University Program

CBiRC will provide course materials to facilitate the development of new interdisciplinary graduate minors, concentrations, or options in biorenewable chemicals at all partner institutions. Some of the details regarding the logistics of offering the biorenewable chemicals minor and the course listing will vary by institution. However, core courses will be offered using the Virtual Education Center model, so these will cross institutional borders between partners. For example, at Iowa State, the interdepartmental Biorenewable chemicals minor will reside within the Graduate College and be affiliated with CBiRC.

The core course in the biorenewable chemicals minor will cover both biological and chemical catalysis and will be the primary vehicle for ensuring that CBiRC graduate students are trained in both types of catalysis. This course will be taught by faculty from several CBiRC partners and will be made available to students at all CBiRC partners via distance education. In addition, students will attend an annual meeting of CBiRC where students in each thrust area will present posters and learn about each other’s research findings, thereby gaining a better appreciation for both chemical and biological catalysis of biorenewables.

The ERC will provide innovation and entrepreneurship training experiences through collaboration with the Pappajohn Entrepreneurship Center, venture capital firms, and translational research experience with small start-up firms.