Three Dordt University students were recognized with third place at the 2026 Iowa NSF EPSCoR Symposium for their collaborative research and presentation.
Three Dordt University students earned third-place recognition at the third annual Iowa NSF EPSCoR Symposium, held at the University of Iowa. The statewide event brought together researchers, students, and industry partners for a day of collaboration, professional development, and research presentations focused on advancing scientific innovation across Iowa.
The Dordt team of junior biology major Jalyn Struble of Onawa, Iowa; senior engineering major Catherine Yu of Beijing; and senior engineering major Joseph Jang of Sioux Center, Iowa, received third place for their research presentation. They were advised by Dr. Manuela Ayee-Leong, professor of engineering and chemistry at Dordt.
According to Ayee-Leong, the research project is part of a larger NSF-funded project focused on advancing biosciences and advanced manufacturing in Iowa. Dordt students use computational modeling to study how respiratory viral proteins from influenza, SARS-CoV-2, and respiratory syncytial virus interact with biological membranes. By investigating the viral proteins within model cell membranes, the students analyze how the proteins influence the organization and composition of the surrounding membrane.
“The specific focus is to use computational modeling to better understand respiratory viral proteins and their interactions with biological membranes,” says Ayee-Leong. “This research experience is particularly valuable for undergraduate students because it combines concepts from chemical engineering, biophysics, computational science, and molecular biology.”
Additionally, the annual Iowa NSF EPSCoR symposium brings together academics, other researchers, and industry partners from across the state of Iowa, with a goal “to highlight research supported through the EPSCoR project,” she says. “For our students, presenting at the symposium provided an opportunity to share our work beyond the Dordt community and see how this work fits into a much larger statewide research effort.”
Their third-place recognition in the poster contest at the 2026 Iowa NSF EPSCoR Symposium reflects both the quality of their work and their growth as undergraduate researchers. “This recognition of winning 3rd place in the poster contest is a strong indication that our undergraduate students are capable of contributing meaningful work to research projects that involve sophisticated computational and scientific methods,” says Ayee-Long. The students progressed from learning the fundamentals of molecular dynamics early in the summer to analyzing results and communicating their findings to a professional scientific audience, demonstrating the persistence, intellectual curiosity, and problem-solving skills developed through the research process.
This experience demonstrates Dordt’s commitment to giving students hands-on experience with complex scientific questions while developing the skills to communicate their findings professionally. “With this project specifically, students were able to engage with research questions at the intersection of engineering, biology, and computational science, and even more significantly, they had the opportunity to present that work alongside researchers from institutions across the state,” says Ayee-Leong.
“I am particularly proud of the students that worked with me this summer because this recognition represents much more than a successful presentation,” she adds. “It is a testament to the growth they have experienced as researchers.”
About Dordt University
As an institution of higher education committed to the Reformed Christian perspective, Dordt University equips students, alumni, and the broader community to work effectively toward Christ-centered renewal in all aspects of contemporary life.
Located in Sioux Center, Iowa, Dordt offers undergraduate and graduate programs that help students live their faith in every area of life. Through rigorous learning, meaningful relationships, and whole-person formation, students gain the practical wisdom to serve God and neighbor through their work and in their communities. Dordt has been named among the nation's leading Christian universities by U.S. News & World Report, Niche, and other national publications.
"By preserving what makes Heartland unique while expanding access to CACE's professional development initiatives, research, leadership resources, and Dordt University's educational expertise, we believe we can accomplish more together than either organization could accomplish alone."
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