CASFER ANNUAL
SITE VISIT
2026 Site Visit
May 18 - 21, 2026
Lubbock, TX
hosted by Texas Tech University
CASFER's Site Visit serves a showcase of all of the incredible things that we have done as a Center over the past year. We present to a team from the National Science Foundation to show them our progress and to get valuable feedback on ways the Center can improve.
The site visit acts as a time and a place for the entire CASFER community to collaborate. We want to join together to enjoy some amazing presentations, speakers, and camaraderie, while inspiring collaboration throughout the entire CASFER community.
Site visit events will be hosted at the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center on Texas Tech's campus. Travel costs will be reimbursed to personnel for CASFER professors, senior researchers, graduate & undergraduate students, postdocs, and SAB & EDAB board members.
Site Visit Agenda
McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center
Texas Tech University
2521 17th St
Lubbock, TX 79409
Day 1: Monday, May 18
3:00-4:00 Perfect Pitch Competition
5:00-7:30 CASFER Innovation Showcase
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Student Poster Session, Technology Displays, Testbed Tours, and Reception
Day 2: Tuesday, May 19
7:45-8:45 Breakfast and Registration – Dining Room
8:45-8:50 Welcome and Introductions
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Botte, CASFER Director
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Dana Denick, NSF Program Manager
8:50-9:35 CASFER Overview
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Botte, CASFER Director, Texas Tech University
9:35-9:45 Overview Q & A
9:45-10:35 Thrust 1 Process Optimization and Models for Economic Fertilizer Resilience
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Scott + team, Thrust 1 Lead, Georgia Institute of Technology
10:35-10:50 Thrust 1 Q & A
10:50-11:00 BREAK
11:00-11:50 Thrust 2 Capture and Resource Recovery for Fertilizer Production
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Hatzell + team, Thrust 2 Lead, Georgia Institute of Technology
11:50-12:05 Thrust 2 Q & A
12:05-1:05 Lunch – Dining Room
1:05-1:55 Thrust 3 Modular Fertilizer Production & Delivery
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Botte + team, Thrust 3 Lead, Texas Tech University
1:55-2:10 Thrust 3 Q & A
2:10-2:50 Testbeds
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Alvarez-Pugliese, Managing Director, Texas Tech University
2:50–3:05 Testbeds Q & A
3:05-3:15 BREAK
3:15-4:00 Deans Council & NSF Site Visit Team Meeting – (Closed Session; Breakout A)
4:00–5:00 NSF Site Visit Team – Executive Session (Closed Session; Breakout A)
5:00–6:00 NSF Site Visit Team – Working Dinner (Closed Session; Breakout A)
Day 3: Wednesday, May 20
8:00-9:00 Breakfast for CASFER team – Dining Room
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Breakfast session Students/Postdocs & NSF Site Visit Team – Breakout A
9:00-9:50 Engineering Workforce Development / Outreach and Engagement
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Gracia, Senior Director for Inclusive Workforce Development & Education, Texas Tech University
9:50-10:05 Engineering Workforce Development / Outreach and Engagement Q & A
10:05-10:55 Innovation Ecosystem & Sustainability Plan
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Riojas, Director/Industrial Liaison Officer, Texas Tech University
10:55-11:10 Innovation Ecosystem Q & A
11:10-11:20 BREAK
11:20-12:10 IPAB & SAB NSF Site Visit Team Meeting (Closed Session; Breakout A)
12:10-1:10 NSF Site Visit Team Lunch and Meeting (Closed Session; Breakout A)
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Lunch for CASFER team - Dining Room
1:10-2:20 CASFER 2.0 (Year 6 - Year 10)
2:20-3:00 CASFER 2.0 (Year 6 - Year 10) Q & A
3:00-3:30 BREAK
3:30-5:00 NSF Site Visit Team & CASFER Leadership Team Q & A Session (Closed Session; Breakout A)
Day 4: Thursday, May 21
9:00-5:00 The Professional Edge: Mastering the Essentials of Leadership and Team Dynamics by the Rawls College of Business
Site Visit Team All-Day Working Session at the Overton Hotel (Closed Meeting). Breakfast and lunch will be provided for the Site Visit Team.
May 18 at 3pm
CASFER Pitch Competition
How Does it Work?
Each applicant will deliver a 90-second pitch using one PowerPoint slide related to the pitch. The pitch must clearly and compellingly present a problem or opportunity aligned with CASFER's strategic vision, describe a proposed solution, and explain the potential impact. Contestants are encouraged to include personal stories while emphasizing the science, technology, and broader impacts of CASFER work.
The winners will receive a cash prize. First place will represent CASFER in the NSF Biennial Meeting in Washington DC in September 2026 with a chance to win $5000 cash.
For an example of a pitch, please view the 2024 ERC-Wide Perfect Pitch Competition.
How to Apply?
Submit the 90-second recorded video pitch following the given guidelines and the PowerPoint slide to be used. Applications must be submitted by April 15th to Zaida Gracia (zaida.grazia@ttu.edu). Submitted materials will be reviewed by a panel of faculty, staff, and non-participating students, who will select ten finalists to present their pitch during the CASFER Site Visit on May 18.
All current CASFER undergraduates, master's students, PhD students, and post-docs are eligible to apply and compete; however, finalists must be able to attend the Annual Site Visit in Lubbock, TX from May 18-21 2026.
Prizes
1st Place - $400
2nd Place - $350
3rd Place - $300
May 18 from 5:00pm - 8:00pm
Innovation Showcase
The innovation showcase is an evening celebrating CASFER's research impact and technology progress. Explore student posters, engage with live testbed tours, hands-on demos, immersive experiences from our members and partners, and connect with the innovators shaping the future of resilient fertilizer production.
Students will compete in a poster competition with the winners receiving a cash prize.
Prizes
1st Place - $400
2nd Place - $350
3rd Place - $300
Site Visit Resources
Site Visit Map
The CASFER Site Visit will be hosted at the McKenzie Market Alumni Center. The main hotel for the Site Visit will be the Overton Hotel & Conference Center.
To get from the hotel to the alumni center, travel down Mac Davis Lane toward University Avenue. Turn left on University Avenue and continue until you reach 17th Street, then turn right. At the fork, curve left down Alumni Avenue and the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center will be the first building on your right.