Director Spotlight

On location with Neuroscience Program Director Daniel Tranel, PhD

"Join the Neuroscience Graduate Program at the University of Iowa and become part of the bright team of scientists trying to solve the mystery of the human brain."

Iowa Neuroscience Institute

Provides collaborative support for the neuroscience community.

IDGP Neuroscience Events

ACB Seminar Series - Grace Gottschamer promotional image

ACB Seminar Series - Grace Gottschamer

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 9:30am to 10:30am
Bowen Science Building

Grace Gottschamer, an Interdisciplinary Graduate Student from the Dunnwald Lab will present a seminar titled " Irf6 and Epidermal Homeostasis."

 ACB Seminar Series - Joy James promotional image

ACB Seminar Series - Joy James

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 9:30am to 10:30am
Bowen Science Building

Joy James, a Cell and Developmental Biology Graduate Student in Sam Stephen's Lab will present a seminar titled "Proinflammatory Cytokines Induce Golgi Remodeling In Pancreatic Ī’-cells Beyond Inos-no Signaling."

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Virtual Career Development Series - Neuroscience alumna, McCall Sarrett, PhD promotional image

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Virtual Career Development Series - Neuroscience alumna, McCall Sarrett, PhD

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 11:30am
Virtual

šŸŽ“ Neuroscience Alumni Spotlight: McCall Sarrett, PhD ('20)

From Herky to Duo: A Career in the Cognitive Science of Learning

What can a PhD career look like beyond the traditional academic path?

Join the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Career Development Series for a conversation with McCall Sarrett, PhD ('20, Neuroscience), a University of Iowa graduate alumna who has built a career applying cognitive science and research in industry.

McCall is currently a Learning Scientist at Duolingo, where...

2026 Neuroscience Research Day Keynote Speaker: Constanza J. Cortes, PhD promotional image

2026 Neuroscience Research Day Keynote Speaker: Constanza J. Cortes, PhD

Monday, November 2, 2026 1:00pm
Medical Education Research Facility

Keynote Speaker Announcement: Constanza J. Cortes, PhD
2026 Neuroscience Research Day – Monday, November 2, 2026

We are excited to welcome Constanza J. Cortes, PhD, Assistant Professor of Gerontology at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, to the University of Iowa for this year's Neuroscience Research Day.

Dr. Cortes's research explores the intersection of exercise, brain aging, skeletal muscle, and Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular focus on how...

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Angela Smith promotional image

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Angela Smith

Tuesday, November 10, 2026 11:00am
Medical Education Research Facility

Angela Smith is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. Her research has been conducted in both Kathleen Sluka's and Stephanie Gantz's laboratories.

If you are unable to attend in person, please consider showing your support and attending via Zoom. Please email britt-hokanson@uiowa.edu for the zoom link.

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Katelin Scott promotional image

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Katelin Scott

Monday, November 30, 2026 10:00am
Medical Education Research Facility

Katelin Scott is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. Her research has been conducted in Aislinn Williams' laboratory.

If you are unable to attend in person, please consider showing your support and attending via Zoom. Please email britt-hokanson@uiowa.edu for the zoom link.

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Virtual Career Development Series - Genetics alumna, Kim Bekas, PhD promotional image

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Virtual Career Development Series - Genetics alumna, Kim Bekas, PhD

Tuesday, December 8, 2026 11:30am
Virtual

šŸ“£ Career Development Series: Finding Flexibility in a Career in Grantsmanship

Looking for a career path that keeps you connected to research while offering a different kind of flexibility after the PhD? Grantsmanship may be an option worth exploring!

The Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Office of Cancer Career Enhancement and Training is hosting the next session of its Career Development Series, featuring Kim Bekas, PhD (ā€˜22 Genetics).

Kim currently serves as a Grants & Contracts Officer IV and...

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Virtual Career Development Series - Neuroscience alumna, Amanda Bullert, PhD promotional image

Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center Virtual Career Development Series - Neuroscience alumna, Amanda Bullert, PhD

Tuesday, January 12, 2027 11:30am
Virtual

Curious about where a PhD can take you beyond the traditional academic career path? Join the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center’s Office of Cancer Career Enhancement and Training for an upcoming Career Development Series conversation featuring

University of Iowa alumna Amanda Bullert, PhD (ā€˜23 Neuroscience)!

šŸ’» ā€œCareers in Research Computing: Data, Supercomputing & Beyondā€

Amanda Bullert, PhD (ā€˜23 Neuroscience)
Senior Research Data Consultant
Masonic Institute for the Developing Brain
University of...

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Outstanding Alumni 

Alex Petrucci

Alex Petrucci

Eric Emmons

Eric Emmons

Katelyn Joyal

Katelyn Joyal

Victoria Muller Ewald

9

DISSERTATION PRIZE WINNERS AWARDED BY THE GRADUATE COLLEGE. Joseph Parvizi, Michael Koenigs, and Benton Purnell (right), Katelyn Joyal EARNED THE SPRIESTERSBACH DISSERTATION PRIZE. Matthew Sutterer, Arianna Rigon, Banu Gumusoglu, Victoria Muller E
Benton Purnell
Serena Gumusoglu
"The fact that I was able to perform at this level and do this work is representative of this program. The strength of the Neuroscience Program at the University of Iowa is what makes it such a destination program for people.ā€

Banu Gumusoglu, PhD

2020 winner, Rex Montgomery Dissertation Prize

Iowa Neuroscience Institute Events

2026 Neuroscience Research Day Keynote Speaker: Constanza J. Cortes, PhD promotional image

2026 Neuroscience Research Day Keynote Speaker: Constanza J. Cortes, PhD

Monday, November 2, 2026 1:00pm
Medical Education Research Facility

Keynote Speaker Announcement: Constanza J. Cortes, PhD
2026 Neuroscience Research Day – Monday, November 2, 2026

We are excited to welcome Constanza J. Cortes, PhD, Assistant Professor of Gerontology at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, University of Southern California, to the University of Iowa for this year's Neuroscience Research Day.

Dr. Cortes's research explores the intersection of exercise, brain aging, skeletal muscle, and Alzheimer’s disease, with a particular focus on how...

Hawk-IDDRC Seminar Series featuring Maja Bucan, PhD: "Sleep and activity patterns in autismā€  promotional image

Hawk-IDDRC Seminar Series featuring Maja Bucan, PhD: "Sleep and activity patterns in autismā€

Friday, October 9, 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building

Please join us for our first Hawk-IDDRC Seminar of the academic year, featuring: Maja Bućan, PhD.
Professor, Departments of Genetics and Psychiatry; Co-director, Autism Spectrum Program Of Excellence, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania
Lurie Autism Institute, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and PennMedicine
Presenting: "Sleep and activity patterns in autismā€ Friday, October 9, 2026, Noon – 1pm CST in the Kelch Conference Room (CBRB 1289)
Lunch will be available for those who...

Pain Interest Group Seminar - Andrew Schrepf, PhD promotional image

Pain Interest Group Seminar - Andrew Schrepf, PhD

Wednesday, October 7, 2026 9:00am to 10:00am
Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building

The neuroimmune interface in chronic pelvic pain

Andrew Schrepf, PhD
Assistant Professor
Department of Anesthesiology
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology
University of Michigan

Neuroscience News

Pharmacology researchers earn $3.4 million in grants

Tuesday, August 11, 2015
Pharmacology researchers earn $3.4 million in grantsBy: Tom Moore | 2015.08.05 | 03:11 pmResearchers in the University of Iowa Department of Pharmacology announced Aug. 5 they have received a pair of research grants from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) totaling $3.4 million. Matthew Potthoff, PhD, an assistant professor of pharmacology, received a five-year, $1.7 million grant. The goal of...

'French fry hypothesis' busted

Wednesday, June 17, 2015
High salt prevents weight gain in mice on a high-fat dietBy: Jennifer Brown | 2015.06.11 | 11:56 am In a study that seems to defy conventional dietary wisdom, University of Iowa scientists have found that adding high salt to a high-fat diet actually prevents weight gain in mice. As exciting as this may sound to fast food lovers, the researchers caution that very high levels of dietary salt are...

New studies contradict earlier findings on Rett syndrome

Tuesday, May 26, 2015
By: Jennifer Brown | 2015.05.21 | 11:50 am About a year ago, University of Iowa neuroscientist Andrew Pieper unexpectedly found himself in the position of contradicting seemingly promising results that have prompted a clinical trial for pediatric patients with Rett syndrome—a severe neurodevelopmental disorder on the autism spectrum. Independent reproduction of other scientists' results is a...
GINA MORENO—FEATURED SPEAKER AT RECEPTION HONORING DOCTORAL DEGREE RECIPIENTS

GINA MORENO—FEATURED SPEAKER AT RECEPTION HONORING DOCTORAL DEGREE RECIPIENTS

Tuesday, May 19, 2015
GINA MORENO—FEATURED SPEAKER AT RECEPTION HONORING DOCTORAL DEGREE RECIPIENTS Gina Moreno, PhD UIowa Graduate College Reception Gina Moreno, PhD UIowa Graduate College Reception Gina Moreno, who received her PhD in neuroscience on Friday, May 15, was the featured speaker at the Graduate College Doctoral Degree Recipients' reception.Moreno studied with Natalie Denburg and Dan Tranel. During her time...

From pristine lab to noisy classroom...and back

Thursday, April 16, 2015
Hawkeye Lunch and Learn event set for April 28 in Des MoinesShare on facebook Share on twitter Share on email More Sharing ServicesBy: Office of Strategic Communication | 2015.04.16 | 08:56 am Bob McMurray, associate professor of psychology, linguistics, and communication sciences and disorders at the University of Iowa, will present "From the pristine lab to the noisy classroom, and back again...

Pigeon power

Thursday, February 5, 2015
New UI study suggests similarity between how pigeons learn the equivalent of words and the way children doBy: Sara Agnew | 2015.02.04 | 02:11 pm The more scientists study pigeons, the more they learn how their brains—no bigger than the tip of an index finger—operate in ways not so different from our own. In a new study from the University of Iowa, researchers found that pigeons can categorize and...

New picture, new insight

Tuesday, January 27, 2015
MRI scan sensitive to metabolic changes reveals brain differences in bipolar disorderSometimes, a new way of looking at something can bring to light an entirely new perspective.Using a different type of MRI imaging, researchers at the University of Iowa have discovered previously unrecognized differences in the brains of patients with bipolar disorder. In particular, the study, published Jan. 6 in...

Crows are smarter than you think

Monday, December 22, 2014
A study involving the University of Iowa finds crows join humans, apes, and monkeys in exhibiting advanced relational thinkingBy: Sara Agnew | 2014.12.18 | 10:55 am Crows have long been heralded for their high intelligence—they can remember faces, use tools, and communicate in sophisticated ways.But a newly published study finds crows also have the brain power to solve higher-order, relational...

"UI's Strack nets NIH grant, GSK Discovery Fast Track award for brain research"

Monday, December 1, 2014
UI's Strack nets NIH grant, GSK Discovery Fast Track award for brain researchBy: Office of the Vice President for Research and Economic Development | 2014.12.01 | 10:25 am. Stefan Strack, University of Iowa professor of pharmacology and pathology, recently received a $275,000 grant from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Strokes (NINDS) and today (Monday, Dec. 1) was named a...

Alzheimer's patients can still feel the emotion long after the memories have vanished

Friday, October 3, 2014
UI study offers good news for caregivers, health care workers By: John Riehl | 2014.09.24 | 10:31 AM A new University of Iowa study further supports an inescapable message: caregivers have a profound influence—good or bad—on the emotional state of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. Patients may not remember a recent visit by a loved one or having been neglected by staff at a nursing home, but...