AMES, Iowa - It could be said that attending Iowa State University was in Tristan Weers' DNA. Growing up on a family farm in Center Junction, Weers is a third-generation Cyclone, with his parents and grandparents attending Iowa State.
Weers will continue that tradition as he graduates this semester as a double major in biochemistry and genetics and a recipient of the Wallace E. Barron All-University Senior Award for character, academic achievement and meaningful university and community involvement.
He's also continued the family tradition as a devoted Cyclones fan, often rising early to camp out and claim a front row spot decked out in cardinal and gold.
"I toured campus on a gorgeous fall day, and yeah, it wasn't a very hard decision to come here," he said. "Everybody I met within the major and within the admissions group was incredibly friendly and nice."
Weers grew up helping on the farm, raising cattle, corn, soybeans and hay. This led to a desire to learn more about the science behind agriculture and how important it was to his community and his family. After high school, Weers couldn't decide if he liked biology or chemistry better. When he discovered biochemistry, he knew it was the right fit.
Getting acquainted on campus
Weers wanted an in-depth understanding of biochemistry right away, so he enrolled in a biochemistry orientation course and joined a learning community.
"One of the biggest impacts during my time here was the learning opportunities, showing me all the possible ways to get involved within the biochemistry community. It helped set me up for success my freshman year," he said.
One of those avenues led him to the research lab of Reuben Peters, Iowa State Roy J. Carver Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, where he performed research that led to two published research articles.
"I wasn't really certain what I was doing at first," he said. "I started out washing dishes, doing the things that needed to be done but paying attention and just learning a little bit more every day that I went there."
The job eventually turned into a research position that he credits with helping him identify his research interests now and into the future. His focus in the lab was on rice, which he enjoyed as it wasn't a crop he was familiar with.
"Knowing that even a small change in how rice can be a little bit more resilient, or how a crop can better defend itself, can have absolutely enormous impacts when actually input into the field, with huge effects across the entire state and everybody who depends on agriculture," he said.
He added a second major in genetics to extend his scientific knowledge while also taking advantage of other opportunities on campus, like a part-time job at Bessey Greenhouse.
"It was combining something that I enjoy with something that can be used to benefit me later on. I'm always making sure that I set aside time for things that I'm passionate about," he said.
Weers also became involved with the Stupka Symposium, a student-led undergraduate research symposium hosted by the biochemistry department. Weers worked his way into leadership positions and was an integral part of hosting the organization's 20th anniversary symposium in April, a special culminating event to take part in his senior year, he said.
Growing into leadership
Weers was accepted into the President's Leadership Class, a select group of freshman students that meets with the university president weekly at the Knoll. He was invited to return his sophomore year as an advisor to the program and again as a teaching assistant his senior year, helping present the president's leadership lessons.
Weers considers himself lucky to have gotten to work with three Iowa State presidents, starting with Emerita President Wendy Wintersteen, Interim President David Spalding and current President David Cook.
"It's been awesome to get to see that class in three different iterations and perspectives, with three incredible groups of students each time," he said.
Weers said the most impactful leadership lesson he learned was that everybody has their own style of leadership, and that's a good thing.
"Learning what the style - or flavor - of leadership is from your perspective, and using that to the best of your ability, is a lot more valuable than trying to copy another style or adapt your leadership."
Weers applied what he was learning at Iowa State far beyond the classroom, including an unexpected opportunity the summer after his sophomore year at the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena, Germany. There he worked on a separate project focused on synthesizing anticancer compounds found in vinca - a common houseplant that produces an important cancer-fighting compound.
The experience pushed Weers outside his comfort zone to gain firsthand insight into the research process and exposure to diverse scientific perspectives from around the world.
Giving back one opportunity at a time
Grounded in a philosophy of service, Weers views giving back as an opportunity to support others while continuing to grow himself. His advice to other students on campus looking to embody a spirit of leadership is to jump right in.
"Find something that needs to be done and find somebody who needs to be helped. I think if I can continue to do that throughout my future career, I'm putting myself in a good position and setting myself up as best as possible," he said.
Weers was accepted into the Michigan State University doctoral program for biochemistry and molecular biology, and molecular plant sciences. He plans to continue working with staple crops and researching their biochemistry, like he did here at Iowa State.
"It would be the coolest thing possible if work that I do in the research lab or progress that I make on a crop is then used or implemented on my family's farm someday down the road, knowing that the work I did paid off and benefited farmers in some way," he said.
