoids
National Institutes of Health -- $582,002
(R. Peters, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology)

Mycotoxin Risks Associated with Ethanol Co-Products from Conventional vs Biotechnology-Derived Corn Grain
USDA, CSREES -- $378,000
(G. Munkvold, plant pathology)

Meta!blast: A Cell and Metabolic Biology Interactive Learning Environment for High School Students
National Institutes of Health -- $252,013
(E. Wurtele, genetics, development and cell biology)

Environmental Fate and Effects Assessment for a Genetically-Engineered Bioenergy Feedstock Crop
USDA, CSREES -- $207,556
(J. Wolt, agronomy)

Exploring New Resistance Resources for Threatening Soybean Diseases
Iowa Soybean Association -- $200,724
(J. Hill, plant pathology)

Breeding General Use and Specialty Soybean Varieties for Iowa
Iowa Soybean Association -- $193,900
(W. Fehr, agronomy)

Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS) in Soybean
Syngenta Seeds, Inc. -- $168,822
(M. Bhattacharyya, agronomy)

Phase II Introgression of Novel Genes Conferring Resistance to SCN in Soybean Germplasm of Early Maturity Groups
Iowa Soybean Association -- $159,730
(S. Cianzio, agronomy)

TRPGR: Cyber Infrastructure for (Comparative) Plant Genome Research Through Plant GDB
National Science Foundation -- $146,678
(V. Brendel, genetics, development and cell biology)

Fusarium Species Infecting Soybean Roots: Risks and Management Tools
Iowa Soybean Association -- $117,000
(G. Munkvold, plant pathology)

Determining the Impact of Multiple Pests on Soybean Yield and Grain Composition
Iowa Soybean Association -- $102,347
(G. MacIntosh, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology)

Genome Fluidity and Allele-Switching Frequency in Soybean: Impact on Seed Quality and Vigor
American Seed Research Foundation -- $90,000
(A. Goggi, agronomy)

Characterization of the Soybean Rust Infection Process in Susceptible and Resistant Soybean Interactions
Iowa Soybean Association -- $75,654
(S. Whitham, plant pathology)

Bone Response to Soy Isoflavones in Women
National Institutes of Health -- $60,144
(D. Alekel, food science and human nutrition)

Genomics of Wood Formation and Cellulosic Biomass Traits in Sunflower
Department of Energy -- $50,000
(K. Lamkey, agronomy)

Application of Biotechnology to Control the Soybean Cyst Nematode: SCN Parasitism Genes
United Soybean Board -- $317,745
(T. Baum, plant pathology)

Phage Display Technology for Small Molecules
Archer Daniels Midland Company -- $252,625
(A. Rao, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology)

Modeling Ribosomal Control, Function and Assembly
National Institutes of Health -- $250,841
(R. Jernigan, biochemistry, biophysics and molecular biology)

Breeding Soybean for Disease, Pest, and Abiotic Stress Factors Resistance
Iowa Soybean Association -- $196,771
(S. Cianzio, agronomy)

Biofuels Research Program (2008)
ConocoPhillips Company -- $181,000
(R. Brown, mechanical engineering)

Functional Genomics of Maize Gametophytes
National Science Foundation -- $124,746
(E. Vollbrecht, genetics, development and cell biology)