Why Iowa?

Our students aren’t passive learners. At Iowa, you’ll go inside the lab and contribute to world-renowned research working alongside faculty experts to explore the diverse realms of the biological sciences.

Undergraduate programs

iBio Graduate Program

Faculty

Why study here?

Whether you aspire to be a research scientist, professor, physician, forensic scientist, biotechnologist, public health professional, natural resource expert, science communicator, or so much more — Iowa’s Department of Biology will prepare you to take your next step through courses, experiential learning, and engagement in research.

Research

Bin Z. He portrait

Stresses strengthen disease-causing yeast

Biologists at the University of Iowa have found that C. glabrata, after being exposed to a mild stress, becomes more resistant to hydrogen peroxide, a chemical weapon employed by the human immune system to eliminate infecting microbes. The biologists further learned that this exposure-to-resistance escalation in C. glabrata does not appear in its close relative, the benign Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as brewer’s or baker’s yeast.

Portrait of John Manak

Biologists show how brain’s immune system response worsens epilepsy

In a new study, the researchers lay out a chain of events that can cause seizures—the most common manifestation of epilepsy—to worsen. The sequence begins when oxidative stress in the body causes the brain’s immune system to react. That activation by the brain’s resident immune cells (called glia) triggers more severe seizures.

Brian Berger working in a lab

Iowa antibody bank stands ready to fight the next pandemic

On the corner of Dubuque Street and Iowa Avenue, just a block east from the Old Capitol, thousands of possible clues toward deciphering human diseases are stored in liquid nitrogen. Floating in glass tubes, the hybridomas—cell lines used to create antibodies, the foundational pieces of human and animal immunity—hold clues to how our brains work and our muscles develop. They point the way to treatments for emerging viruses that have yet to be named. They could even help combat a future pandemic.

News and announcements

Biology faculty member receives grant from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust

Tuesday, April 22, 2025
Katheryn Rothenberg, assistant professor in the Department of Biology, received $382,644 for work to explore the role of a particular protein—Rap1 GTPase—in controlling cell migration.
biology students on site

$6M

Faculty in the Department of Biology received more than $6 million in grant funding in 2023.

students walking down hallway in Biology building

55 %

of undergraduate students participated in research outside of regular course assignments.

(2017 data)

student at a microscope

1,040

More than 1,000 students are enrolled as biology undergraduate majors at Iowa.

Events

Department of Biology Honors Colloquium promotional image

Department of Biology Honors Colloquium

Monday, May 5, 2025 9:00am to 12:15pm
Biology Building East
The Department of Biology Undergraduate Honors Colloquium will be held on Monday, May 5 in Room 106, Biology Building East (BBE) and via Zoom: https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/96913061072?pwd=bv2nUgxfe2RFaEZyUZb34SYzAKThJv.1 (Meeting ID: 969 1306 1072; Passcode: 856862). Please see the schedule attached for the list of student presentations. Each student will deliver a 10-12 minute PowerPoint presentation about their research project. Feel free to come and go as you please. Light refreshments will be...

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Seminar Series - Andrew Bowman, DVM, PhD

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 3:00pm to 4:00pm
Bowen Science Building

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar: Dr. Douglas Kojetin

Thursday, May 8, 2025 10:30am to 11:20am
Medical Education Research Facility
This event is open to the public."TBA"Douglas Kojetin, PhDVanderbilt UniversityFaculty Host: Ernesto Fuentes, PhDKojetin Lab | https://www.kojetinlab.org/
Department of Biology Awards Ceremony promotional image

Department of Biology Awards Ceremony

Friday, May 9, 2025 3:30pm
Biology Building East
The Department of Biology will have an Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 9 at 3:30pm in Kollros Auditorium (Room 101), Biology Building East (BBE). Join us as we recognize department faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students on their accomplishments. This will include announcing recipients of the Biology Exceptional Service Awards, our department undergraduate fellowships and awards, teaching awards, and more! All are invited and refreshments will be provided. We hope to see you there!
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Seminars

Department of Microbiology and Immunology Seminar Series - Andrew Bowman, DVM, PhD

Tuesday, May 6, 2025 3:00pm to 4:00pm
Bowen Science Building

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Seminar: Dr. Douglas Kojetin

Thursday, May 8, 2025 10:30am to 11:20am
Medical Education Research Facility
This event is open to the public."TBA"Douglas Kojetin, PhDVanderbilt UniversityFaculty Host: Ernesto Fuentes, PhDKojetin Lab | https://www.kojetinlab.org/
Topics in Human Genetics promotional image

Topics in Human Genetics

Monday, June 16, 2025 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building
The course is open to individuals wishing to learn more about current topics in Human Genetics who meet the following criteria; individuals must have completed a course in genetics and are currently in a genetics lab, or have past genetics research experience. Genetics educators are also welcome to attend the course.The objective of the course is to provide persons familiar with genetics a broad overview of gene identification, molecular genetics, complex disease, next generation sequencing...