DSU Students and Faculty Attend South Dakota Biotech Summit

Four Dakota State University students, Amelie Steins, Basbo Ayelazono, Nora Zoller, and Vanessa Ocancey, along with faculty member Dr. Andrew Sathoff, represented DSU at the annual South Dakota Biotech Summit held in Sioux Falls on October 27-28, 2025. The event brought together industry leaders, researchers, and students to discuss the expanding role of biotechnology across South Dakota.

The summit opened on October 27 with an evening program running from 4:00–6:00 p.m., themed “Building Biotech Bridges.” Attendees participated in a series of high-impact conversations focused on strengthening the biotech pipeline within the state. A featured session included a fireside chat on Innovating Legacy, led by Robert Fouberg of Dacotah Banks and Tyler Tordsen of Grow Metro Alliance.

The evening concluded with a group dinner of pho.

The second day, October 28, began at 8:00 a.m. and continued through 2:00 p.m. The morning plenary, “Innovation in the Heartland,” showcased POET President Jeff Lautt along with Mark Luecke from South Dakota Innovation Partners. The speakers shared the story of POET’s growth and long-standing success across multiple states, highlighting innovation and resilience in the biofuels industry.

Another key session was a health-care panel moderated by Tom Johnson of Avera, featuring Avera CMO Dr. Kevin Post, Sanford CNO Erica DeBoer, Marcia O’Leary of Missouri Breaks Industries Research, and South Dakota Secretary of Health Melissa Magstadt. The discussion addressed the challenges and opportunities of delivering healthcare in rural communities, emphasizing that while digital tools are advancing rapidly, “technology will never replace the person performing CPR”, underscoring the continued importance of human expertise in medicine.

After a brief networking break, the summit continued with a conversation between SD GOED Commissioner Bill Even and Jodi Schwan on building a stronger and more competitive bioeconomy in the region.

The event concluded with remarks from South Dakota Biotech President Mark Stowers, who reflected on the state’s momentum in biotechnology and outlined the vision for continued growth and innovation in the years ahead.