Undergraduate Accomplishments
Fellowships
Congratulations to undergraduate student Kayla Kolpin in the Molecular Physiology Lab, who was awarded an Office of Undergraduate Research Summer Fellowship for 2024. Kayla will work with Prof. Erin Talbert on a project investigating the effects of a class of drugs called MEK inhibitors on skeletal muscle cells.
On February 27, 2024, Elizabeth Munoz Cuadra, an undergraduate student majoring in Human Physiology, was awarded the John and Elsie Mae Ferentz Research Fellowship for the Spring 2024 semester. This Fellowship was established by Mr. Kirk Ferentz as a memorial to his parents, John and Elsie Mae Ferentz. Ferentz’s goal is to provide support and encouragement to undergraduate students who conduct research under the guidance of a tenured or tenure-track faculty in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Elizabeth is conducting research on mechanisms leading to age-related muscle atrophy and weakness under the mentorship of Associate Professor Vitor Lira.
Undergraduate student Nathan Stephens, majoring in Human Physiology, was awarded a Summer 2024 ICRU Fellowship to support his research at Dr. Vitor Lira's lab. Nathan will be studying a new pathway modulating atrophy and hypertrophy in skeletal muscle. This research may reveal new targets for therapy aiming at preserving muscle mass and force during immobilization and hospitalizations.
Sixty HHP students invited to join Phi Beta Kappa Society
Across the Exercise Science, Health Studies, Health Promotion, Human Physiology, Sport and Recreation Management, and Therapeutic Recreation Programs, 60 undergraduate students have been invited to join Phi Beta Kappa Society for their academic excellence and integrity. Out of the 10% of U.S. colleges and universities that have Phi Beta Kappa chapters, only 10% of their arts and sciences graduates are invited to join. Congratulations to our dedicated students who achieved this honor!
Undergraduate Scholarship Winners
C. Pauline Spencer Scholarship: Lauren McCartney, Alyssa Mizzi, Grace Sindt, and Jayden Salmon
M. Gladys Scott Scholarship: Micah Poellett, Megan Sills, Julianne Van Arnun, and Sarah Hrubecky
Dr. Sofi R. Boutros Fund: Thomas Hart and Kenzie Newton
Benjamin B. and Clae Mae Brom Scholarship: Taylor Wittkop
Margaret Osborn Scholarship: Nicholas Wagner
Miriam Taylor Scholarship Fund: Matthew King
Bess Whittaker Scholarship: Kenzie Newton
Dr. Margaret Fox Scholarship: Elizabeth Dickman
McCloy Memorial Fund: Thomas Hart
Opportunities Await
The University of Iowa has hundreds of scholarship opportunities available.
Visit uiowa.academicworks.com/opportunities
Graduate Accomplishments
Awards, Honors, and Presentations
Congratulations to Ryan Allen, HHP PhD student in Prof. Vitor Lira’s lab, who was selected for the “Dare to Discover” downtown Iowa City banner campaign by the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Congratulations to Prof. Kara Whitaker’s Postdoc Jacob Gallagher who received a 2-year NIH-NHLBI funded Postdoctoral Diversity Supplement to Dr. Whitaker's ongoing Offspring Study.
Well done to Prof. Jess Gorzelitz’s graduate student Kaitlyn Steffen for a successful presentation on PACS data at UI Spring Undergraduate Research Festival (SURF) in April!
Congratulations to Prof. Kara Whitaker’s Post Doc Jacob Gallagher who won the 3-minute thesis competition at American Heart Association Epidemiology/Lifestyles conference!
PhD. student Kelsey Schwartz also published a paper in Journal of Applied Physiology titled: Angiotensin II type 2 receptor-mediated dilation is greater in the cutaneous microvasculature of premenopausal women compared to men.
PhD student Jackie Dziewior was featured in an article by CLAS for her work as a student researcher. In response to a question about the research environment in CLAS, she responded, “CLAS (and specifically the Department of Health and Human Physiology) has been incredible in shaping the beginning of my scientific career by providing opportunities to grow both professionally and personally. I’ve enjoyed an interdisciplinary education that supports collaboration across various fields of research. This has instilled in me the value of having various approaches to one problem and that the best science happens when we work together.”
Scholarship Winners
C. Pauline Spencer Scholarship: Jenna Springer
Dr. Sofi R. Boutros Fund: Justin Deters
Elizabeth Halsey Scholarship: Kelsey Schwartz
Mary Monroe Bell Scholarship Fund: Grace Maurer
Miriam Taylor Scholarship Fund: Ryan Allen
Homewood Memorial Scholarship Fund: Lisa Van Wiel
Ray-Tai & Ray-Fong Chang Scholarship Fund: Ruda Lee
Louis E. Alley Scholarship Fund: Emma Somers and Wangkuk Sun
McCloy Memorial Fund: Yunjie Luo