create | cure | explore | imagine | discover
The Dare to Discover campaign showcases researchers, scholars, and creators from across the University of Iowa. The campaign is sponsored by the Office of the Vice President for Research.
Please visit the UI Office of the Vice President for Research nomination form to submit a researcher for the 2024 downtown banner campaign.
Click on the student profiles to learn more about the personal stories behind the faces of discovery and creativity.

Alyssa Provencio
Empowers students to foster well-being
PhD student, counseling psychology
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Nimesh P.R Ranasinghe Arachchige
Revolutionizes biodiesel refinement
PhD student, chemistry
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Andrew Behrens
Optimizes orthopedic surgery corrections
Undergraduate student, biomedical engineering
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Floyd Evans, Jr.
Forecasts genetic risk of cancer
Undergraduate student, computer science and microbiology
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Olajide Fadare
Supports resilient pharmacy systems
PhD student, health services research
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Daniel Fu
Regulates cell signals to improve memory
Undergraduate student, biomedical sciences
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Katie Gilbert
Interprets resistance in literature
PhD, French and Francophone world studies
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Noah Gilkes
Protects the brain after trauma
Undergraduate student, neuroscience and philosophy
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Ying Hsu
Preserves vision with gene therapy
Postdoctoral scholar, ophthalmology and visual sciences
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Sunny Huang
Develops safer cancer treatments
Postdoctoral fellow, neuroscience and pharmacology
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Preston Johnson
Appraises unseen cost of mental illness
Undergraduate student, neuroscience
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Dan Keefe
Advances laser medical treatments
PhD student, electrical and computer engineering
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Abigail Lee
sheds light on reproductive stigma
PhD student, community and behavioral health
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Megan Lindmark
Protects rural drinking water
PhD student, civil and environmental engineering
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María Leonor Márquez Ponce
Captures Latinx higher education experiences
PhD student, Spanish and Portuguese
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Meg Mechelke
Bridges creative writing and reading research
Undergraduate student, English and creative writing, theatre arts
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Héctor O. Sánchez Meléndez
Studies word recognition in bilinguals
Undergraduate student, neuroscience
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Amira Nash
Champions representation in the classroom
PhD student, language, culture, and literacy education
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Ginny Nuckols
Protects brain health after preeclampsia
PhD student, health and human physiology
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Parham Parnian
Accelerates new therapies for infection
PhD student, chemical and biochemical engineering
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Thomas Ptashnik
Tracks altruism throughout a career
PhD student, management and entrepreneurship
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Emily Rogers
Explores exercise's impact on disease
PhD student, health and human physiology
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Jurnie Rosius
Addresses aftermath of cancer treatment
Undergraduate student, human physiology
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Brandon Schickling
Predicts maternal heart health
Postdoctoral fellow, obstetrics and gynecology
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Amelia Watson
Tracks development of shyness
Undergraduate student, psychology and criminology
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Lucinda Williamson
Protects joint health after injury
PhD student, biomedical engineering
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Mizuki Wittmer
Tracks urban wildlife diversity
Undergraduate student, environmental science and Spanish
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Sadjad Anzabi Zadeh
Personalizes medication dosage with AI
PhD student, business analytics
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