ISU Graduate Program in Seed Technology and Business

Congratulations to our newest hashtag , Alice Lopes!
Alice successfully defended her creative component, Microencapsulation in Agriculture, completing the final step toward graduation. Way to go, Alice!

Congratulations to our newest STB graduate, Skyler Hager! Skyler successfully defended his creative component project this morning. ISU Seed Science Center

We wish Dr. Munkvold the very best at the University of Kentucky! We will miss him here at ISU!

Gary Munkvold Departs Iowa State for Department Chair Role at University of Kentucky After nearly two decades at Iowa State University, Dr. Gary Munkvold will step into a new leadership role as Chair of the Department of Plant Pathology at the University of Kentucky, beginning May 1. Munkvold has been a cornerstone of the Seed Technology and Business (STB) Graduate Program for 19 ye...

a reminder of the hard work, innovation, and dedication that keep this industry growing. Proud to be part of a field that feeds the world, supports communities, and continues to evolve for the future. 🌽💚

SeedsMatter

Instructor Spotlight : Jim Schweigert

His story is anything but ordinary!
Introducing Jim Schweigert, the newest adjunct instructor in the Seed Technology & Business (STB) graduate program at the Seed Science Center! Jim brings a unique blend of real-world experience and lifelong learning to the classroom.

Jim grew up immersed in the seed industry; his familys company, Gro Alliance, was founded in 1941 as a small farm venture and has evolved over more than 80 years into a thriving seed services enterprise. Jim describes it as an “80-plus-year-old startup,” symbolizing both its legacy and continuous innovation.
Although his degree was in public relations, Jim realized that to grow beyond his own business experience, he needed broader industry insight. Pursuing graduate study in the STB program gave him “a much broader view” of seed markets, business models, and the global seed ecosystem.
Jim encourages students to embrace layered education, combining hands-on industry experience with strategic study. He believes education becomes most powerful when it connects directly to real-world challenges and leadership opportunities within the seed industry.

Whether talking about agility in business, long-term vision, or understanding how small companies compete and collaborate with global players, Jim’s insights reflect decades of experience and a forward-looking mindset he’s excited to bring to STB students.

👉 Stay tuned as Jim helps shape the next generation of seed industry leaders!

https://www.seeds.iastate.edu/news/2026/80-year-old-startup-new-stb-instructor-jim-schweigert-education-agility-and-thriving

Several Seed Science Center scholarships close February 15, 2026 — don’t miss your chance to apply!

Available opportunities include:
🌱 Bayer Graduate Fellowship in Global Seed Policy and Regulations
🌱 Committee for Agriculture Development Fellowship in Seed Science
🌱 The Edda G. Sehgal Fellowship for Graduate Studies in Seed Science
🌱 Iowa Crop Improvement Association Fellowship in Seed Science
🌱 Iowa Seed Association Graduate Fellowship Endowment

Invest in your future in seed science—apply before the deadline!

Visit our website to find more information on how to apply!

Are you....
☑️ Enrolled or accepted to a graduate degree program in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Iowa State University?
☑️ Pursuing your MS or PhD degree?
☑️ Emphsizing your research seed related topics?

If you said YES to all these questions, then you qualify for one of our newest scholarships, the Iowa Seed Association Graduate Fellowship Endowment!

Applications for this opportunity are due at 11:59 pm CSDT on Feb 15. Learn more and apply today on our website https://www.seedgrad.iastate.edu/iowa-seed-association-graduate-fellowship-endowment/

New semester, new opportunities to grow 🌱 Welcome back to spring semester!

Welcome back, SEEDLEADERS!

Coffee's on. ☕️
Laptop is at 100. 🔋
Welcome back online, Cyclones!