Interdepartmental Genetics and Genomics is pleased to announce an annual award, established in 2023, in memory of Dr. Nick Lauter, USDA Research Geneticist and active faculty member in the IGG graduate program at Iowa State University from 2006 to 2021. Dr. Lauter was a highly skilled geneticist who approached his diverse research interests with creativity and enthusiasm and engaged in rich collaborations to address complex scientific questions.
The Lauter Award annually recognizes a Genetics and Genomics graduate student who demonstrates research excellence, embodies a spirit of creativity, originality, and thoroughness in their research, and actively engages in fruitful collaborations both on and off campus to further their research goals.
We appreciate your generosity and look forward to continuing to provide this award each year in memory of Nick’s lasting impact on the Genetics and Genomics community.
To support this memorial with a monetary gift, please visit the ISU Foundation donations page, and find "College of Agriculture and Life Sciences" in the pull-down menu, and in the next pull-down menu, choose "Interdepartmental Genetics and Genomics Graduate Student Fund".
We appreciate your generosity and look forward to providing this award in memory of Nick for years to come.
Student Eligibility
The Lauter Award is open to IGG graduate students in any genetics field who have advanced to PhD candidacy (i.e. passed the preliminary exam).
Application Process
For each candidate, the following must be submitted to Carla Harris by March 30, 2026:
- Letter of Nomination (2-page limit): This letter should be from an IGG faculty member and include specific examples of the nominee’s creativity, excellence in research, and collaborative spirit (both on and off campus).
- Letter of Support (2-page limit): This letter should be from a faculty member or scientist (either from ISU or external) and describe the nominee’s role and contributions in collaborative efforts.
- Nominee’s CV (5-page limit): The CV should include a comprehensive list of publications and manuscripts (both published and under review), as well as poster presentations and talks given at regional and national conferences.
Important Dates for 2026
- March 20, 2026: Application closing date
- March 31, 2026: Recipient selection by the committee
Award Amount for 2026
The recipient of the Lauter Award will receive a $1,000 credit applied to their U-Bill and a commemorative plaque in recognition of their outstanding achievement.
Award Recipients
The recipient will be recognized at the Spring 2026 Interdisciplinary Biological Sciences symposium on April 16, 2026.
2025 recipient - Fazhir Kayondo
2024 recipient - Brian Zebosi
2023 - Congratulations to Clayton Carley and Swathy Krishna for being the first recipients of the Lauter Award!