In her Jan. 16 report to the Faculty Senate, vice president for research Sarah Nusser said her office is working to promote interdisciplinary collaboration among arts, humanities, design and STEM researchers.

Nominations may be sent anytime to search committee co-chairs David Spalding, Raisbeck endowed dean of the Ivy College of Business, and Guru Rao, associate vice president for research.

Nearly all campus buildings were built before spaces such as lactation rooms and gender-inclusive restrooms were considered, but the university's aim is to add them when possible.

Lance and Ellie's, ISU Dining's new deli venue, opened Wednesday in the MU food court. House-made and Iowa-sourced ingredients are used in the menu of sandwiches, wraps, salads, sides and desserts.

Jennifer Leptien shed her interim appointment when she became the university's director of learning communities on Jan. 12. Leptien has worked with learning communities for 12 years as the program coordinator.

Jaime Juárez, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, is studying whether on-board 3D printers could create needed components for space crafts, limiting the expense of including spare parts as cargo.

Iowa State scientists will contribute to an effort to map the genomes of 26 lines of corn, an ambitious project that will allow plant breeders and farmers to harness the crop's vast genetic diversity.

Project SEARCH provides job training internships for people with disabilities. First implemented at Iowa State in fall 2016 by the College of Human Sciences, the program will expand to more areas of campus and include more youth, starting this fall.

• Reception: "Ambiguity, Mystery and Allure" exhibit, Jan. 26 (4-5:30 p.m., Christian Petersen Art Museum, 1017 Morrill)

• Reception: With artists Benjamin Gardner, Andrea Ferrigno and Edgard Camacho, three exhibits in the Memorial Union, Jan. 29 (6-7:30 p.m., MU Gallery, Pioneer Room and Multicultural Center, respectively)

• 2nd annual personal branding seminar, Collegiately Creative, hosted by the event management club, Feb. 3 (10 a.m.-2 p.m., 0308 Elings), open to faculty, staff and students, $20, register online
• Inaugural female entrepreneurship conference, Women Who Create, hosted by the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship, Feb. 20 (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Economic Development Core Facility), $45, register online

The sixth campus conversation, co-hosted by the division of diversity and inclusion, will be held Monday, Jan. 22 (6-8 p.m., MU Great Hall). "Striving for Mutual Respect: An Interfaith Dialogue" will invite discussion about stigma and stereotypes, and how to come together around philosophy and modern day living. The format features a panel moderated by professor of mechanical engineering Shankar Subramaniam and small group discussions.

Those looking to learn about diverse topics will have no shortage of opportunities this spring, thanks to the spring lectures program. Lectures are free and open to the public.