Banu, a recent graduate from the Neuroscience PhD program was awarded the Rex Montgomery Dissertation Prize for 2020. Banu is a part of the Stevens Lab. Each year the Rex Montgomery Dissertation Prize recognizes the most meritorious dissertation by a doctoral student conducting research in prevention of disease and/or the translation of research into clinical practice.

Students from a variety of graduate programs are eligible, including the biomedical and health sciences, as well as related social sciences (Uiowa Graduate College, Montgomery Prize).