The Department of Biology held their Awards Ceremony on Friday, May 9, 2025. The following faculty, staff, graduate and undergraduate students were recognized for their accomplishments. Congratulations to all of these award recipients for their hard work and achievements!
Please note individual names are listed in alphabetical order by last name where applicable.
BIO LEADERSHIP AWARD (EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS)
The Biological Interests Organization (BIO) recognized their 2024-2025 Executive Board members with the BIO Leadership Award. The purpose of the BIO student organization is to provide students with connections to research opportunities, career networking, and volunteering opportunities within the Department of Biology and across the University of Iowa campus.
The 2024-2025 BIO Executive Board members who earned a Leadership Award are:
Sydney Brandmeyer – Communications Director and Professional Liaison
Griffin Daley – Treasurer
Tyler Draayer – Academic Director
Rafaella Guimaraes – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Chair
Katie Lee – Outreach Coordinator
Lauren McNally - President
Maya Monk – Environment & Sustainability Chair
Apisinee Thao – Vice President and Social Events Coordinator
Abigail Townsend – Tutor Coordinator
Lydia Watkins – Volunteer Coordinator
Cadyn Wilhelm – Social Media Coordinator
BIO PARTICIPATION AWARD (GREEN CORD RECIPIENTS)
The BIO student organization recognized these graduating students who have demonstrated involvement and continued commitment to the club with a green cord and BIO Participation Award. Members earn a cord based on attendance at BIO events. To receive a cord, members must attain an average of 4 points per semester or 32 points total. Cords can also be earned by serving on the BIO Executive Board.
These BIO members earned a green cord and Participation Award:
Juliza Bonilla
Sydney Brandmeyer
Griffin Daley
Lauren McNally
Maya Monk
Grace Pierce
Abigail Townsend
Cadyn Wilhelm
BIOLOGY TEACHING AWARDS
The BIO student organization oversaw the nomination and voting process for the Biology Teaching Awards. Two faculty members and two graduate teaching assistants were selected for the 2024-2025 academic year. These Teaching Awards recognize instructors and graduate teaching assistants who go above and beyond in the classroom. These instructors show care for their position, subject, and students. They create an inclusive and welcoming learning environment, and they create a passion for their subject in students. All Department of Biology students were eligible to nominate and vote on these Teaching Awards. The 2024-2025 recipients of the Biology Teaching Awards are:
Faculty
Krista Osadchuk, Assistant Professor of Instruction
Christopher Stipp, Professor
Graduate Teaching Assistants
Emily Hirsch, PhD student in the Integrated Biology Graduate Program
MaKella Steffensen, PhD student in the Integrated Biology Graduate Program
ARTHUR J. AND FLORA D. LEVIN EXCELLENCE IN UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING AWARD
The Arthur J. and Flora D. Levin Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching Award ($500) recognizes a Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or Neuroscience undergraduate student for excellence in teaching. Faculty, course supervisors, teaching staff, and/or graduate teaching assistants may nominate students for this award. The student must be enrolled in the Teaching Internship in Biology (BIOL:4897) during the current academic year in order to be considered for this award. The 2024-2025 recipient of this award is Avery Wilson who was nominated by Elizabeth Martin, a PhD student in the Integrated Biology Graduate Program; and John Hass, an Assistant in Instruction.
Recipient: Avery Wilson
Major: Biology
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
BIOLOGY OUTSTANDING UNDERGRADUATE TEACHING ASSISTANT AWARD
The Biology Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Award recognizes a student who has been an outstanding undergraduate teaching assistant in the Department of Biology. The 2024-2025 recipients of this award are Hailey Hakes and Julia Malley, who were nominated by Angela Cordle, Instructional Services Specialist.
Recipient: Hailey Hakes
Major: Human Physiology
Hometown: Atkins, IA
Recipient: Julia Malley
Major: Psychology with a minor in Biology
Hometown: Overland Park, KS
BIOLOGY EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE AWARD
The Biology Exceptional Service Award recognizes a faculty member, graduate student, or staff member who have performed exceptional service to the Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, the University of Iowa, and/or their profession. The 2025 recipients of this award are:
Sydney Arlis, PhD student in the Integrated Biology Graduate Program
Angela Cordle, Instructional Services Specialist
Jan Fassler, Professor and Director of Graduate Studies
Steve Kehoe, Administrative Services Specialist
AVIS CONE UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
The Avis Cone Undergraduate Research Fellowship ($1,000) recognizes a Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or Neuroscience major undertaking laboratory research in the Department of Biology and is working in a laboratory using organisms that have chlorophyll-based metabolic processes or a laboratory that studies aspects of zoology or research within the field of conservation biology.
Recipient: Seren Castellano
Majors: Biology (Genetics and Biotechnology track) and Anthropology
Faculty Research Advisor, Maurine Neiman, Ph.D.
Hometown: West Des Moines, IA
CLIFFORD W. HESSELTINE AWARD FOR ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE
The Clifford W. Hesseltine Award for Academic Excellence ($1,000) recognizes a Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or Neuroscience student of junior or senior standing who has a strong academic record (GPA of at least 3.5) and excellence outside the classroom.
Recipient: Kelsey Martin
Majors: Biology (Genetics and Biotechnology track) and German
Faculty Research Advisor: Bin Z. HE, Ph.D.
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
EVELYN HART WATSON UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH FELLOWSHIP
The Evelyn Hart Watson Undergraduate Research Fellowship ($1,000) recognizes a Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or Neuroscience student undertaking laboratory research in the Department of Biology who has a GPA of at least 3.0.
Recipient: Avery Wilson
Major: Biology
Faculty Research Advisor: Sarit Smolikove, Ph.D.
Hometown: Iowa City, IA
LOWDEN PRIZE FOR OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT IN BIOLOGY
The Lowden Prize for Outreach and Engagement in Biology ($200 each recipient) recognizes a Biology, Biomedical Sciences, or Neuroscience student who has been highly engaged in the Department of Biology. This award is funded by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and the Department of Biology. Two recipients were selected for the 2024-2025 academic year.
Jasmyn Hoeger
Major: Biology (Cell and Developmental Biology track)
Hometown: Dyersville, IA
Lauren McNally
Major: Biology (Integrated Biology track)
Hometown: Menomonie, WI
BIOLOGY UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH TRAVEL AWARD
The Department of Biology Undergraduate Research Travel Award is presented to an undergraduate student who is performing research within the Department of Biology. The award (up to $1000) provides funds for an undergraduate student to attend a regional or national conference in the next year. Aiza Khan, a Biology student (Cell and Developmental Biology track) who works in the Rothenberg Lab in the Department of Biology, is the 2025 recipient of this award. Aiza will use the Travel Award to attend the Annual Drosophila Research Conference in Chicago in March 2026 where she will present her work on how collagen IV affects cell migration during wound healing.
Recipient: Aiza Khan
Major: Biology (Cell and Developmental Biology)
Hometown: Buffalo Grove, IL