The University of Iowa Biosciences Program

Biosciences Program Faculty performing Neuroscience research

The Neuroscience PhD Program emphasizes interdisciplinary training in all levels of brain science: subcellular, cellular, systems, and behavior.

The curriculum consists of five required courses, supplemented by electives that provide broad training in both conceptual frameworks and methodologies. A strong system of lab rotations provides students with a research experience in several labs before the choice of dissertation sponsor is made.

More than 80 interactive program faculty members, both basic and clinical scientists, have active research programs in specialties such as:

· Ion channels and Signal Transduction
· Developmental Neurobiology
· Firing Dynamics
· Cortical and Subcortical Organization
· Neuropharmacology and Pain
· Neuroimaging (FMR and PET)
· Neural Bases of Higher Cortical Functions

For more information regarding neuroscience research at The University of Iowa, please click here.

Name	Rank	Department/ Program	Research Description
Abbas, Paul, PhD	Professor	Communication Sciences & Disorders/Otolaryngology Neuroscience Speech & Hearing Science	Auditory physiology with emphasis on electrical stimulation of the ear
Abboud, Francois, MD	Professor	Internal Medicine Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Neuroscience	Neural regulation of the circulation in normal and pathologic states such as hypertension and heart failure
Anderson, Michael G., PhD	Assistant Professor	Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences Genetics Neuroscience	Understanding fundamental physiological properties of the eye and the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying a variety of complex eye diseases
Anderson, Steven, PhD	Associate Professor	Neurology Neuroscience	Neuroanatomical basis of human cognition and emotion
Arnold, Mark, PhD	Professor	Chemistry	Development of chemical sensors for neuroactive compounds
Bassuk, Alex, MD/PhD	Assistant Professor	Pediatrics Genetics Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Congenital defects of the nervous system, especially neural tube defects, familial epilepsy, neurogenetics, neural stem cell biology
Benson, Christopher, MD	Associate Professor	Internal Medicine Neuroscience	Study of molecular mechanisms of sensory transduction
Bonthius, Daniel, MD/PhD	Professor	Pediatrics Neurology Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience Medical Scientist Training Program	Abnormalities of brain development, including fetal alcohol syndrome and congenital viral infections
Brennan, Timothy, MD/PhD	Professor	Anesthesia Pharmacology Neuroscience	Pain signaling pathways, Mechanisms for hypersensitivity or exaggerated response phenomena after injury
Campbell, Kevin, PhD	Professor (Head)	Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Neurology	Cell biological studies of muscular dystrophy
Cassell, Martin, PhD	Professor	Anatomy & Cell Biology Neuroscience	Delineating the microcircuitry of neural systems involved in emotion
Chapleau, Mark, PhD	Professor	Internal Medicine Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Neuroscience	Neural mechanisms of cardiovascular regulation. Baroreflex function in health and disease
Cole, Kelly James, PhD	Associate Professor	Integrative Physiology Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science Neuroscience	Systems control of posture and movement
Cornell, Robert, PhD	Associate Professor	Anatomy & Cell Biology Genetics Neuroscience	Molecular genetics of neural crest development in zebrafish
Dailey, Michael, PhD	Associate Professor	Biology Neuroscience	Dynamics of Neurons and Glia in Developing Mammalian Brain Tissues
Darling, Warren, PhD	Professor	Integrative Physiology Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science Neuroscience	Motor Control & Biomechanics
Davidson, Beverly, PhD	Professor	Internal Medicine Neurology Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Genetics Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Molecular and cellular mechanisms of CNS dysfunction in metabolic diseases and gene transfer to the CNS
Denburg, Jeffrey, PhD	Professor	Biology	Molecular Basis of the Development and Regeneration of the Nervous System
Denburg, Natalie, PhD	Assistant Professor	Neurology Neuroscience	Study of developmental changes in cognition
Eberl, Daniel, PhD	Associate Professor	Biology Otolaryngology Genetics Neuroscience	Molecular and cellular mechanisms of hearing in Drosophila
Faraci, Frank, PhD	Professor	Internal Medicine Pharmacology Neuroscience	Vascular biology and mechanisms of vascular dysfunction in disease states
Freeman, John, PhD	Professor	Psychology Neuroscience	Neurobiology of Learning and Memory
Fritzsch, Bernd, PhD	Professor (Chair)	Biology Otolaryngology	The molecular basis of ear neurosensory development with the aim to improve longevity of sensory neurons and ultimately restore hearing.
Gardinier, Minnetta, PhD	Professor	Pharmacology	Oligodendroglial cell biology and CNS myelination
Gonzalez-Alegre, Pedro, MD	Assistant Professor	Neurology Genetics Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Molecular basis of neurodegeneration
Gordon, Jean, PhD	Associate Professor	Communication Sciences & Disorders Neuroscience Speech & Hearing Science	Research interests: speech and language deficits in aphasia, particularly in the processes of lexical access.
Green, Steven, PhD	Professor	Biology Otolaryngology Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Intracellular signaling: signal transduction for neurotrophic stimuli
Hammond, Donna, PhD	Professor	Anesthesia Pharmacology (Interim Head) MSTP Neuroscience	Central Nervous System Mechanisms Mediating Pain and Analgesia
Harata, N. Charles, MD/PhD	Assistant Professor	Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Neuroscience	Structure and function of synapses in the central nervous system
Hazeltine, Eliot (Richard), PhD	Assistant Professor	Psychology Neuroscience	Response selection, the set of cognitive processes that enable us to transform sensory information into goal-directed actions
Heistad, Donald, MD	Professor	Internal Medicine Pharmacology	Cerebral circulation and atherosclerosis; gene transfer and therapy
Houston, Douglas, PhD	Assistant Professor	Biology Genetics Neuroscience	Maternal transcription factor and signalling pathways in vertebrate development
Howard, Matthew, MD	Professor (Head)	Neurosurgery Neurology Neuroscience	Neural basis of audition
Hurtig, Richard, PhD	Professor (Head)	Communication Sciences & Disorders Neuroscience Speech & Hearing Science	Uncovering general invariants of perceptual and cognitive processes involved in human communication
Jew, Jean, MD	Professor	Anatomy & Cell Biology Neuroscience	Autonomic dysfunction in the pathogenesis of mitral valve prolapse
Johnson, Alan Kim, PhD	Professor	Psychology Pharmacology Integrative Physiology Neuroscience	Neural Control of Body Fluid Balance and Cardiovascular Homeostasis
Johnson, Wayne, PhD	Professor	Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Genetics Neuroscience	Molecular mechanisms of sensory signal transduction
Kay, Alan, PhD	Professor	Biology Neuroscience	Zinc and synaptic transmission / neuronal dynamics and reliability
Kitamoto, Toshihiro, PhD	Assistant Professor	Anesthesia Neurology Genetics Neuroscience	Genetics of complex behavior
Lee, Amy, PhD	Associate Professor	Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Otolaryngology	Research centers on voltage-gated (Cav) Ca2+ channels and their roles in the nervous and cardiovascular systems.
Lee, Gloria, PhD	Associate Professor	Internal Medicine Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Neuronal cytoskeleton, signal transduction, and neurodegenerative diseases
Levin, Irwin, PhD	Professor	Psychology Marketing Neuroscience	We study the Psychology of Decision Making, most recently using the techniques of Neuroscience.
Magnotta, Vince, PhD	Associate Professor	Radiology Neuroscience	Structural and functional imaging to study brain disorders
Mohapatra, Durga P. (D.P.), PhD	Assistant Professor	Pharmacology Neuroscience	Ion Channel Modulations and Regulation of Cellular Plasticity in Neurons
Moore, Steven, MD/PhD	Professor	Pathology Neuroscience	Muscular dystrophy and developmental neurobiology
Moser, David, PhD	Associate Professor	Psychiatry Neuroscience	Current ongoing studies involve cognitive functioning, psychiatric symptoms, and neuroimaging in elderly patients with vascular disease
Nopoulos, Peggy, MD	Professor	Psychiatry Neuroscience	Brain Structure/Function Relationships using MRI and cognitive/behavioral assessment
O'Dorisio, Sue, MD/PhD	Professor	Pediatrics Neuroscience	Molecularly targeted cancer imaging and therapy. Neuropeptides that modulate neurotransmission and provide neuroprotection.
O'Leary, Daniel, PhD	Professor	Psychiatry Neuroscience	Neural basis of the cognitive abnormalities that characterize schizophrenia, and the cognitive and blood flow changes caused by marijuana.
Pantazis, Nicholas, PhD	Professor	Anatomy & Cell Biology Neuroscience	Fetal alcohol syndrome: mechanisms and prevention of detrimental effects of ethanol on the developing nervous system
Paradiso, Sergio, MD	Associate Professor	Psychiatry Neuroscience	The relationship between emotion processing and psychopathology and the relationship between neuropsychological functioning and mood in neuropsychiatric disorders and late-life.
Paulsen, Jane, PhD	Professor	Psychiatry Neurology Neuroscience	Neuropsychology
Philibert, Robert, MD/PhD	Professor	Psychiatry Genetics Neuroscience	Transcriptional Profiling. Gene-Environment Interactions. The role of MED12(HOPA) in psychosis.
Poremba, Amy, PhD	Assistant Professor	Psychology Neuroscience	Central nervous system; complex functions underlying learning and memory by mapping metabolic and electrical activity within and between functional groups of cells
Proudfit, Herbert, PhD	Professor	Pharmacology Neuroscience Medical Scientist Training Program	Neural Circuits that Control Pain
Quinn, Daniel, PhD	Professor	Chemistry	Molecular dynamics of cholinesterase catalysis; hydrolytic enzymes as bioscavengers for treatment of drug abuse; enzyme inhibitor design; synthesis and evaluation of Alzheimer's agents
Rizzo, Matthew, MD	Professor	Neurology Engineering Neuroscience	Cognitive impairments caused by aging and neurological diseases such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury
Robinson, Robert, MD	Professor (Head)	Psychiatry Neuroscience	Neuropharmacological mechanisms and anatomic basis for psychiatric disorders following brain injury
Russo, Andrew, PhD	Professor	Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Genetics Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Control of neuronal gene expression
Shibata, Erwin, PhD	Associate Professor	Molecular Physiology & Biophysics	Mechanism of direct Gsalpha modulation of cardiac ion channels
Sigmund, Curt, PhD	Professor	Internal Medicine Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Genetics Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Molecular genetics and molecular biology of the renin-angiotensin system and hypertension. Cardiovascular biology.
Sluka, Kathleen, PhD	Professor	Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation Science Neuroscience	Neurobiology of pain and pain inhibition
Slusarski, Diane, PhD	Associate Professor	Biology Genetics	Signal transduction mechanisms in development and disease
Song, Long-Sheng, MD	Assistant Professor	Internal Medicine Neuroscience	We focus on local Ca2+ signaling in health and diseases with state of the art confocal Ca2+ imaging techniques and genetic mouse models.
Stipp, Christopher, PhD	Assistant Professor	Biology Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Neuroscience	Functions of cell surface receptor complexes in tumor cell migration; cell-extracellular matrix interactions; neurite outgrowth and neuronal growth cone motility
Strack, Stefan, PhD	Associate Professor	Pharmacology Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Protein phosphatases in neuronal signal transduction and disease
Talman, William, MD	Professor	Neurology Neuroscience	Cardiovascular regulation by the CNS
Tranel, Daniel, PhD	Professor	Neurology Psychology Neuroscience	Neuroanatomical substrates of complex behavior: human learning and memory
Turner, Christopher, PhD	Professor	Communication Sciences & Disorders Otolaryngology Neuroscience Speech & Hearing Science	Speech perception by normal and hearing-impaired listeners
Usachev, Yuriy, PhD	Associate Professor	Pharmacology	Ca2+ signaling and plasticity of primary nociceptors
Vecera, Shaun, PhD	Professor	Psychology Neuroscience	Visual cognition
Wall, Michael, MD	Professor	Neurology Ophthalmology Neuroscience	Vision motion perception in health aging and disease
Wasserman, Edward, PhD	Professor	Psychology Neuroscience	Biology of learning and memory
Wassink, Thomas, MD	Associate Professor	Psychiatry Genetics	Genetic basis of psychiatric disorders
Weiner, Joshua, PhD	Assistant Professor	Biology Neuroscience	Cell adhesion molecules in nervous system development and function
Welsh, Michael, MD	Professor	Internal Medicine Molecular Physiology & Biophysics Genetics Molecular & Cellular Biology Neuroscience	Biology of cystic fibrosis; structure and fuction of ion channels; pathogenesis of lung disease
Wemmie, John, MD/PhD	Associate Professor	Psychiatry Neuroscience	The role of Acid Sensing Ion channels (ASICs) in synaptic plasticity and behavior
Williams, Terence, MD/PhD	Professor	Anatomy & Cell Biology	Mitral valve controls
Wu, Chun-Fang, PhD	Professor	Biology Genetics Neuroscience	Plasticity of neuronal function and form using Drosophila as a model organism

Biosciences Program
The University of Iowa
1178 Medical Laboratories
Iowa City, IA 52242-1181

Phone: 1-800-551-6787 or 319-335-8305
Fax: 319-335-7656
E-mail: biosciences@uiowa.edu
Contact Us