Welcome to the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience at the University of Iowa!
As Program Directors, we believe that a diversity of student backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives adds depth, strength, and creativity to our community. We value the unique contributions that each person brings to our research, teaching, and outreach missions. We strive to create an environment where every individual discovers how they may uniquely impact our scientific community and society.
Our vision is to build a diverse workforce filled with talented Iowa graduates that permeate all areas of society within the reach of neuroscience (e.g., research, academia, medicine, government/policy, law). We animate this vision by recruiting top-notch applicants, providing outstanding mentoring and state-of-the-art training facilities, and placing successful graduates in positions where they are exceptionally well prepared to make important and impactful contributions.
To create a climate where all students can thrive, we endeavor to develop a diverse research and academic community that encompasses individuals from a breadth of backgrounds and experiences, including those from under-represented racial and ethnic groups, individuals with disabilities, and those from disadvantaged backgrounds. We invite you to join us as we train the next generation of outstanding researchers, educators, and leaders in neuroscience!
Dan Tranel, PhD and Mike Dailey, PhD
The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Organizing Committee is responsible for enhancing the recruitment and retention of diverse students in the Neuroscience Program. The committee meets as needed, but in general twice per year to address the following aims:
- To enhance the recruitment of a diverse pool of students
- To ensure the retention of under-represented students
- To promote the career development of under-represented and diverse students
- To support faculty/trainee relationships involving under-represented and diverse students
The committee is driven by faculty members and students, including:
- Michael Anderson, PhD, Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
- Jonathan Doorn, PhD, Professor of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics
- Carrie Figdor, PhD, Professor of Philosophy
- Jiefeng Jiang, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences
- William Guiler, student representative
- Keland Moore, student representative
- Marco Pipoly, student representative
- Emma Thornburg-Suresh, student representative
- Brooke Yeager, student representative
The Neuroscience Graduate Program actively embraces diversity by participating in or supporting:
- Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS)
- Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS)
- Enhancing Neuroscience Diversity through Undergraduate Research Education Experiences (ENDURE)
- University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine's Post-Baccalaureate Research Education Program (PREP@Iowa)
- University of Iowa's Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP)
- Building University of Iowa Leadership for Diversity (BUILD) Training program for faculty & staff
- LGBTQ Safe Zone Project (Training program for students, faculty & staff)