Purdue Sophomores Win $20k from ISA for Soy-Based Adhesive

Team SoySeal's pressure-sensitive, reusable, and waterproof tape outperforms competitors

Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:23am

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A team of Purdue University sophomores won $20,000 in the Student Soybean Innovation Competition for their soy-based adhesive product called SoySeal. The team, comprised of Elizabeth Heckaman, Kasey Wright, and Jocelyn Erickson, created a multi-component tape that is 90% soy-based and outperforms traditional options like masking tape.

Why it matters

The Student Soybean Innovation Competition, a partnership between Purdue and the Indiana Soybean Alliance, aims to find new and innovative uses for soybeans. SoySeal's win highlights the versatility of soy as a sustainable, biodegradable alternative to petroleum-based adhesives and tapes.

The details

SoySeal is a pressure-sensitive, reusable, and waterproof tape product made up of a 90% soy-based backing and a 100% soy-based adhesive. The team chose to develop a tape product because of the large market and the ability to create a biodegradable alternative to traditional plastic-based tapes.

  • The Student Soybean Innovation Competition awards ceremony took place on March 26, 2026.

The players

Elizabeth Heckaman

A Purdue University sophomore studying biological engineering with a concentration in food and biological processes.

Kasey Wright

A Purdue University sophomore studying biological engineering.

Jocelyn Erickson

A Purdue University sophomore majoring in industrial engineering who placed third in the competition the previous year.

Indiana Soybean Alliance

A partnership between Purdue University and the Indiana Soybean Alliance that hosts the Student Soybean Innovation Competition.

Purdue University

The university where the winning SoySeal team is enrolled and where the competition is hosted.

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What they’re saying

“I'm going to get my car fixed and I'm going to save some money, probably pay some rent, probably buy some clothes.”

— Elizabeth Heckaman

“Well, if I make it soy instead of plastic, that makes it biodegradable, which is great from an environmental standpoint. So, that was really promising, and then also the market for tape is ginormous. There are so many applications for it. So, I feel like those two factors combined just like really sealed the deal for us.”

— Kasey Wright, Biological Engineering Student

“Since I did this competition last year, these two were definitely the brains behind the product and I made it look good. I was definitely the main contributor to the marketing plan. I made the logo with the little seal, I made the name, and I made the presentation. So, I made it look good and they made the great product.”

— Jocelyn Erickson, Industrial Engineering Major

What’s next

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The takeaway

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