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Organic Chemistry Meets Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu: ISU Chemistry Student and Noyce Scholar Wins Big
What do organic chemistry and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu have in common? For one Idaho State University student, the answer is strategy, grit, and a place on the podium. Eliana CraigSmith, a chemistry student and Noyce Scholar with the College of Education, captured gold and silver at the 2025 Idaho State BJJ Championship held at Century High School, competing against more than 200 athletes across various age and belt divisions.
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Gary McGaughey, a doctoral candidate in Biological Sciences, presented his research, "Cranial osteology and evolutionary relationships of the Middle Triassic pachypleurosaur Neusticosaurus edwardsii revealed through high resolution synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography scanning," at the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology 85th Annual Meeting in Birmingham, UK. | | | | | | | New Faculty Spotlight: Beau Smith
For years, I thought my Ph.D. would be my life’s turning point. Instead, long-haul COVID-19 was. When I fell ill in October 2021, I had to fight for my health and my Ph.D. Fifteen months later, I earned the degree, and I later became a teaching assistant professor at the University of Nevada, Reno, and adjunct instructor at Truckee Meadows Community College before joining ISU. My research interests are studying problems in meteorology and underexplored topics in undergraduate mathematics. Outside work, my interests are COVID-inspired: weight training, writing fantasy fiction, voice acting, composing classical music, and learning how to create world-class digital art. | | |
Encourage Your Students to Present at the 2026 Research and Creative Works Symposium
Now is the time for students to be thinking about submitting research for the ISU Research and Creative Works Symposium, set for March 18. Submissions will open on January 28 with a deadline of February 25.
This event is an opportunity for undergraduate and graduate students from all disciplines and degree levels to present their scholarly or creative works, in progress or completed, for a chance to win cash prizes in both poster and oral presentation categories. In-person and online presentation options are available.
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Mathematica License Update
The College of Science and Engineering is in the process of renewing our Mathematica license. Previously, we had a sitewide license, but due to year-over-year cost increases, we have decided to purchase a smaller license with 10 concurrent faculty licenses and 50 student licenses.
Our sitewide license expired on December 7. While the purchase of the new license is still pending legal review, Wolfram has agreed to extend our existing licenses for a couple of weeks to ensure there isn't a lapse in service.
They have informed us that you may receive expiration notices when launching the product, but these alerts can be closed, and the notebook will continue to function normally.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact CoSE IT at CoSEHelp@isu.edu.
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Graduate School to Collect Food for Benny's Pantry
The Graduate School is collecting a variety of food items to donate to Benny's Pantry for the holidays. Priority items include:
- Protein-enriched pasta
- Lentils and dry beans
- Canned meat/fish
- Chickpeas
- Powdered milk
- Peanut butter
- Whole grains
You can donate at the following locations:
- Graduate School Office
- Administration Building
- Eames Complex
- Roy F. Christensen Building
- Leonard Hall Pharmacy Building
- Beckley Nursing Building
- College of Science and Engineering Dean's Office
- Gale Life Sciences Building
- Business Administration Building
- Pond Student Union Building near the Copy Center
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Internal Idaho NSF EPSCoR Seed Funding Opportunity
This Seed Funding program is part of Idaho’s multi-year (2023-2028) statewide National Science Foundation Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research Track-1 Research Infrastructure Improvement award, “Idaho Community-engaged Resilience for Energy-Water (E-W) Systems (I-CREWS).”
I-CREWS Seed projects must address topics at the intersections of Energy-Water systems. Here, the term Energy-Water (E-W) systems refers to the intersection between the systems, consisting of the physical infrastructure, data/information/knowledge, the people, laws and policy, as well as the fuel and water that flows or is in reserve. This may include, for example, interdependent power and water systems tied to the physical infrastructure for generation, transmission, distribution, and use of power and water, along with governance and management practices, knowledge flows, and effects on end users.
Proposals are due January 8.
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Nominations Open for Distinguished Faculty
Celebrate the exceptional work of Idaho State University faculty by submitting nominations for the 2026 Distinguished Faculty Awards. This is your opportunity to recognize colleagues who inspire students, contribute to the advancement of their fields, and make a meaningful impact on our community.
Award recipients will be honored at a special reception in April and recognized during the 2026 Commencement ceremony. Nominations for Distinguished Teacher, Service, and Researcher are due by 5 p.m. on Friday, January 16.
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AAC&U Accepting Proposals for the 2026 Transforming STEM Higher Education Conference
The American Association of Colleges and Universities is now accepting late-breaking proposals for the 2026 Transforming STEM Higher Education Conference. The conference will take place online, March 18–20, bringing together STEM faculty, administrators, higher education researchers, and policy leaders from all disciplines and institutional types.
Proposals are due January 6.
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The College of Science and Engineering Dean's Excellence Fund is intended to support students in their journey through ISU. The Dean's Office is particularly interested in providing financial assistance to students who might not be able to enroll in or complete the semester because of short-term financial hardships. Students seeking such support should be in good academic standing.
If you know of a student who is in need of short-term support, please have them complete this form.
| | | | What Does the Future Look Like for Idaho’s Economy? | |
The Idaho State University College of Business invites industry leaders, business owners, students and community members to the third annual Idaho Economic Outlook Symposium.
The event, happening January 23, from 8:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., at the ICCU Bengal Alumni Center, will cover topics including real estate, health care and growth opportunities. Personal income forecasts, population growth, tax revenue forecasts and state expenditures will also be discussed. The event will conclude with keynote speaker Jason Hansen, distinguished research economist at the Idaho National Laboratory.
| | Adjusted Hours and Services as Mail and Print Center Combine into Bengal Print & Mail | As Idaho State University prepares to combine the Mail and Copy Center into the new Bengal Print and Mail, campus mail and print services will operate under adjusted hours and limited services during the week of December 15 to 19.
These temporary changes will support the move into the newly remodeled space on the first floor of the Pond Student Union. | | Bengal Gear for Holiday Gift Giving | |
Looking for holiday or graduation gifts? Get the latest Bengal gear by shopping at officially licensed retailers, both online and in the store.
Visit the Bengal Gear website for a list of officially licensed retailers where you can shop, both online and in-person, to get the latest Bengal apparel and merchandise.
For a limited time, fans can find throwback designs at the Retro Bengal Football Collection and Throwin' Idahoans gear through December 23.
| | | December 15 | Final Examinations | | December 19 | Fall classes end | | December 20 | Commencement (August and December 2025 graduates) | | December 22 | Late 8-week and full semester course grading closes at 5:00pm | | January 12 | Spring classes begin | | January 19 | Martin Luther King Jr./Human Rights holiday (no classes) | | | Upcoming Events in the College of Science and Engineering | |
Help Us Share Your Accomplishments!
Our College’s outstanding faculty, staff, and students achieve many notable research and professional accomplishments. In addition, our departments regularly have newsworthy advancements. We want to make sure those stories are shared publicly. Here are a few ways you can provide a news tip to help get the word out:
Use this Story Submission Form to send your news tip to the Office of Marketing and Communications.
Send an email to Logan McDougall (loganmcdougall@isu.edu) with a brief description of the news to be shared.
You are always welcome to create a draft story, submit it via the Story Submission Form, or send it to Logan. The Office of Marketing and Communications and Logan will coordinate to get the story finalized and distributed to the media outlets/platforms that best tell the story.
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