University of Iowa

Isabella Penniston never thought she would be performing research as an undergraduate in the College of Nursing. But several research experiences opened her eyes to new possibilities in her chosen career.

Zac McFarland originally wanted to play professional football, but picked Esq. over ESPN. The University of Iowa College of Law student will join the Minneapolis law firm Frederickson & Byron after graduation.

Whenever Jose Duran encountered a hurdle growing up, there was someone-a family member, a teacher, his boxing coach-to help him over it. Now the graduating University of Iowa student wants to be the one who helps others over their hurdles.

University of Iowa senior Tori Cassady wants to know how early life developed. The senior from West Des Moines, who will graduate in May, will go on to graduate school to study cyanobacteria, micro-organisms that live in Yellowstone's geothermal pools and are believed to be among the first life-forms on Earth.

University of Iowa graduating senior Sean Maxson has found his calling: Developing technological innovations that can provide more independence for people with paralysis or other similar conditions.

Katie Moore had no idea how worldly her education would be staying close to home and attending the University of Iowa.

Brennan Slater's lifelong love of the outdoors has turned into research on soils and water quality and a desire to find the right balance between human activities and the natural state. The senior from Davenport, Iowa, graduates in May with a degree in informatics.

Jimmy Smith knew he wanted to be a doctor. Through his undergraduate studies at the University of Iowa, he learned both inside and outside the classroom how he wants to practice medicine.

A love of people and a passion for science education led Nicole Krois to pursue a career in dentistry. The University of Iowa has been there for her every step of the way.

A record 21 University of Iowa students and alumni from a range of creative, academic, and scientific fields have been chosen from among more than 10,000 students nationally to receive a prestigious Fulbright award to conduct research, teach English, or undertake creative projects abroad in 2020-21. For the past year, these Fulbright finalists have been encouraged by advisors, nominated by professors, and supported by those who have witnessed their academic dedication and service to the community to take a crucial step forward in applying to represent their country as citizen ambassadors. "Our 21 finalists and 11 alternates this year have undergone a rigorous selection process," says UI Fulbright faculty mentor Kathleen Newman. "We congratulate them and we wish them well as they begin their work abroad as researchers or English teaching assistants. This is a wonderful opportunity to make international connections and to learn to see the world from another culture's perspective."

Abigail Carney came to the Iowa Writers' Workshop to write a novel. As she prepares to graduate, she has not only finished her novel, but also is developing a television series.

University of Iowa doctoral student Jackson Russo is researching temperature-sensitive polymers that could provide prolonged pain relief to patients with chronic wounds.

Each year, about 7,000 students are employed through the University of Iowa's student hourly and work-study employment programs. Bryan Mulrooney -- the UI's student employee of the year -- and seven other student employees and seven student employee supervisors were recognized during the 2019-20 National Student Employment Week (April 13-17).

It has been well documented for many weeks that New York City is quantifiably the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States, with more than 118,000 confirmed cases and nearly 11,000 deaths. Noly Agdinaoay, a student in the University of Iowa's Master of Science in Nursing-Doctor of Nursing Practice (MSN-DNP) program, has been working at the BronxCare Health System Hospital in New York City since well before the virus landed on American soil.

The University of Iowa's most prestigious awards for faculty, staff, and students were announced April 21 on the Hancher-Finkbine website. UI President Bruce Harreld and Vice President for Student Life Sarah Hansen introduced the history of the awards and the tradition of the Finkbine Dinner, which was canceled this year due to COVID-19, before recognizing this year's recipients.

The Iowa Memorial Union Main Ballroom was filled with students from other Big 10 universities. The legislation she'd written was on the table. But when Emily Manders presented a proclamation before student government representatives from across the nation, she wasn't nervous about whether it would pass. "I was more worried that this document would become just a piece of paper without any concrete action behind it," says Manders, a fourth-year environmental policy and planning major from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "I'm very pleased to see that hasn't been the case."

Emma Thornburg, Parker Abbott, Amanda Bullert, Bess Glickman, Camille Hanes, and Tim Skog - all doctoral students in the Neuroscience Graduate Program - shared their love for science with students in grades 6-8 at Kids Go STEM in March at the Medical Education and Research Facility on the UI medical campus.

The transition to medical school can be tough. For Kalyn Campbell, a fourth-year student in the University of Iowa's Carver College of Medicine, it helped to know she wasn't alone. For Campbell and other medical students at Iowa, a community-centered approach ensures students have the support they need to tackle medical school's toughest challenges. "Initially, I wanted to enter politics," says Campbell. "Then I realized I didn't want to spend my life worrying about what other people think of me. I didn't want to have to worry if I went to the grocery store in my pajamas."

The University of Iowa's Carver College of Medicine periodically profiles graduate students in its program. Meet Ashley Brate, a student in the immunology graduate program.

Growing up in Beijing, China, Hanxi Tang knew at a young age that she had a keen interest in science. She relished opportunities to visit her mother, a pathology doctor, at work. That work setting was often a research lab that fascinated Tang, as it was full of activity and hands-on learning experiences such as expelling water through a needle from a syringe. An inspiring biology teacher in high school further nurtured Tang's enthusiasm for science. As Tang considered her college options, she was drawn to the University of Iowa because of its nationally-ranked hospital and medical school. She also liked the idea of living in a small college town coupled with the friendliness of the Midwest. Now a junior, Tang describes her University of Iowa experience as exceptional. "Even before I arrived on campus, I got a lot of support from the ISSS office. Students are well-supported and my professors are both knowledgeable and helpful. In fact, everyone on campus has been very helpful," says Tang. In addition to excelling in her coursework as a biology major, Tang has contributed to the University of Iowa and the surrounding community through her volunteer work at both UI Hospitals & Clinics and the UI Mobile Clinic. She also works as an undergraduate research assistant in not one, but two research labs: the Plumert cognitive psychology lab and the Kitamoto neurogenetics lab. Unfortunately, the recent coronavirus pandemic prompted a pivot away from some of these activities. Most of the work in the research labs has been suspended, and much of her volunteer work had to be put on pause. Before long, Tang was invited to temporarily replace her employment in the Kitamoto lab with a screener position at UI Hospitals & Clinics. For 10-15 hours each week, Tang helps screen incoming patients, staff, and visitors at UI Hospitals & Clinics entrances by asking them about current coughs or fevers. "We are essentially checking for any symptoms of respiratory illness," says Tang.

For fourth-year University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine student Victor Hatcher, the biggest takeaway from his time at Iowa has been the opportunities he's been given. "You have to be open-minded. Take every experience that's offered to you," says Hatcher. "Even if those experiences don't end up being exactly what you're looking for, they often branch off into other paths that allow you to meet new people and experience new things."

Seven University of Iowa undergraduates were inducted into the inaugural class of Nu Rho Psi, the National Honor Society in Neuroscience. Students are selected for membership based on their superior scholarly accomplishments as well as their interest and experience in research.

A University of Iowa third-year student studying astronomy, physics, and mathematics has been named a 2020 Goldwater Scholar. Emily Silich, of Epworth, Iowa, performs research with UI Professor of Physics and Astronomy Philip Kaaret on the HaloSat project, an astrophysics mission in collaboration with NASA that searches the Milky Way's galactic halo for missing matter. Most recently, Silich used HaloSat data to investigate the X-ray spectrum of the Vela Supernova Remnant. She says being involved in research as an undergraduate has helped her in numerous ways.

Allie Stutting was worried about her own grandparents when she first began to hear of a possible spread of coronavirus in the U.S. and its effect on the elderly and other at-risk populations. But it was a tweet about people she didn't know that propelled her to take action: An elderly couple in Oregon had flagged down a woman in a store parking lot, asking her to shop for them because they were fearful to go inside. "I was thinking of my grandparents, and how cool it was that this woman had solved that couple's concerns," Stutting says. "So, I put out my own tweet in hopes of starting a network of young, able-bodied folks who can help."

Allie Stutting was worried about her own grandparents when she first began to hear of a possible spread of coronavirus in the U.S. and its effect on the elderly and other at-risk populations. But it was a tweet about people she didn't know that propelled her to take action: An elderly couple in Oregon had flagged down a woman in a store parking lot, asking her to shop for them because they were fearful to go inside. "I was thinking of my grandparents, and how cool it was that this woman had solved that couple's concerns," Stutting says. "So, I put out my own tweet in hopes of starting a network of young, able-bodied folks who can help."

UI Laundry Services identified the need for more trained drivers, but where would they find a pool of drivers with Class B commercial driver's licenses (CDL) that could be deployed quickly? The answer: Right here on the UI campus. CAMBUS and Fleet Services management asked their employees if they would volunteer to temporarily join UI Laundry Services as delivery drivers in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. With five employees volunteering for reassignment, Laundry Services can proactively prepare for any surge in demand related to COVID-19. "I am so impressed that these employees were willing to pitch in," says Brian McClatchey, CAMBUS assistant director.

Five soon-to-be graduates of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine recently joined the ranks of storied UI Department of Internal Medicine students like Dr. Judy Streit, Dr. Pete Snyder, and Dr. Will Zeitler as winners of an Internal Medicine M4 Student Award.

University of Iowa College of Public Health biostatistics doctoral student Caitlin Ward recently was selected by the UI Council on Teaching to receive a 2019-2020 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award.

Thousands of K-12 students rely on meals served at schools across Johnson County, schools that have now been closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to connect students, parents, and other community members with resources to help them find meals, University of Iowa undergraduate Russell Martin created a website that maps food and meals available at area schools, food banks, and soup kitchens across the area. "When I saw that a group of college students had created a similar site in California, I thought it would be a great resource to have something like this for our community," said says Martin, a senior in the Roy J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering. "Schools that are closed for instruction are still serving meals, but I felt it was important to let K-12 students know where they could get meals that might be closer to their homes."

Marissa Mueller didn't plan to get involved with research in college. But the biomedical engineering student found a new love while studying the accuracy of devices similar to Fitbits and Nike Fuel Bands.