University of Iowa Department of Biology

08/21/2026

On Monday, August 24th, our first two iBio Graduate Student Seminar speakers will be Emily Hirsch (Phillips Lab) and Christian Weinrich (Forbes Lab). The first seminar will begin at 3:30 PM in Kollros Auditorium (Biology Building East, Room 101).

All are welcome to attend, and we hope to see you there supporting our incredible graduate students!

08/20/2026

Celebrate the upcoming school year during the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Iowa Welcome Party! Stop by the Pentacrest Lawn to grab a free t-shirt and stickers, as well as enjoy lawn games, cookies, and photos from 3:00-4:30 PM this afternoon (August 20th).

This event is open to all new College of Liberal Arts and Sciences students.

08/16/2026

Looking for ways to get involved and expand your resume? Foundations of Biology is looking for undergraduate student teaching interns for Fall 2026!

For more information and/or to register for the internship (BIOL:4897:0001), email [email protected]. If you are registering, please include a paragraph statement of interest in your email that briefly outlines your motivation for signing up and what you hope to gain from the experience, as well as any questions you may have.

08/14/2026

Olivia Blake, a senior majoring in Biology (Neurobiology track) and a member of Dan Eberl's research lab in the Department of Biology, attended the Invertebrate Sound and Vibration (ISV) conference, held jointly with the Biotremology Society, at Cornell University in June.

Olivia presented on her current research in the Eberl Lab using the smetana gene (encoding a dynein arm assembly factor) as a tool to distinguish the role of dynein arms in two different subsets of mechanosensory neurons (for hearing and for wind/gravity detection) in the fly antenna.

08/11/2026

On Wednesday, July 29th, several students affiliated with one of the UI Department of Biology’s majors, research labs, or programs (e.g., Iowa Sciences Academy) participated in the 2026 Summer Undergraduate Research Conference.

We applaud all of the students who participated for their hard work and dedication to undergraduate research!

06/08/2026

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.

06/05/2026

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!

06/04/2026

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! 🎉

06/03/2026

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:

Jobs@UIOWA: The official place to search and apply for jobs at The University of Iowa.

06/02/2026

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.