RIR: Leveraging AI to Advance Life Sciences and Agriculture
On May 4, the Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) will host the first of two Research and Innovation Roundtables (RIR) scheduled for the spring semester: Leveraging AI to Advance Life Sciences and Agriculture. The purpose is to help prepare our community for future calls for research fueled by artificial intelligence.
In late November 2025, the White House issued an executive order, launching the Genesis Mission – a nationwide effort to supercharge scientific discovery using advanced AI. The mission is designed to tackle major national challenges where faster scientific progress can have the biggest impact, including biotechnology, critical materials, clean energy, fusion power, and quantum computing.
The Department of Energy (DOE) Genesis Mission Consortium issued a Request for Application (RFA) on March 17, 2026, with a forty-day window for submission for Phase I applications. The OVPR anticipates other federal agencies – including the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), National Science Foundation (NSF), and National Institutes of Health (NIH) – will model this approach in the future. This RIR is intended to prepare Iowa State research faculty for this eventuality.
The May 4 RIR will delve into areas of discussion including, but not limited to:
- Precision agriculture, robotics, and autonomy
- Pests, disease, and biosecurity
- Food systems, nutrition, and human health
- Soil, water and nutrient intelligence
- Resilient agricultural systems
- Markets, policy, and translation to practice
As with previous RIRs, participants will be given the opportunity to collaborate and establish self-assembled teams to submit proposals and compete for seed funds for projects that provide the groundwork for Genesis Mission-type funding opportunities.
In advance of the event, Iowa State faculty are to prepare and present a one-minute (maximum) recorded introduction to their expertise and interest in the overarching topic Leveraging AI to Advance Life Sciences and Agriculture. These brief introductions will be shared with event participants as preview material prior to the event date. Here are step-by-step instructions for completing your video. Please prepare your video using this PowerPoint template then upload the finalized file here.
RIR participants will engage in facilitated breakout discussions and pitch project ideas throughout the day. Additional time for self-assembly and adding to project ideation and collaboration will follow the breakout discussions. Instructions regarding Requests for Proposals for those interested in submitting a project idea for seed funding will be shared at the event. Resulting proposals will be evaluated by event facilitators and funded based on interest, relevance, and connection to the Iowa State University Strategic Plan.
Registration is open now through the deadline of April 27, 2026.