Graduate Student Liza Van der Laan Named 2025 Karas Award Winner for Outstanding Dissertation
Graduate Student Liza Van der Laan Named 2025 Karas Award Winner for Outstanding Dissertation
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State University proudly announces that Liza Van der Laan, a doctoral candidate in the Department of Agronomy, and RF Baker Center supported student, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Karas Award for Outstanding Dissertation. This prestigious award recognizes exceptional doctoral research that demonstrates innovation, impact, and scholarly excellence.
Van der Laan’s pioneering work in plant breeding has focused on enhancing key traits in soybean, with a particular emphasis on improving heat stress tolerance. Her research integrates advanced methodologies to address one of agriculture’s most pressing challenges—climate resilience. Her findings are paving the way for the development of soybean varieties better equipped to thrive in increasingly warm environments.
The Karas Award highlights the importance of graduate research in shaping the future of science and agriculture, and Van der Laan’s contributions exemplify the spirit of this honor.