More Information
About Claire
Claire Kruesel (KREE-zuhl) has over a decade of experience teaching and coordinating programming in higher ed. She is passionate about agency-based pedagogy to facilitate transformative upleveling of both personal and professional skills. Ms. Kruesel specializes in architecting and running efficient containers for experiential learning, optimizing curriculum, and helping students build audience-centered SciComm skills. Her goal is to collaborate both within and beyond the Department to cultivate an innovative, community-rich, and personally empowering undergraduate experience at Iowa State.
An intersectional background in science, communication, and pedagogy informs Ms. Kruesel's approach as BBMB Undergraduate Program Coordinator. This position includes managing scholarships, supporting undergraduate research, advising the Stupka Undergraduate Research Symposium, leading recruitment and retention efforts, and directing the BBMB Undergraduate Mentoring Program. Ms. Kruesel's additional instructional roles include a biochemistry lab-report writing course, a study-abroad course to France focused on sustainable food systems (co-instructor), and the BBMB Summer Undergraduate Research Program (Director).
Ms. Kruesel's top strengths are creativity (VIA), individualization, strategic, connectedness, ideation, input, achiever, futuristic, learner, restorative, and activator (Clifton/Gallup).
Are you curious what it's like to major in biochemistry at Iowa State?
The Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology (BBMB) is an academic home for ambitious students who want to engage in creative problem-solving to make the world more efficient, healthy, and resilient. Biochemistry majors build a broad foundation of knowledge--from Calculus to Chemistry, Cell Biology to Thermodynamics--that prepares them for a future in academia, industry, research, and beyond. Biochemistry majors at Iowa State further specialize in Research and Biotechnology, Pre-Medicine, or Biophysics.
Our majors gain hands-on experience in biochemistry labs starting their first year--we want you to know what you're getting into and feel confident about your choice of major! As a biochemistry major, you'll build a solid foundation in biology, chemistry, math, and physics, tying it all together under the catalytic umbrella of biochemistry. You'll also have the freedom to customize your studies with electives in fields such as genetics, pharmacology and toxicology, and agronomy. Many students work in research labs and have the opportunity to present their work at the student-led Stupka Undergraduate Research Symposium, which also offers real-world experience in event planning and national networking opportunities. The Biochemistry Undergraduate Learning Community pairs students with Peer Mentors, the Biochemistry Club hosts social and outreach events, and the BBMB Undergraduate Mentoring Program facilitates meaningful interaction with faculty.
Students entering ISU with credits in core classes have many options on how to expand their biochemistry experience. Add a minor, second major, second degree, or Science Communication Certificate; conduct undergraduate research or even apply for our B.S./M.S. program; and/or pursue an internship, such as with Corteva your final semester. We are happy to discuss your options and help you chart a path customized for you!
Overall, choosing biochemistry at Iowa State means you'll have access to a strong support network while you study and perhaps even further the frontiers of bioscience.