The Department of Biology held their Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 7, 2026. Two faculty and two staff received Career Achievement Awards for their dedication and service to the department. Read about the career of Biology Professor Alan Kay below. Congratulations to Alan on his hard work and achievements!
FACULTY CAREER ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Alan Kay
Professor Alan Kay heads into retirement after many successful years of teaching and research at the University of Iowa, here in the Department of Biology as well as interdisciplinary programs throughout the UI involving mathematics, neuroscience, and optical science. Alan joined the Department of Biology as an Assistant Professor in 1990, after working with Seiji Ogawa and David Tank at AT&T Bell Labs, developing a method that enables MRIs to visualize brain activity. He had previously received a Ph.D. in Zoology from Cambridge University in 1984 and undergraduate degrees from the Universities of Cape Town and Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Alan’s research has been characterized by creativity and innovation, especially in applying fundamental physics, mathematics, and chemistry to important questions in neurobiology and physiology. A particularly important approach of his has been the development of fluorescent probes for visualizing and quantifying ions in live neuronal tissue as well as synaptic activity. He has also used novel experimental techniques and mathematical modeling to explain fundamental physiological processes such as the regulation of cell volume, osmotic pressure, and the importance of ion channel noise in neuronal activity.
Alan has also been a dedicated and influential educator. For many years he taught the cell biology section of Foundations of Biology (BIOL:1411), the department’s introductory course for science majors. Because his section was typically students’ first exposure to the course, his lectures often served as their introduction to college-level biological mechanisms and concepts. Over the course of his tenure, he also taught Animal Physiology, Neurobiology I and II, Neurobiology Laboratory, and numerous other courses.
Beyond his teaching and research, Alan played an important leadership role within the department. As chair of the Promotion and Tenure Committee, he helped guide and support the careers of many colleagues. Reflecting on his impact, Dr. Bryan Phillips remarked at Alan’s career celebration, “Generations of anxious assistant professors, including myself, can thank him for shepherding our tenure cases through the system.”
As he retires, we join the many colleagues, students, and collaborators whose lives and careers have been enriched by his contributions. We congratulate Alan on a remarkable career and thank him for his lasting impact on science, education, and the University of Iowa community.
