Dr. Krystal Parker, Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Iowa, has been appointed Director of the Molecular Medicine Graduate Subprogram. As a systems neuroscientist, Dr. Parker's work explores the cerebellum's role in non-motor function through a distinctive combination of rodent electrophysiology, optogenetics, and human EEG studies—exemplifying the bench-to-bedside approach that is central to molecular medicine.

Dr. Parker brings exceptional leadership experience to this role, having served as Chair of the Neuroscience Graduate Program Comprehensive Exam Committee for the last 5 years where she made thoughtful improvements to the exam process and offered personalized student support. Her student-centric philosophy, demonstrated through chairing over 40 committees and successfully mentoring multiple PhD graduates, will inform her approach to program leadership.

As Director, Dr. Parker will pursue a three-pronged strategy focusing on student success, faculty engagement, and program sustainability. Her vision includes securing T32 training grant funding, creating collaborative clinician-scientist mentorship teams, and strengthening partnerships across clinical departments. Dr. Parker aims to position the program at the forefront of precision medicine and molecular diagnostics, preparing graduates to address unmet clinical needs through innovative research.

"My goal is to prepare our graduates to become leaders who can translate research discoveries into transformative clinical advancements," says Dr. Parker. Her leadership promises to enhance the program's reputation for rigorous, interdisciplinary education while expanding opportunities for students to bridge laboratory research with real-world clinical applications.