Alex Haus

From Wartburg to Iowa State. Not a long journey if you know what a Wartburg is! Alex Haus, the third member of our 2026 REU class, is a student at Wartburg.

For you non-Iowans, Wartburg is a small liberal arts college in Waverly, Iowa (Learn more about Wartburg). We are so pleased to note that Alex is a returning Research Undergraduate Intern. His experience last year proved so valuable that he is now back to gain even more knowledge from his RegenPGC mentor team. (Learn more about Alex’s 2025 summer)

ALEX HAUS – WARTBURG COLLEGE

Brief Bio. I am currently a junior at Northern Arizona University studying Mathematics and Secondary Education with the goal of becoming a high school math teacher. I grew up in Gilbert and later moved to Flagstaff to attend college. Alongside school, I am also a licensed hairstylist and enjoy doing hair part-time while pursuing my degree.

I recently began my practicum experience, where I have worked in both science and math classrooms, which has strengthened my passion for teaching and working with students.

Outside of academics and work, I enjoy watching movies and TV shows, working out, and spending quality time with friends and family. Something unexpected about me is that even though I am a huge math enthusiast, geometry is actually my least favorite area of math.

Why I applied… I applied again to meet new people and build meaningful connections, because last year I met some amazing individuals and had a truly positive experience. Last time, the program provided me with valuable knowledge, new perspectives, and strong relationships, and I am hoping to continue building on that experience. I want to keep growing by learning from others, challenging myself in a new environment, and gaining skills that will support me throughout my college experience and future career.

My expectations for the REU program include… My expectations for the summer RET/REU program include gaining hands-on research experience, building meaningful connections, and finding opportunities to thrive in a new and challenging environment. I want to push myself to grow both personally and academically while learning from others and developing skills that will support me in my future career in education.

From Arizona to Iowa: Meet Kaylee

Kaylee Johnson

From sunny and DRY Arizona to humid Iowa can be a bit of schock in the summer, but having met 2026 Research Undergraduate Intern and future math teacher Kaylee Johnson, we are sure she will take the change in stride.

Kaylee comes to Iowa State University from Northern Arizona University. Here at ISU, Kaylee will work with RegenPGC Collaborator, Dr. Richard Roth and the staff at the Iowa State University Biotechnology Outreach Education Center. We look forward to an excellent summer experience for Kaylee and the entire REU class!

Meet Research Intern Kaylee Johnson

Brief Bio.  I am currently a junior at Northern Arizona University studying Mathematics and Secondary Education with the goal of becoming a high school math teacher. I grew up in Gilbert and later moved to Flagstaff to attend college. Alongside school, I am also a licensed hairstylist and enjoy doing hair part-time while pursuing my degree. I recently began my practicum experience, where I have worked in both science and math classrooms, which has strengthened my passion for teaching and working with students.

Outside of academics and work, I enjoy watching movies and TV shows, working out, and spending quality time with friends and family. Something unexpected about me is that even though I am a huge math enthusiast, geometry is actually my least favorite area of math.

Why I applied… I applied because I wanted the opportunity to explore science in a deeper and more hands-on way. I have always enjoyed physics and even considered minoring in it at one point. I believe this program will help me expand my knowledge and experience within the science field while also strengthening my background as a future math educator.

Math and science naturally connect, and participating in science-based research will allow me to bring more real-world applications and interdisciplinary learning into my future classroom. I am excited to challenge myself, grow academically, and gain experiences that will help me become a more well-rounded educator.

My expectations for the REU program include… My expectations include gaining new knowledge, experiences, and friendships while growing both personally and academically. I hope to learn more about the science field and discover new ways I can apply research and problem-solving skills to my future classroom. I also want to step outside of my comfort zone, contribute meaningfully to the program, and make the most of the opportunity while enjoying the experience along the way.

Summer research experience leads to growth

2025 REU Kylie Buchholz presents her research

One of our success stories at RegenPGC is our participation in Iowa State University‘s summer Research Experience for Undergraduates / Research Experience for Teachers programs. Each spring, Wartburg College hosts RICE Day, where students share research, internships, and creative endeavors they have completed. This past summer, I participated in the REU program and had the opportunity to work on Cameron Krumm’s research in Dr. Shuizhang Fei’s lab. Here is an update from Kylie Buchholz, a Wartburg student and a summer 2025 REU participant.

“After completing the REU, I presented this research at RICE Day this spring. This was a valuable opportunity for me that allowed me to share my experience with a wide range of faculty, students, and community members.

This engaged audience was deeply interested in my experience in the program. They were specifically interested in learning how this research connected to my future career in education. I was able to share multiple different lessons that I learned from my experience, many of which relate to the type of culture I want to create in my classroom.

By participating in this REU, I learned that having a positive attitude and cultivating a supportive community is essential for quality work to be produced. Additionally, this experience reinforced the importance of collecting many different data points before drawing a conclusion. These same things that I learned by participating in the REU are things that I will need to remember when I am shaping what I want my classroom to look like. Presenting the research I worked on this past summer at RICE Day was a great experience for me because it pushed me out of my comfort zone, helped me to reflect on what I want my classroom to be like, and allowed me to share this incredible research with those around me.”

This is how we grow the future!

RegenPGC is a research program, and we define that term broadly, as we should. Every year, we help build the future by introducing existing and prospective science/STEM educators to our research portfolio.

We achieve this by participating in two crucial initiatives at Iowa State University: the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) and the Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs. (https://lnkd.in/dC6HWes6). During the summer months, RegenPGC teachers and undergraduate interns become active members of our research team. This changes not only their lives but also positively impacts countless lives throughout their teaching careers as they apply their newfound knowledge directly to their classrooms.

Alex Haus, a 2025 Undergraduate Research Intern, is set to do the RegenPGC team proud when he presents his work at Wartburg College’s 15th RICE DAY (https://www.wartburg.edu/academic-affairs/rice/) on April 9, 2026. Alex’s poster, “How Perennial Groundcover Affects Maize Growth: Exploring Shade Avoidance Responses,” (https://www.regenpgc.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/RegenPGC-Poster-Template-med-QR.pdf), is a wonderful example of how interns can gain by working in a research team.

Reflections on a summer well spent

Philip working with a student

At RegenPGC, we are building the future of perennial grasses and the teaching profession by introducing existing and prospective science/stem educators to our research portfolio. Every summer, we participate in two crucial Iowa State University initiatives, the Research Experience for Teachers (RET) and Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) programs.

The RegenPGC RET program allows middle and high school teachers to gain research experiences and form ongoing relationships with PGC scientists and graduate students. Our goal is for our RET participants to share their RegenPGC experiences with their students upon their return to the classroom and inspire young persons to learn more about STEM subjects.

The RegenPGC REU program provides opportunities to undergraduate students interested in future careers as STEM teachers to engage in a hands-on research project with a RegenPGC mentor and research team.

Both projects take place during the summer months, and RegenPGC collaborator Maureen Griffin and her team at the Iowa State University Office of Biotechnology lead the project.

Learn more about the essential truths and inspirations that our REU and RET participants were exposed to in 2025 in this overview piece.

Meet teacher Elisa “Ellie” Soosloff

Ellie Soosloff 2025 RET

Meet high school math teacher Elisa “Ellie” Soosloff, a professional educator who loves a full workload!

Elisa “Ellie” Soosloff, Creston High School, Creston, Iowa

I am a high school math teacher in Creston, Iowa, entering my 5th year of teaching. I grew up in Elgin, Illinois, and moved to Iowa for college, where I attended Drake University, completing a BA in Mathematics and a Spanish Minor alongside my BSE in Secondary Education. This past summer, I also finished my MA in Mathematics through Texas A&M to begin offering Calc 1, College Algebra, and Statistics for community college credit at Creston High School. I also teach Geometry, Trigonometry, Pre-Calc, and Probability & Statistics. It’s a full load, but I love it!

I applied to the RET program because… I have a passion for continuing my learning and being able to show my students not only why the math works how it does, but how it can be applied. I always love telling my students about how math and STEM are constantly growing and changing, and what better way to do that than to go help grow and develop research myself.

My expectations of the RET program are… to develop my knowledge about how research is done this summer. I’m excited to gain experience and make connections with other teachers and researchers to learn everything that I can. I’m especially looking forward to potentially developing something I could take back to my own classroom.

How do you see this experience impacting your classroom? I would love to incorporate more cross-curricular and project-based learning into my classroom and begin to introduce the students to areas of STEM that they don’t get to explore as commonly at the high school level. I believe this experience will be a great way to collaborate with other STEM areas and begin developing those kinds of materials based on the research descriptions involving creating and implementing classroom activities.

Meet future teacher Alex Haus

Alex Haus 2025 REU

Every teacher has a story, and everyone who wants to become a teacher has their own inspiration. Learn what drives Alex Haus, a 2025 RegeNPGC “Research Experience for Undergraduates” participant.

Alex Haus, Wartburg College

I grew up in the small town of Charles City, Iowa. I’m a first-year student at Wartburg College (Waverly, Iowa), studying to become a middle school teacher with a focus on grades 5–8 science and math, along with a coaching endorsement. While I’m still gaining experience, I’m passionate about education and excited to help future students grow. I have a twin, and I’ve ridden in RAGBRAI twice, an experience that really challenged and inspired me. In my free time, I love fishing, listening to music, and playing the ukulele.

I applied to the REU program because… of my desire to gain useful experience in math and science that I can bring into my future classroom. As someone who will be teaching middle school in the future, I understand that real-world learning, particularly in STEM, often requires trial and error and, at times, failure. I want to demonstrate to my students that failure is not the end but rather a component of the learning process. I am aware that I will encounter challenges and difficulties in this program, and I am confident that those experiences will improve my teaching abilities. When I tackle challenges on my own, I can assist my students in grasping that making mistakes, looking for assistance, and endurance are all accepted actions. It is just as important to learn how to fail in the future as it is to reach the appropriate response. I desire for my classroom to be a space in which students feel safe, curious, and supported, particularly when challenges arise.

My expectations from the REU program are… to gain real-world experience in science and math from the summer RET/REU program that I can use in my future classroom. I also look forward to the chance to collaborate with others from around the country, working together with people I have yet to meet. I think collaborating with people from various backgrounds and viewpoints will be extremely beneficial. Not only will it assist me in getting new ideas and methods, but it will also prompt me to communicate and resolve issues in ways that may vary from my regular procedures.

Why do you want to become a teacher? My decision to become a STEM teacher stems from a strong desire to learn and share knowledge. STEM topics always attracted my interest because of their ability to tackle current issues and promote creativity. I hope to inspire the next generation of thinkers and innovators by making these topics more approachable and entertaining. Teaching allows you to spark students’ interest, assist them in understanding complex ideas, and promote critical thinking and problem-solving—all of which are essential abilities in any field.

Meet teacher Jessica Garland

Jessica Garland headshot

Kids need hands-on experiences to maximize their opportunities to learn new concepts. That idea comes through loud and clear from 2025 RegenPGC Research Experience for Teachers participant Jessica Garland. We believe that with the help of her RegenPGC mentors, Dr. Richard Roth and graduate student Alioune Diopp, her summer experiences will serve both her and her students well! Learn more about our two summer programs, the Research Experience for Teachers and the Research Experience for Undergraduates, at https://www.regenpgc.org/theme-3-education/2023-ret-reu-programs-copy/.

Jessica Garland… I grew up in Johnston, Iowa, and currently live in Ankeny, Iowa, with my husband and three kids. I earned my degree in Elementary Education from Iowa State University and later completed my master’s degree at Viterbo University. I’ve been teaching 5th grade for 15 years and love engaging students across all subject areas. In addition to classroom teaching, I also run a science and engineering club that brings hands-on STEM experiences to young learners. Outside of school, I enjoy spending time with my family, being outdoors, and finding creative ways to make learning exciting. Something unexpected about me? I love to garden —it’s my favorite way to relax and reconnect with nature.

I applied to the RET program because… I’m passionate about bringing real-world, hands-on learning opportunities to my students. I’m always looking for ways to deepen my understanding of STEM concepts so I can better engage and inspire young learners. This project is a great opportunity to grow professionally, collaborate with others, and bring fresh, research-based ideas back to my classroom.

My expectations of the RET program are… to gain new insights and practical strategies to make STEM learning more meaningful and engaging for my students. I’m also excited to collaborate with other educators and bring back fresh ideas to enhance my teaching and science club activities.

How do you see this experience impacting your classroom? I see this experience having an impact on my classroom by enriching my teaching with real-world scientific applications and research-based practices. By engaging in hands-on research, I will be able to bring authentic STEM experiences to my students, making science more engaging, relevant, and inquiry-driven. I plan to integrate what I learn into my lessons, incorporating more hands-on experiments, problem-solving activities, and connections to real scientific careers.

Meet future STEM teacher, Jacie Staedtler

Jessica Staedtler Headshot

At RegenPGC, we are not only about perennial groundcover, we are about growing the future. That is why we sponsor two research experience programs every summer, the Research Experience for Undergraduates and the Research Experience for Teachers.

Meet Jessica “Jacie” Staedtler, a member of our 2025 Research Experience for Undergraduates Internship. You can learn more about Jacie and her colleagues at https://iastate.box.com/s/4ugs0uvgyrac4q5qcovet3nr0k8lue03.

Hello, my name is Jacie Staedtler. I am going to be a senior at South Dakota State University (Brookings, SD) in the fall, pursuing my mathematics education degree. I am from Spencer, Iowa, and stayed in Alta, Iowa, over the summers. I enjoy reading, being on the farm, cooking, and baking. A fun fact about me is that I have written a recipe book for my family.

I applied to the REU program because… I wanted to grow my understanding of research experience. This program will help me with research techniques and how to be a better teacher. It will also help me connect science and math classrooms, so the collaborations and connections could help my teaching career. I would love a chance to collaborate with other STEM teachers and potentially design cross-curricular materials that can help expand our students’ knowledge. I feel that there’s a lot that can be learned through this type of collaboration, and I would love to be a part of that and begin to build something new to use in classrooms to challenge how students think and learn.

My expectations from the REU program are… I will increase my knowledge and my professional connections.

Why do you want to become a teacher? I have decided to become a STEM teacher because I enjoy the higher-order thinking problems while teaching and connecting them to real-world examples. Also, break the misconception that students are “bad” at math and science. I enjoy connecting the topics with chemistry and velocity problems to help make both enjoyable and collaborative.

Flip the Script – When the Teacher Went to School

Meggan Lint is a teacher who spent much of her summer in our Research Experience for Teachers (RET) program. Meggan has a goal of continuous learning so she can “embolden my students to achieve their goals outside of the classroom.”

We like to believe that being immersed in her project, “Comparative Analysis of Growth and Development in Maize under Shade (Low Red Far Red Ratio) Light and White Light Conditions Under Perennial Ground Cover Crop (PGC),” did just that with the help of her mentors and RET advisors Thomas Lübberstedt, Leticia Prada De Miranda, Diego Caixeta, and Memiş Bilgici.

Here is what Meggan had to say at the end of the summer: “This experience is unlike any other experience I’ve ever been a part of, and it was amazing!! If you had told me, in the beginning, that this summer would feel more like summer camp when I was eight years old, I wouldn’t have believed you. I felt the same feelings—anxiety, excitement, and not knowing if I would fit in—about this summer course as I had when I first went to a week of sleepaway camp. And much like being at sleepaway camp, we learned from each other, played, and explored.”

You can learn more about Meggan and her RET colleagues at https://www.regenpgc.org/theme-3-education/graduate-education/.