Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience | Graduate College | The University of Iowa

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Study aspects of the human brain with top-notch researchers in the University of Iowa's Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience.

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.

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IDGP Neuroscience Events

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

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 Β-cells Beyond Inos-no Signaling."

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

Tuesday, October 27, 2026 11:30am

Virtual

🎓 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

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

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

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

Tuesday, December 8, 2026 11:30am

Virtual

📣 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 (‘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

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 (‘23 Neuroscience)!

💻 “Careers in Research Computing: Data, Supercomputing & Beyond”

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

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Outstanding Alumni

Alex Petrucci

Eric Emmons

Katelyn Joyal

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

"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.”

Banu Gumusoglu, PhD
2020 winner, Rex Montgomery Dissertation Prize

Iowa Neuroscience Institute Events

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

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 autism”

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 autism” 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

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

UI study looks at alcoholism risk, adolescent brain development

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Daniel O'Leary, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, has received a five-year, $2.6 million grant from the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to study brain development in adolescents with genetic risk factors for alcoholism. The researchers will use advanced...

Hospital experts debate wisdom of using stun guns to control violent patients

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

By Leslie Tamura Washington Post Staff WriterTuesday, July 20, 2010 Police officers in many jurisdictions use stun guns to incapacitate suspects, but the weapons have started to show up in hospital settings as well, a migration that has raised some concerns.On July 8, a security guard used a stun gun on the 25-year-old nephew of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas after he allegedly became...

Dr. Brennan Accepts Invitation

Thursday, July 15, 2010

The National Institutes of Health has invited Timothy Brennan, M.D., Samir D. Gergis Professor of Anesthesia, Vice Chair for Research, to serve as a member of the Surgery, Anesthesiology and Trauma Study Section, Center for Scientific Review. Dr. Brennan will serve in this capacity from July 1, 2010 through June 30, 2014. Please take a moment to read more about this appointment.

Drs. Timothy Brennan and Richard Rosenquist Receive Awards from the American Pain Society

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Timothy Brennan, M.D., Ph.D., Samir Gergis Professor of Anesthesia, Vice Chair for Research, will receive the Frederick W. L. Kerr Basic Science Research Award from the American Pain Society (APS) during the group’s annual meeting held May 6-8, 2010. This award was established in 1987 in honor of Frederick W. L. Kerr, an APS founder, to recognize individual excellence and achievement in pain...

UI physical therapist Sluka comments on chronic pain

Monday, July 12, 2010

"When pain gets chronic, people do less," says Kathleen Sluka, professor of physical therapy and rehabilitation science at the University of Iowa. "Their muscles get weaker and their bodies get tighter, and they think about pain a lot more. Movement techniques help them relax, make them stronger and reduce stress levels, so maybe they can think about something other than pain for a bit."Read more...

Sigmund to lead UI Department of Pharmacology

Thursday, June 17, 2010

University of Iowa Health Care leaders have announced the appointment of Curt Sigmund, Ph.D., as professor and head of the Department of Pharmacology in the University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine. Sigmund, who is currently a faculty member in the departments of internal medicine and molecular physiology and biophysics, will become head of pharmacology July 1, pending...

Perlman elected Fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

University of Iowa microbiologist Stanley Perlman, M.D., Ph.D., has been elected a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology. The honor recognizes scientific achievement and original contributions that have advanced microbiology.Perlman, professor of microbiology and pediatrics in the UI Carver College of Medicine, was one of 78 scientists elected to the academy this year.Perlman's research...

CLAS names Collegiate Fellows, Stuit and Starch Faculty Fellows

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS) named Physics Professor Thomas F. Boggess Jr. and Mathematics Professor Weimin Han Collegiate Fellows in recognition of their distinguished teaching, research and service. The college named Professor John Freeman the first Stuit Faculty Fellow in Psychology, and Psychology Professor Susan Lutgendorf a Starch Faculty Fellow...

UI studies brain's moral judgments

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

A new study suggests that our ability to respond appropriately to intended harms is seated in a brain region associated with regulating emotions. The finding offers a new piece to the puzzle of how the human brain constructs morality. Among the study's authors is DANIEL TRANEL of the University of Iowa.

Andreasen book discusses creative people and depression (Back Stage, March 22)

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

In her book "The Creating Brain: The Neuroscience of Genius," NANCY C. ANDREASEN, a psychiatrist and neuroscientist at the University of Iowa, argues that the same attributes that help artists create -- such as openness and sensitivity -- may also make them more susceptible to mental and emotional problems. Back Stage is a Web site devoted to covering the theatrical industry.