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

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Misty Perez promotional image

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Misty Perez

Friday, April 4, 2025 2:00pm
Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building
Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Kyleakin Helm-Kwasny promotional image

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Kyleakin Helm-Kwasny

Thursday, April 17, 2025 10:30am
Medical Education Research Facility

Neuroscience & Pharmacology Workshop - Olivia Klein and Emma Luhmann

Thursday, April 17, 2025 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building
Presented by Olivia Klein Graduate Student in the labs of Drs. Mark Schultz and Marco Hefti Presented by Emma Luhmann Graduate student in Dr. Kevin Campbell's lab
Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Kai Vorhies promotional image

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Kai Vorhies

Friday, April 18, 2025 10:30am
Medical Education Research Facility
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

Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Events

Hardin Open Workshops - ORCiD: Open Researcher and Contributor ID (Zoom) promotional image

Hardin Open Workshops - ORCiD: Open Researcher and Contributor ID (Zoom)

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Virtual
What is ORCID? Why would you want one? This session will discuss ORCID, how researchers can benefit from having one, and how ORCID connects with other information systems. This will also be a hands-on workshop where everyone will have the chance to create their own ORCID and learn the most efficient ways to populate their profile with their publications. PLEASE NOTE Class will be taught via Zoom. Advance registration is required. Registrants will be emailed the Zoom link 30 minutes before the...

Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Workshop: Nathan Mohar, Wallrath Lab

Tuesday, April 8, 2025 12:30pm to 1:20pm
Medical Education Research Facility
Nathan Mohar, Wallrath Laboratory PhD Candidate, Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics
ACB Seminar Series - Alan Cheng promotional image

ACB Seminar Series - Alan Cheng

Wednesday, April 9, 2025 9:30am to 10:30am
Bowen Science Building
Dr. Alan Cheng, a Professor of Otolaryngology from the Stanford University School of Medicine, will present a seminar titled "Regeneration of the Mammalian Inner Ear-a Balancing Act."

Neuroscience & Pharmacology Workshop - Nathan Gentilman and Hannah Hazzard

Thursday, April 10, 2025 12:30pm to 1:30pm
Medical Education Research Facility
Presented by Nathan Gentilman Graduate Student in Dr. David Roman's lab Presented by Hannah Hazzard Graduate student in Dr. Serena (Banu) Gumusoglu's lab
UICB presents the Nancy Brownell Lecture on the History of the Book featuring Barbara E. Mundy promotional image

UICB presents the Nancy Brownell Lecture on the History of the Book featuring Barbara E. Mundy

Thursday, April 10, 2025 5:30pm
English-Philosophy Building
Join us for a lecture from Barbara E. Mundy called "The Queen, the tlahcuilo and the printing press: Cultures of control and spaces of freedom in the sixteenth-century Americas." Mundy is a Professor of Art History and the Martha and Donald Robertson Chair in Latin American Art, Tulane University.
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