University of Iowa Department of Biology

Congratulations to Assistant Professor of Instruction Brandon Waltz for receiving a Biology Teaching Award and a 2026 Biology Exceptional Service Award! 👏

BIO (Biological Interests Organization) oversaw the nomination and voting process for the Biology Teaching Awards, and one faculty member + two graduate TAs were selected for the 2025-26 academic year. The Biology Exceptional Service Award recognizes a faculty member, graduate student, or staff member who has performed exceptional service to the Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the University of Iowa, and/or their profession.

Congratulations to the faculty, staff, and students who were recognized for their accomplishments at our Department of Biology Awards Ceremony in May! Stay tuned over the next few weeks as we recognize the awardees individually!

Anna Gaw was recently promoted to Associate Director, Student Support and Transitions, with the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Academic Advising! She was most recently an Assistant Director with CLAS Academic Advising and previously served as a Senior Academic Advisor in the Department of Biology where she advised Biology, Biomedical Sciences, and Neuroscience students.

Anna joined the Department of Biology in March 2015 and has been a professional academic advisor for over 25 years. Congratulations, Anna! 🎉

The UI Department of Biology invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professor position in evolutionary ecology, beginning in the academic year 2027. Candidates must hold a PhD in Biology or a closely related field at the time of appointment. Review of applicants will begin on November 1, 2026 and will continue until the position is filled.

For more details and to apply, visit:

Faculty Requisition Details - Jobs@UIOWA: Search and Apply for Jobs at The University of Iowa Jobs@UIOWA: The official place to search and apply for jobs at The University of Iowa.

Professor of Biology John Manak, PhD, was recently honored with a Friend of Systems Unlimited Award in recognition of his advocacy work on behalf of the disabilities community in the class he teaches: Good Genes Gone Bad (BIOL:2120). In this course, Dr. Manak brings individuals from the Systems Unlimited community into his classroom to discuss living with their disabilities in an effort to not only raise awareness of the many issues confronting the disabilities community, but also to encourage an engaging and uplifting dialog between students and the guests.

Systems Unlimited is a non-profit organization serving people of all ages with disabilities and mental health needs in Eastern Iowa.

The UI Department of Biology invites applications for multiple non-tenure-track Instructor positions (50%–100% appointment) that would begin on August 19, 2026. Initial appointments are for one year and are subject to annual review and renewal. These positions will primarily contribute to instruction in the introductory biology laboratory curriculum for life sciences, including courses such as Human Biology, Foundations of Biology, and Diversity of Form and Function.

For details and to apply, visit:

Faculty Requisition Details - Jobs@UIOWA: Search and Apply for Jobs at The University of Iowa Jobs@UIOWA: The official place to search and apply for jobs at The University of Iowa.

Congratulations to all of the graduate students who successfully defended their dissertation or thesis during the Spring 2026 semester!

The following are students in our Integrated Biology Graduate Program or one of our department’s labs who successfully defended their thesis/dissertation:
- Adrianna Caro, Ph.D. in Integrated Biology
- Nicholas (Cole) Kerns, M.S. in Integrated Biology
- Maisie Laughlin, M.S. in Integrated Biology
- Lily McGettigan, M.S. in Integrated Biology
- Sehee Min, Ph.D. in Integrated Biology
- Emily O’Brien, M.S. in Integrated Biology
- Israel Wipf, Ph.D. in Cell and Developmental Biology, Tootle Lab

With the conclusion of the Spring 2026 semester, we’d like to take a moment to recognize the staff and faculty who were identified by graduating seniors for making a positive difference in their lives during their time at the University of Iowa. From the Department of Biology, 29 faculty/staff were recognized, including 2 who were recognized by more than 5 students! 🎉

Congratulations to all of the University of Iowa Spring 2026 graduates! We wish these Hawkeyes the best as they embark on their future endeavors! 💛🖤

The UI Department of Biology is seeking a bi-weekly parttime employee to work in the Drosophila Culture Media Lab (Fly Kitchen). This position helps support the department’s research and teaching labs which use Drosophila (fruit flies) as subjects in genetics experiments.

For more information about the position, please visit:

Temporary Positions - Jobs@UIOWA: Search and Apply for Jobs at The University of Iowa Jobs@UIOWA: The official place to search and apply for jobs at The University of Iowa.