Iowa State University - Bayer University Mentoring Program
Page last updated on: December 18, 2025
The information and application process outlined on this page are exclusively for applications from the
30+ North American Universities participating in the Bayer University Mentoring Program.
If you are not affiliated with these Universities, please contact the designated liaison at your institution to learn more
about available opportunities and the relevant application process.
Bayer Crop Sciences University Mentoring Program is a 1-year mentoring program for curious scientists and engineers in early career stages (graduate student, postdoctoral researchers) in fields related to plant breeding, plant biology, plant phenotyping, gene editing, crop physiology, chemistry, environmental science, engineering, computer science, data science/engineering and more allowing mentees to build relationships, networks and gain experience in the industry.
Program Benefits
- Mentoring: 1-on-1, based on technical fit and soft skill development needs
- Development: Bayer-hosted workshops and seminars
- Networking: Within Bayer & across 30+ North American Universities
- Advancement: Career advancement advice
- Awareness: Build business acumen and develop relationships with industry partner
Information for 2026 Applicants
Information Sessions
Dec
Thu
11
2025
December 11, 2025 @ 1:00 PM Central Time
Teams Meeting ID: 328 713 474 563 8
Passcode: ok2h6tT7
Jan
Wed
21
2026
January 21, 2026 @ 2:00 PM Central Time
Teams Meeting ID: 328 713 474 563 8
Passcode: ok2h6tT7
Feb
Mon
9
2026
February 9, 2026 @ 1:00 PM Central Time
Teams Meeting ID: 328 713 474 563 8
Passcode: ok2h6tT7
How to Apply?
- Applications Window: December 1, 2025 - February 22, 2026
- Complete this application form or scan this QR Code to view online form
- Mentee selection emails will be sent by March 20, 2026
Participants Summary (2019 ~ 2025)
42 graduate students from 29 Iowa State University faculty research labs participated in the Bayer Crop Sciences University Mentoring Program from 2019-2025. 14 out of 29 (48.3%) of these faculty members are current or former PSI faculty Scholars.
Participant Advisors
PSI Scholar
Non-PSI Scholar
2025 Participants (10 mentees)
(Mentees sorted by last name in ascending alphabetical order)
| # | Name | Major / Department | Advisor | Advised by PSI Scholar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Memiş Bilgici | Plant Breeding | Yes | |
| 2 | Venkata Naresh Boddepalli | Plant Breeding | Arti Singh
|
No |
| 3 | Yiling Feng | Plant Biology | Reuben J. Peters
|
No |
| 4 | Vencke Gruening | Plant Breeding | Yes | |
| 5 | Mozhgan Hadadi | Mechanical Engineering | Yes | |
| 6 | Shambhavi Joshi | Mechanical Engineering | Yes | |
| 7 | Chloe (Bitgoeul) Kim | Computer Engineering | Yes | |
| 8 | Xuan Liu | Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering | Yes | |
| 9 | Gustavo Milião | Mechanical Engineering | Carmen Gomez
Jonathan Claussen |
No |
| 10 | Matthew Wendt | Genetics and Genomics | Marna Yandeau-Nelson
|
No |
2024 Participants (11 mentees)
(Mentees sorted by last name in ascending alphabetical order)
| # | Name | Major / Department | Advisor | Advised by PSI Scholar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ephraim Aliu | Plant Biology | Kan Wang
|
No |
| 2 | Mercy Korkor Azanu | Plant Biology | Kan Wang
|
No |
| 3 | Carolina Freitas | Crop Production & Physiology | Yes | |
| 4 | Brianna Griffin | Plant Pathology and Microbiology | Yes | |
| 5 | Leticia Miranda | Genetics and Genomics | Yes | |
| 6 | Ann Karimi Murithi | Genetics and Genomics | Yes | |
| 7 | Tae-Chun Park | Plant Biology | Paul Scott
Thomas Lübberstedt |
Yes |
| 8 | Nasla Saleem | Mechanical Engineering | Yes | |
| 9 | Eliott Smith | Plant Pathology and Microbiology | Aaron J. Gassmann
Brad S. Coates |
No |
| 10 | Haris Variz | Plant Biology | Kyaw (Joe) Aung
|
No |
| 11 | Thomas Young | Plant Biology | Yes |
2023 Participants (6 mentees)
(Mentees sorted by last name in ascending alphabetical order)
| # | Name | Major / Department | Advisor | Advised by PSI Scholar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sarah Jones | Agronomy | Yes | |
| 2 | Zakayo Kazibwe | Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology | Diane Bassham
|
No |
| 3 | Kyle King | Agronomy | Yes | |
| 4 | Yue Liu | Agronomy | Yes | |
| 5 | Ashlyn Rairdin | Agronomy | Arti Singh
|
No |
| 6 | Dandan Zhang | Biochemistry, Biophysics & Molecular Biology | Gustavo Macintosh
|
No |
2022 Participants (6 mentees)
(Mentees sorted by last name in ascending alphabetical order)
| # | Name | Major / Department | Advisor | Advised by PSI Scholar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kevin Chiteri | Agronomy | Arti Singh
|
No |
| 2 | Tanner Cook | Agronomy | Yes | |
| 3 | Matheus Dalsente Krause | Agronomy | William Beavis
|
No |
| 4 | Yawei Li | Genetics and Genomics | Yes | |
| 5 | Yang Qiao | Statistics | Yes | |
| 6 | Brian Zebosi | Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology | Erik Vollbrecht
|
No |
2020 Participants (7 mentees)
(Mentees sorted by last name in ascending alphabetical order)
| # | Name | Major / Department | Advisor | Advised by PSI Scholar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Javad Ansarifar | Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering | Yes | |
| 2 | Souvik Banerjee | Material Sciences and Engineering | Yes | |
| 3 | Maxwell McReynolds | Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology | Yes | |
| 4 | Siddique Muhammad-Aboobucker | Agronomy | Yes | |
| 5 | Koushik Nagasubramanian | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Yes | |
| 6 | Paul Otyama | Genetics and Genomics | Steven Cannon
|
No |
| 7 | Zihao Zheng | Genetics and Genomics | Yes |
2019 Participants (6 mentees)
(Mentees sorted by last name in ascending alphabetical order)
| # | Name | Major / Department | Advisor | Advised by PSI Scholar |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Souvik Banerjee | Material Sciences and Engineering | Yes | |
| 2 | Elizabeth Carino | Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology | Yes | |
| 3 | Maxwell McReynolds | Plant Pathology, Entomology and Microbiology | Yes | |
| 4 | Saba Moeinizade | Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering | Yes | |
| 5 | Paul Otyama | Genetics and Genomics | Steven Cannon
|
No |
| 6 | Zihao Zheng | Genetics and Genomics | Yes |