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."


09242024 Distinguished Mentor Ceremony 1

Iowa Neuroscience Institute

Provides collaborative support for the neuroscience community.

IDGP Neuroscience Events

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Hannah Stutt promotional image

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Hannah Stutt

Monday, March 23, 2026 2:00pm
Medical Education Research Facility

Hannah Stutt is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. Her research has been conducted in Dr. Nandakumar Narayanan's 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.

Distinguished Biomedical Scholars Lecture - Ian S. Maze, PhD promotional image

Distinguished Biomedical Scholars Lecture - Ian S. Maze, PhD

Thursday, March 26, 2026 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Medical Education Research Facility
Distinguished Biomedical Scholars Lecture Ian Maze
Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Ashby Martin promotional image

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Ashby Martin

Monday, April 6, 2026 11:30pm
Medical Laboratories

Ashby Martin is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. His research has been conducted in Dr. Dan Tranel's 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.

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Sara Mitchell promotional image

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Sara Mitchell

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 12:00pm
Medical Education Research Facility

Sara Mitchell is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. Her research has been conducted in Drs. Hanna Stevens and Rainbo Hultman'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: Utsav Mukherjee promotional image

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Utsav Mukherjee

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 2:00pm
Medical Education Research Facility

Utsav Mukherjee is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. His research has been conducted in Dr. Ted Abel's 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.

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Brooke Yeager promotional image

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Brooke Yeager

Tuesday, April 14, 2026 10:00pm
Bowen Science Building

Brooke Yeager is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. Her research has been conducted in Dr. Nandakumar Narayanan's 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.

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.”

Banu Gumusoglu, PhD

2020 winner, Rex Montgomery Dissertation Prize

News & Events

Avenir Award Shen

Congratulations to Susan Shen, MD, PhD

Friday, December 19, 2025

Carver College of Medicine Research Events

Neuroscience & Pharmacology Postdoctoral Seminar - Xuchen Zhang, PhD promotional image

Neuroscience & Pharmacology Postdoctoral Seminar - Xuchen Zhang, PhD

Tuesday, March 24, 2026 10:30am to 11:30am
Medical Education Research Facility

Re-creating a synapse

Xuchen Zhang, PhD
Postdoctoral Research Scientist
Depts. of Molecular and Cellular Physiology & of Neurosurgery
Stanford University

Study Hall promotional image

Study Hall

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 10:00am to 12:00pm
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History welcomes students each week for a study session in our galleries. We'll provide the snacks, cushions, and ambiance. You bring your planners, textbooks, or assignments. Together, we'll stay ahead of our goals this semester.
Distinguished Biomedical Scholars Lecture - Ian S. Maze, PhD promotional image

Distinguished Biomedical Scholars Lecture - Ian S. Maze, PhD

Thursday, March 26, 2026 4:00pm to 5:00pm
Medical Education Research Facility
Distinguished Biomedical Scholars Lecture Ian Maze
Study Hall promotional image

Study Hall

Wednesday, April 1, 2026 10:00am to 12:00pm
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History welcomes students each week for a study session in our galleries. We'll provide the snacks, cushions, and ambiance. You bring your planners, textbooks, or assignments. Together, we'll stay ahead of our goals this semester.
Quick Pitch Challenge promotional image

Quick Pitch Challenge

Thursday, April 2, 2026 4:30pm to 6:00pm
Gilmore Hall
The OUR Quick Pitch Challenge (QPC) is a communication competition that challenges undergraduate students to present their research or creative work to a general audience in three minutes. Participants from all majors and areas of study are invited to showcase their work on campus. Clear communication is key in professional settings, and you can also compete for prizes!
Hardin Open Workshops: Open Access: Policies, Publishers, and Predators (Zoom) promotional image

Hardin Open Workshops: Open Access: Policies, Publishers, and Predators (Zoom)

Tuesday, April 7, 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Virtual
Hardin Open Workshops: Open Access: Policies, Publishers, and Predators
Study Hall promotional image

Study Hall

Wednesday, April 8, 2026 10:00am to 12:00pm
University of Iowa Museum of Natural History
The Museum of Natural History welcomes students each week for a study session in our galleries. We'll provide the snacks, cushions, and ambiance. You bring your planners, textbooks, or assignments. Together, we'll stay ahead of our goals this semester.

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar: Dr. Michael Lagunoff

Thursday, April 9, 2026 10:30am to 11:20am
Medical Education Research Facility

This event is open to the public.

Title TBA

Michael Lagunoff, PhD
MCB Graduate Program
University of Washington

Lagunoff Lab | https://faculty.washington.edu/lagunoff/#/

Faculty Co-Hosts: Miles Pufall, PhD and Jessica Tucker, PhD

Biomedical & Health Informatics Community Meeting

Thursday, April 9, 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Virtual

We have established a community of CCOM Informaticists who are applying these skills in their work at UIHC. You are invited to join us during our monthly seminar presentations. 

Biomedical & Health Informatics Community Meeting promotional image

Biomedical & Health Informatics Community Meeting

Thursday, April 9, 2026 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Virtual
Biomedical and Health Informatics Community Meeting March 12, 2026

Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Events

Follow CS on #1DayforIowa - Help Us Meet our $3K Matching Challenge! promotional image

Follow CS on #1DayforIowa - Help Us Meet our $3K Matching Challenge!

Wednesday, March 25, 2026 (all day)
Virtual
On One Day for Iowa, don't forget to follow and support UIowa's Department of Computer Science. Help us meet our $3,000 Matching Challenge!
Rising Stars! - CS Colloquium promotional image

Rising Stars! - CS Colloquium

Friday, March 27, 2026 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Schaeffer Hall
We welcome visiting PhD students from across the country to share their important Computer Science research.
Computer Science - Founders Day Celebration 2026 promotional image

Computer Science - Founders Day Celebration 2026

Friday, March 27, 2026 4:30pm to 5:30pm
MacLean Hall
Come celebrate the 61st anniversary of the Department of Computer Science at UIowa. RSVP.
Colloquium - "From Anxiety to Agency: Empowering users against SMiShing and digital stress in the age of AI" promotional image

Colloquium - "From Anxiety to Agency: Empowering users against SMiShing and digital stress in the age of AI"

Friday, April 3, 2026 3:30pm to 4:30pm
Schaeffer Hall
We welcome Cori Faklaris, Ph.D., from University of North Carolina - Charlotte, whose focus is on understanding people's needs and designing for safe, secure, and trustworthy computing.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, April 13, 2026 11:00am to 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building

Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion!

This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science.

Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, May 11, 2026 11:00am to 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building

Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion!

This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science.

Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, June 8, 2026 11:00am to 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building

Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion!

This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science.

Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

6th Annual BioBlitz at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory promotional image

6th Annual BioBlitz at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory

Saturday, July 11, 2026 9:00am to 11:00am
Ashton Cross Country Course

What types of plants, animals, and fungal life might you find at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory? Let's find out! 

Join researchers in collecting, observing, and recording biodiversity at the Ashton Prairie Living Laboratory in our 6th Annual BioBlitz. Your findings will inform a major research project and will contribute to the fifth data point in a multi-year documentation of how diversity changes at this site over time. Collections will be housed with the UI Museum of Natural History...

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, July 13, 2026 11:00am to 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building

Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion!

This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science.

Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, August 10, 2026 11:00am to 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building

Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion!

This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science.

Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.