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Volunteers Needed for Bengal STEM Day
We’re looking for volunteers to help with the College’s 2026 installment of Bengal STEM Day on Thursday, February 12, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
We need volunteers to help with setup prior to the event, take lunch tickets, man the information booth, and serve as roving helpers. Volunteers will receive a Bengal STEM Day shirt and lunch.
If you are interested in volunteering, please complete this Google Form. If you have any questions, please reach out to Logan McDougall at loganmcdougall@isu.edu or (208) 282-4361.
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Way to go, Chan Blackett!
Chan, administrative assistant 2 in the engineering office, was named a Be a Bengal nominee for December. She was nominated for embodying the values of Inclusivity, Community, and Teamwork.
Since 2019, the Be a Bengal Program has celebrated employees who embody ISU’s six core values: Teamwork, Integrity, Inclusivity, Community, Learning, and Shared Responsibility. In 2025, the program expanded to recognize contributions in any or all of these values, reinforcing their importance in our Strategic Plan.
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New Faculty Spotlight: Clayton Small
Clayton Small is an assistant lecturer in the Department of Biological Sciences. Before coming to ISU, he was an assistant research professor in the Data Science Department at the University of Oregon. His teaching interests include ecology and evolution, statistics, and computational biology, and he has maintained an active research program dedicated to understanding the genomic basis of evolutionary novelties, the repeatability of evolution, and host-microbe interactions, primarily in teleost fishes. He grew up in Pocatello, and enjoys spending time with his wife and family, reading, fly fishing, and running.
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Research and Creative Works Symposium Insider Sessions Scheduled
The Graduate School will be hosting a series of Insider Sessions in January and February for students interested in presenting at the 2026 Research and Creative Works Symposium. The sessions will cover best practices and what to expect from presenting at the event scheduled for March 18.
The Research and Creative Works Symposium 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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RFPs Sought for Proposal Readiness and Enhancement Program Grants
The Office for Research is pleased to announce a new internal funding opportunity, the Proposal Readiness and Enhancement Program (PREP) Grant.
This internal grant is designed to help PIs develop and submit highly competitive external research proposals by providing funding for a variety of pre-award expenses. Allowable expenses can include classes or workshops for the PI that are designed to enhance grantsmanship, graphic design support for proposals, obtaining external peer reviewers for proposals, addressing reviewer comments, and more.
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Girl Scouts of Silver Sage Seek Activity Hosts for STEM Exploration Days
The Girl Scouts of Silver Sage are looking for activity hosts for the group's upcoming STEM Exploration Days on Saturday, January 24, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Salmon River Suite at the Pond Student Union Building.
If you are interested in participating, the group asks that you fill out their Community Partner form. If you have any questions, contact Rachel Goldschmidt, STEM program specialist, at rgoldschmidt@girlscouts-ssc.org.
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LAST CALL: Nominations for Distinguished Faculty Close January 16
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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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.
| | | | Karen Appleby Named Graduate School Dean | Following an extensive national search, and after careful consideration of feedback from both faculty and staff, an offer was extended to and accepted by Karen Appleby to become the next Dean of the Graduate School at Idaho State University. | | Registration for Faculty Learning Communities Now Open | |
Faculty Learning Communities are your space to connect with colleagues across campus and deepen your teaching practice. These vibrant groups provide a supportive environment to explore pedagogical challenges, experiment with new ideas, and enhance student learning.
Whether you want to solve a specific teaching problem, explore a new pedagogical theory, or simply connect with peers, an FLC provides the structure and community to help you achieve your goals.
| | All Employees Can Contribute to New 401k, Roth Contributions Now Available | |
Roth contributions are now available as part of our 401(k) plan, giving employees more flexibility in how they save for retirement.
All University employees are also now eligible to participate in the 401(k), including:
- Full-time and part-time employees
- Student employees
- Temporary employees
| | | January 12 | Spring classes begin | | January 19 | Martin Luther King Jr./Human Rights holiday (no classes) | | February 16 | Presidents' Day holiday (no classes) | | February 23 | Early 8-week course grading opens | | March 2 | Mid-term week | | March 9 | Late 8-week courses begin | | March 10 | Early 8-week course grading closes at 5:00 pm | | March 23 | Spring Break (no classes) | | | Upcoming Events in the College of Science and Engineering | | |
Department/Program
Physics
Event
Colloquium: U.S. Department of Energy Reactor Pilot Program
Chad Pope
Idaho State University
Details
Mon Jan 12
4 pm
PS 108
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Department/Program
Biological Sciences
Event
Welcome to the Seminar Series
Details
Thurs Jan 15
4 pm
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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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