Our Mission

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine 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 Molecular Medicine 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 2017, the program changed its name to Molecular Medicine to reflect a expanded focus on translational science.

Today, the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine 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, Chemistry, Dows Institute for Dental Research, Internal Medicine, Microbiology, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Neurology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Otolaryngology, Pathology, Pediatrics, Pharmacology,  Psychiatry, Radiation Oncology, and Surgery. The program actively recruits new students with diverse research interests.

Molecular Medicine Events

Raymond Fong Memorial Lecture: Megan Martik, PhD, UC Berkeley Department of Molecular and Cell Biology promotional image

Raymond Fong Memorial Lecture: Megan Martik, PhD, UC Berkeley Department of Molecular and Cell Biology

Friday, December 6, 2024 3:30pm
Biology Building East
The Raymond Fong Memorial Lecture in the Department of Biology will be held on Friday, Dec. 6, with Megan Martik, PhD, from the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology at UC Berkeley, as the speaker. Dr. Martik's seminar will be held at 3:30 p.m. in Kollros Auditorium (Room 101), Biology Building East.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, December 9, 2024 11:00am to 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion! This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science. Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, January 13, 11:00am to Monday, December 8, 2025 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion! This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science. Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, February 17, 2025 11:00am to Monday, January 12, 2026 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion! This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science. Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, March 10, 2025 11:00am to Monday, February 2, 2026 11:00am
Carver Biomedical Research Building
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion! This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science. Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, April 14, 2025 11:00am to Monday, March 9, 2026 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion! This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science. Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, May 12, 2025 11:00am to Monday, April 6, 2026 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion! This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science. Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, June 9, 2025 11:00am to Monday, May 4, 2026 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion! This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science. Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, July 14, 2025 11:00am to Monday, June 8, 2026 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion! This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science. Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, August 11, 2025 11:00am to Monday, July 6, 2026 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion! This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science. Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.
Iowa mascot in lab coat looking at microscope

# 24

Ranking in research among public institutions

a person in a science lab

$ 295 Million

External medical research funding for FY2023

science lab

# 44

Overall ranking by the 2024 U.S. News & World Report

Molecular Medicine News

Abel Lab

Sleep research led by Ted Abel featured in Fall 2024 issue of Medicine Iowa

Friday, November 15, 2024
BSURP 2025

BSURP 2025 Application Portal Opens 11/1

Thursday, October 31, 2024
Ayushi Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellowship

Program student, Ayushi Sood receives 2024 Iowa Innovation Leadership Fellowship

Thursday, October 10, 2024
McCray receives Emily’s Entourage 2024 Trailblazer Award

McCray receives Emily’s Entourage 2024 Trailblazer Award

Monday, September 30, 2024

Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Events

ACB Seminar Series - Aidan Ruth  promotional image

ACB Seminar Series - Aidan Ruth

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 9:30am to 10:30am
Bowen Science Building
Dr. Aidan Ruth, an Associate Professor in the Center of Anatomical Sciences and Education at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine will present a seminar titled "More than Content: The Epiphenomena of Anatomy Education."
Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Seminar: Micah Johnson promotional image

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Seminar: Micah Johnson

Wednesday, December 4, 2024 10:30am
Medical Education Research Facility
Please join the Neuroscience Graduate Program as Micah Johnson presents her thesis dissertation on Wednesday, Dec. 4. We invite you to join us in celebrating Micah’s remarkable achievements and to discover the fascinating research she has conducted. Your presence and support would be deeply meaningful to her and to all of us who have been part of this journey. This seminar represents the culmination of her dedication, hard work, and excellence, and we couldn’t be prouder. We look forward to sharing this special occasion with you and celebrating together.

Neuroscience & Pharmacology Workshop - Nagalakshmi Balasubramanian, PhD

Thursday, December 5, 2024 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Medical Education Research Facility
Presented by Nagalakshmi Balasubramanian, PhD Postdoctoral Research Scholar in Dr. Catherine Marcinkiewcz's Lab
Mathematics Faculty Colloquium - Xueyu Zhu; University of Iowa Department of Mathematics promotional image

Mathematics Faculty Colloquium - Xueyu Zhu; University of Iowa Department of Mathematics

Thursday, December 5, 2024 3:30pm to 4:20pm
MacLean Hall
Title: Recent Advancement of Scientific Machine Learning Abstract: Machine learning has revolutionized scientific computing, offering unprecedented computational efficiency, flexibility, and applicability to real-world challenges. However, traditional machine learning approaches often overlook the rich insights provided by existing physical laws or mathematical properties. This talk explores the latest advancements in AI techniques that respect existing physical laws or mathematical properties...

CS Colloquium - Rising Stars Talks

Friday, December 6, 2024 3:30pm to 5:00pm
MacLean Hall
Speakers: Arjun Arunasalam; Matthew DeVerna; Ananya Joshi; Ahmed Tanvir Mahdad; and Taylor Olson
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