Molecular & Cellular Biology Program Office
University of Iowa — 357 MRC
Iowa City, IA 52242
molcell-biology@uiowa.edu
Phone: 319-335-7748
Fax: 319-335-7656
Program Director: Frederick Domann, Ph.D.
frederick-domann@uiowa.edu
Program Administrator: Paulette Villhauer
paulette-villhauer@uiowa.edu
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Ryan Baxley successfully defended his thesis work entitled "Understanding the Contribution of Individual Zinc Fingers to a Multi-functional, Polydactyl Transcription Factor" on May 16, 2013. Ryan completed his dissertation research in the laboratory of Pamela Geyer. Learn more about his research. Congratulations Ryan! |
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Lynne Dieckman presented her dissertation seminar entitled "Structure and Functional Studies of Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen Mutant Proteins Defective in Translesion Synthesis and Mismatch Repair" on May 13, 2013. Lynne completed her thesis research in Todd Washington's laboratory. Click here for more infomation. Lynne will be a postdoctoral researcher in the lab of Catherine Musselman in at the University of Iowa. |
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Trent Place successfully defended his thesis on April 23, 2013 completing the requirements for his Ph.D. Trent completed his dissertation work "A Novel Role for Prolyl-Hydroxylase 3 Gene Silencing in Epithelial to Mesenchymal-Like Transition" in the laboratory of Rick Domann. Congratulations Trent! Click here to see a handout describing his research. |
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Erik Wendlandt successfully defended his thesis work entitled "Macrophage microRNA and mRNA responses to ligation of TLRs or infection with Leishmania infantum chagasi" on April 24, 2013. Erik completed his dissertation research in the laboratory of Mary Wilson. Learn more about his research. |
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Theodore Wilson presented his dissertation seminar entitled "Taking Shape: Regulating Mitochondria Morphology Through Alternative Splicing and Phosphorylation of Fission Factor Proteins" on April 18, 2013. Ted completed his thesis research in Stefan Strack's laboratory. Click here for more information. Congratulations Ted! |
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Brief History of the Molecular & Cellular Biology Program
The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology is one of the first cross-departmental graduate programs at The University of Iowa. It was founded by John Menninger in 1974, and funded by a National Research Service Award Training Program in Cellular and Molecular Biology from 1975-1992. This initial Program did not admit students or grant degrees. Instead, after their first year of graduate study, students from various departments were chosen and awarded stipends based on merit. Similarly to today, the students and faculty met for a weekly seminar, designed to inform trainees about the variety of research that was of interest to cell and molecular biologists, to give trainees practice in presenting their research to a critical audience, and to provide a social connection for trainees who were working in various departments. In 1992, the Molecular Biology Graduate Program was formalized into a degree-granting PhD program, and in 2005, the program came full circle with a name change and a new NIH training grant in Molecular and Cellular Biology.
Today, the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology still fosters the interdisciplinary efforts of a diverse group of investigators—both faculty and students—with common interests in molecular and cellular biology. Currently the program faculty represent the departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Internal Medicine, Microbiology, Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Ophthalmology, Pathology, Pediatrics, Pharmacology, and Radiology. The program actively recruits new students with diverse research interests.