What's Happening in CoSE

Trystan Gray Earns Fall 2023 Biology Student Spotlight Award

As a graduate of Pocatello High School and a current ISU senior, Trystan is deeply involved with his local community.

Over the past two years, he has worked as a researcher in Assistant Professor Kristin Lane’s lab, where he has been instrumental in training undergraduate and graduate students while having an amazing work ethic.

He volunteers at the Pocatello Free Clinic and has recently been accepted to the University of New Mexico School of Medicine with the intention of helping underserved communities.

Trystan has been President of the ISU Microbiology Club for two years, and he will soon graduate Magna Cum Laude in Spring of 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology. Not only has Trystan been on the ISU Dean’s List four times, but he has also been the recipient of the Amy’s Kitchen scholarship twice.

Bentley Parrott Named CPI of the Month

Bentley Parrott, Marketing and College Relations Assistant, was recently named the ISU Career Center’s CPI of the Month for December.

Working in the CoSE Dean’s Office, she has designed posters and flyers, helped at outreach events, created some of the items you’ve seen here, and much more. Recently, she also won the College of Business’ Workbook Cover Design Contest for Management 1116.

Students in Chemistry Professor Caryn Evilia’s Biochemistry 1 class were back in model-making mode again, and this time, they 3D printed models of hemoglobin from different animals for extra credit as a part of their research project. Hemoglobin helps to move oxygen in red blood cells.

The white and gray models are graylag goose hemoglobin, and the yellow model is a model of woolly mammoth hemoglobin. Meanwhile, the red and black model is human hemoglobin, with the key differences between it and crocodilian hemoglobin shown in black.

Send your General Finance-related Requests to [email protected]

The CoSE Finance team is excited to introduce an email address for general CoSE financial requests that will help better serve your needs.

Everyone within CoSE is welcome to send requests for help or questions about financial services to [email protected]. If you are unsure who to talk to about your financial requests, please email this address, and the team will see that it is taken care of.

Call for Distinguished Faculty Award Nominations

Nominations are requested for the Distinguished Faculty Awards for Idaho State University faculty members.

Those recognized will be honored during a reception in April and during the 2024 Commencement exercises. Nominations for the Distinguished Teacher, Service, and Researcher are due by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, January 17.

Students Sought for Center for Advanced Energy Studies REU 2024 Program

This 10-week program enables 10 undergraduate students from Idaho’s 2-year and 4-year institutions, and universities from across the nation, to work alongside faculty from Boise State University, Idaho State University and the University of Idaho at the Center for Advanced Energy Studies headquarters located near the Idaho National Laboratory Research Campus in Idaho Falls. Students will work on projects related to advanced manufacturing in collaboration with university faculty and scientists from Idaho National Laboratory.

Applications for the 2024 REU Program will open December 21, 2023.

CoSE Chairs and Directors Meeting Minutes

From Around ISU

Record Number of Graduates to Cross the Stage at Winter 2023 Commencement

Idaho State University will confer 1,357 degrees and certificates at the Winter Commencement ceremony at 11 a.m. on Dec. 16 in Holt Arena. More than 300 students are expected to walk across the stage Saturday, a record number for winter commencement ceremonies.

The degrees include 754 degrees in Fall 2023, and 603 degrees in Summer 2023.

Consider Donating to the Shared Leave Program

The ISU Human Resources and Payroll Offices are inviting faculty and staff to consider donating accrued leave to the Shared Leave Program.

This program allows employees to transfer accrued leave to any eligible State employee for their use as paid sick leave when the employee has exhausted their leave balance and has a need for additional leave hours, in accordance with the State of Idaho’s Donated Leave Policy.

Change in Optional Retirement Plan Provider effective December 2024

The Idaho State Board of Education Retirement Plan Committee has recently completed a multi-year, comprehensive review of the Idaho Optional Retirement Plan, (ORP). As a result of that plan review, it has been recommended and approved at the December 13, 2023 State Board of Education meeting, that Fidelity will become the sole provider of the administrative services for the ORP effective December, 2024.

ISU Rugby Teams Sleep in Cardboard Boxes to Raise Homelessness Awareness and Funds

The ISU rugby teams participated in the 17th Annual Homeless Encampment at Caldwell Park in Pocatello, raising funds for Aid For Friends.

In this fundraiser and awareness event, participants slept in cardboard boxes to experience a fraction of the hardships facing people who are homeless.

ISU Export Control Compliance Policy

Export controls are laws and regulations that restrict the release of certain materials, information, and services to foreign persons abroad and within the United States. The U.S. imposes export controls to protect national security interests and to promote foreign policy objectives. ISU recognizes the importance of complying with all U.S. export control regulations and is committed to full compliance with these regulations.

Inspirational Pocatello Teacher Wins Inaugural 2023 ISU Cooperating Teacher Award

The Idaho State University College of Education recently established a new award to acknowledge an outstanding cooperating teacher at the end of each semester. We are pleased to announce that Mrs. Dawnae Kirkham from Pocatello High School has been chosen as the inaugural recipient of the 2023 ISU Cooperating Teacher Award.

Dates to Remember

December 15	Fall 2023 Classes End
December 16	Commencement (August and December 2023 graduates)
December 19	Late 8-week and full semester course grading closes at 5:00 pm
January 8	Spring classes begin
January 15	Martin Luther King Jr./Human Rights holiday (no classes)
February 19	Early 8-week course grading opens
February 19	Presidents' Day holiday (no classes)

Upcoming Events in the College of Science and Engineering

For a complete list of CoSE events, check out the College Event Calendar. Updates can also be found on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), LinkedIn, and Instagram. To add events to the calendar, please contact the Administrative Assistants in your department. The university-wide calendar of events is available here.

Department/Program

Geosciences

Event

Colloquium: Geology and Mineralization of the Black Pine Oxide Gold Deposit – An Off-trend Carlin Type Gold Deposit

Pete Shabestari

Details

Wed, Jan 10

4 - 5 p.m.

Department/Program

Biological Sciences

Event

Biology Social

Details

Thurs, Jan 11

3:30 - 4 p.m.

GLS Lobby

Department/Program

Biological Sciences

Event

Seminar Series Orientation

Details

Thurs, Jan 11

4 - 5 p.m.

LC 10

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 ([email protected]) 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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