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.

Click on the student profiles to learn more about the personal stories behind the faces of discovery and creativity.

Ebenezer Aidoo

Ebenezer Aidoo

Examines healthcare technology adoption

PhD student, communication studies

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Eric Akuoko

Eric Akuoko

Translates values to STEM teaching

PhD student, science education

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Wahid Alam

Wahid Alam

Tailors sleep apnea treatments

PhD student, biomedical engineering

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Ryan Allen

Ryan Allen

Slows age-related muscle loss

PhD student, heath and human physiology

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Hazal Arpaci

Hazal Arpaci

Uncovers sleep's effect on mental health

PhD student, psychological and brain sciences

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Hannah Bäck

Hannah Bäck

Detects lake health remotely

Undergraduate student, data science

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Siduri Beckman

Siduri Beckman

Appraises prison programs after COVID

JD student

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Nathan Black

Nathan Black

Empowers employee voices at work

PhD student, management and entrepreneurship

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Andrew Parayil Boge

Andrew Parayil Boge

Chronicles the rhetoric of racism

PhD student, communication studies

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Cecilia Bradley

Cecilia Bradley

Revives legacy of South American poet

Undergraduate student, English and creative writing

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Joe Breen

Joe Breen

Untangles shapes beyond three dimensions

Postdoctoral scholar, mathematics

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Michael Chavez

Michael Chavez

Seeks regenerative treatment for bone

DDS student

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Sanjay Chepuri

Sanjay Chepuri

Tracks energy in Earth's magnetic field

PhD student, physics and astronomy

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Anne Cunningham

Anne Cunningham

Investigates damage due to cancer treatment

Undergraduate student, biomedical engineering

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Joy Curry

Joy Curry

Dismantles historical women's fashion

Undergraduate student, history

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Naomi Davis

Naomi Davis

Empowers students through music

MA student, music therapy

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Regan Day

Regan Day

Decodes dynamics of peace negotiations

Undergraduate student, political science, marketing, business analytics and information systems

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William Dong

William Dong

Determines medical imaging safety

Undergraduate student, biomedical engineering

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Jackie Dziewior

Jackie Dziewior

Safeguards maternal heart health

PhD student, health and human physiology

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Osamamen Oba Eduviere

Osamamen Oba Eduviere

Tells women's resettlement stories

PhD student, religious studies

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Liz Elias

Liz Elias

Improves immunotherapy effectiveness

Undergraduate student, microbiology and computer science

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Sam Eliasen

Sam Eliasen

Studies toxin exposure before birth

Undergraduate student, neuroscience, biochemistry and molecular biology

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Cecilia Fasano

Cecilia Fasano

Crafts components for space telescopes

PhD student, physics

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Farnaz Fatahi

Farnaz Fatahi

Designs resilient cities

MS student, urban and regional planning

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Celine Fender

Celine Fender

Tracks success of Black student-mothers

PhD student, education policy and leadership studies

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Khyathi Gadag

Khyathi Gadag

Links policy to mental healthcare access

PhD student, health services and policy

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Breanna Greteman

Breanna Greteman

Explores disparities in cancer outcomes

PhD student, epidemiology

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Banu Gumusoglu

Banu Gumusoglu

Links pregnancy to lifelong brain health

Postdoctoral scholar, obstetrics and gynecology

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Moana Hala’ufia

Moana Hala’ufia

Discovers molecules to target cancer

PhD student, pharmaceutical sciences and experimental therapeutics

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Maxwell Hammond

Maxwell Hammond

Develops octopus-inspired robotics

PhD student, mechanical engineering

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Monté J. Howell

Monté J. Howell

Excavates the self

MFA student, theatre arts

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Ran Huo

Ran Huo

Scrutinizes heart's energy regulator

PhD student, clinical pharmaceutical sciences

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Guillermo Romano Ibarra

Guillermo Romano Ibarra

Correlates cell function to lung health

MD/PhD student

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Falak Jalali

Falak Jalali

Charts landscape of cash crop economy

PhD student, geography

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Jordan Jones

Jordan Jones

Brings biblical archaeology to the public

PhD student, classics

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Mushroor Kamal

Mushroor Kamal

Assesses antidepressant use in pregnancy

Undergraduate student, biology

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Sora Kim

Sora Kim

Speaks to inclusive Korean learning

PhD student, literacy, culture, and language education

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Ben Kreitlow

Ben Kreitlow

Sheds light on nighttime seizure risks

MD/PhD student

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Samantha Kruse

Samantha Kruse

Evaluates effects of radiation

PhD student, chemistry

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Senthilguru Kulanthaivel

Senthilguru Kulanthaivel

Pioneers possibilities of tooth repair

Postdoctoral scholar, dentistry

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Olivia Kulaszewicz

Olivia Kulaszewicz

Enhances information access for patients

PharmD student

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Connor Laule

Connor Laule

Unlocks interplay of stress and appetite

PhD student, pharmacology

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Jihye Lee

Jihye Lee

Promotes growth in kids with heart disease

PhD student, nursing

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Eliezer Santos León

Eliezer Santos León

Calculates COVID's impact in healthcare

PhD student, biostatistics

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Megan McCabe

Megan McCabe

Innovates clinical research designs

PhD student, biostatistics

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Makayla Morales

Makayla Morales

Examines unique challenges for migrants

MPH student, community and behavioral health

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Arshi Munjal

Arshi Munjal

Relates diet to oral microbiome

DDS student

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Abimbola Oladayo

Abimbola Oladayo

Examines gene research in Africa

PhD student, oral science

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Bladimir Padilla-Fuentes

Bladimir Padilla-Fuentes

Bridges gaps in educational access

PhD student, educational measurement and statistics

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Precious Maryah Pate

Precious Maryah Pate

Dissects protein's role in reproduction

Undergraduate student, public health

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Natanael Payán

Natanael Payán

Brings identity to center stage

Undergraduate student, theatre arts

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Danielle Pessôa-Pereira

Danielle Pessôa-Pereira

Protects people and animals from Lyme disease

Postdoctoral scholar , epidemiology

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Jay Phruttiwanichakun

Jay Phruttiwanichakun

Accelerates bone healing process

PhD student, pharmaceutics

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Riley Post

Riley Post

Alleviates flood impacts

PhD student, civil engineering

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Joshua Reeder

Joshua Reeder

Calibrates antibiotic doses

PhD student, pharmaceutical sciences and experimental therapeutics

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Cheryl Reuben

Cheryl Reuben

Forecasts soil health with AI

Undergraduate student, chemical and biochemical engineering

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Clara Reynen

Clara Reynen

Cultivates research across disciplines

MLIS Student

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Francisca Diaz Riquelme

Francisca Diaz Riquelme

Seeks origins of human cognition

PhD student, psychological and brain sciences

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Amelia Rosenberg

Amelia Rosenberg

Celebrates Jewish lineage through ceramics

MFA student, ceramics

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Ramin Roshandel

Ramin Roshandel

Makes multi-disciplinary art public

PhD student, music composition

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Sepehr Roudini

Sepehr Roudini

Probes interplay of politics and business

PhD student, finance

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Khlood Saeed

Khlood Saeed

Diagnoses barriers to healthcare

Undergraduate student, public health

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Lukas Schnepel

Lukas Schnepel

Weighs law's role in climate response

JD student

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Manisha Skaria

Manisha Skaria

Designs molecules to defeat diabetes

Postdoctoral fellow, pharmaceutical sciences and experimental therapeutics

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Amanda Slagle

Amanda Slagle

Identifies drivers of kidney disease

PhD student, immunology

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Victor Soupene

Victor Soupene

Defends wellbeing of rural workers

PhD student, epidemiology

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Darius Stewart

Darius Stewart

Explores identity through memoir

PhD student, English

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Hiruni Sumanasiri

Hiruni Sumanasiri

Pursues personalized cancer treatments

Undergraduate student, microbiology

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Nikki Tennessen

Nikki Tennessen

Helps universities support students

PhD student, higher education and student affairs, educational measurement and statistics

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Ti-Ara Turner

Ti-Ara Turner

Influences disease through gut health

PhD student, immunology

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Avery Van De Water

Avery Van De Water

Characterizes social cues in the brain

PhD student, neuroscience

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David Wagner

David Wagner

Maps creative genius in the brain

Undergraduate student, neuroscience

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Madi Wahlen

Madi Wahlen

Investigates impact of drug shortages

MD/PhD student

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Bethie Walker

Bethie Walker

Seeks disease treatments through diet

Undergraduate student, biomedical sciences and neuroscience

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Qi Wang

Qi Wang

Engineers biomaterials to guide cells

MD/PhD student

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Charles Wilmot II

Charles Wilmot II

Optimizes treatment with machine learning

Undergraduate student, computer science and engineering

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Samantha Wuebker

Samantha Wuebker

Extracts how teeth harden

PhD student, biomedical science

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Tiffany Ybarra

Tiffany Ybarra

Deciphers immune cell signals

PhD student, immunology

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Richie Zhang

Richie Zhang

Reveals cell function in the brain

MD student

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Alexa Zimbelman

Alexa Zimbelman

Traces origins of addiction

PhD student, psychological and brain sciences

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