Faculty research areas

The breadth of research in the Department of Biology is encompassed in four primary areas:

Kartik Sivakumar biology student

“Iowa allows students to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities. As a first-year, I dipped my toes in many different areas and found my true passion—research. In this field, my mentors were my biggest assets.”

Kartik Sivakumar

Research news

Biology Researchers trace genetic agent in life-threatening fungal disease

Friday, July 7, 2023
Highlights how the Candida auris can cause life threatening infections

Manak Lab Links Brain's Immune System to Epilepsy

Tuesday, February 14, 2023
Highlights the connection between the brain's immune system to epilepsy

Biology Researchers Discover Genes That Can Cause Cleft Lip and Palate

Wednesday, February 8, 2023
University of Iowa researchers discover genes that can cause left cleft lip and palate by conducting study on frogs and fish.

Biology Professor Finds Genes Associated with Cleft Lip and Palate

Tuesday, January 10, 2023
A UIOWA research team identified three genes associated with cleft lip and palate.

Biology Professor Receives $1.3 grant to prevent noise-induced neurodegeneration

Tuesday, January 3, 2023
Steven Green and Ning Hu received $1.3 million grant in 2022 from the Department of Defense to prevent noise-induced neurodegeneration.

Biology professor conducting research on mosquito hearing at Nagoya University in Japan

Tuesday, October 4, 2022
Daniel Eberl conducts research on mosquito hearing at Nagoya University.

Interdisciplinary team receives $500K to study climate, environment, and health

Wednesday, August 3, 2022
The University of Iowa's Office of the Vice President for Research grants $500K for project at climate-environment-health nexus.

Biology professors receive funding to study stress-induced epigenetic changes

Monday, July 25, 2022
Congratulating Veena Prahlad, Josep Comeron, and Anna Malkova for receiving funding to study stress-induced epigenetic changes.

Research and creative production in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

As part of a top-tier, AAU-accredited public research university, the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences holds scholarly, scientific, and artistic discovery at the heart of our mission.

Throughout our departments and programs, our professors are at the forefront of their disciplines. They bring their world-class research and artistry into their classrooms, studios, and labs, giving students the unparalleled opportunity to learn right from the source of the latest innovations in knowledge and practice.

Graduate students and many undergraduates work side-by-side with faculty members, conducting breakthrough research and creative production that advances humanity’s understanding of ourselves and the complex, ever-changing world in which we live.

The creation of knowledge and understanding is an exhilarating and never-ending mission—and is at the core of every University of Iowa liberal arts and sciences education.