Looking for a research or creative scholarship mentor?

The researchers on this page are actively looking for undergraduates to join their academic efforts.  This is not an exhaustive list of opportunities.  If you don't see anything that fits your goals, contact us to find out what other opportunities await!

MENTORS: Click to post a research position.

Neuroscience and Biotech

Iowa Neurobank Core, Iowa Neuroscience Institute

The goal of the NeuroBank Core is to facilitate human brain research and technology development at the Iowa Neuroscience Institute.  More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate; Near Future; Spring, Summer, Fall semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit
Hours per week

10 hours/week
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Diabetes & Peripheral Arterial Disease

Dokun Lab, Endocrinology, Internal Medicine

Dr. Dokun’s lab focuses on understanding how genetic factors and the metabolic abnormalities associated with diabetes contribute to vascular diseases such as peripheral artery disease (PAD). All undergraduate volunteers will be involved in on going research projects.  More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit; Pay
Hours per week

10-15 hours/week
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Hearing loss prevention and cochlear implant biology

Claussen Lab, Otolaryngology

Dr. Alexander Claussen is a surgeon-scientist in the Department of Otolaryngology and his laboratory studies the molecular and cellular biology of hearing loss and related treatments, including cochlear implants. The goal of this translational research is to prevent hearing loss and improve treatments for the hearing impaired.  More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate; Near future; Spring semester; Summer semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit; Pay
Hours per week

8, for at least 3 hours at a time; more hours available
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Sleep and time-of-day dependent mechanisms of seizure induced death

Buchanan Lab, Neurology

Our group focuses on trying to understand why seizures are sometimes fatal. We are especially interested in why this tends to occur at night during sleep. We use a range of mouse models and experimental paradigms. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit
Hours per week

10
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Develop transformative technologies to improve patient care

Byrne Lab, Radiation Oncology

Dr. James Byrne’s laboratory focuses on developing transformative technologies to improve patient care. To accomplish this goal, we employ a variety of different methodologies and experiments to improve upon standard-of-care cancer treatments. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate; Near Future; Fall semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit; TBD
Hours per week

10; willingness to commit to multiple semesters
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position
Apply by May 31, 2023

Molecular and genetic basis of sudden cardiac death

London Lab, Internal Medicine

Our group is focused on understanding the molecular and circuit adaptations following alcohol abuse and chronic stress that predispose to psychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative disease and infectious disease. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate; Near Future; Spring semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit; Pay
Hours per week

10+ in blocks of at least 3-4 hours at a time; longer hours in summer
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position
Apply by March 3, 2023

Neurobiology of alcohol dependence and neurodegeneration

Alcohol and Neurodegeneration Lab, Neuroscience and Pharmacology

Our group is focused on understanding the molecular and circuit adaptations following alcohol abuse and chronic stress that predispose to psychiatric disorders, neurodegenerative disease and infectious disease. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate; Near Future; TBD
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit; Pay; TBD
Hours per week

10-14
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Central nervous system control of metabolic homeostasis and sleep-wake behavior

Cui Lab, Neuroscience and Pharmacology

Research projects in our lab aim to uncover the complex brain networks and signaling mechanisms that control metabolic homeostasis and sleep-wake behavior using mouse as a model organism. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit; Pay
Hours per week

10-15
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Placental genetics influence on fetal brain development in mice

Psychiatry and Early Neurobiological Development Lab

This position is to assist graduate student Annemarie Carver as we investigate the influence of placental genetics on fetal neurodevelopment in mice. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Near Future; Spring Semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit
Hours per week

12-15
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position
Apply By February 28, 2023

Immune regulation of graft-versus-host disease and the graft-versus-tumor response

Ince Lab, Internal Medicine

Our laboratory investigates the role of T helper-2 pathway and TGF-beta in regulation of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and graft-versus-tumor response. More information
How to apply Email m-nedim-ince@uiowa.edu
Start Date Immediate
Compensation Academic Credit; TBD
Hours per week

12-15
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position
Apply By January 31, 2023

Neuroscience of learning and memory

Neuroscience of Learning Lab, Psychological and Brain Sciences

Several ongoing projects are examining the brain mechanisms of learning and memory using cutting-edge techniques in neuroscience such as optogenetics, chemogenetics, and electrophysiology.  More information
How to apply Email John-freeman@uiowa.edu
Start Date Near future
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit
Hours per week

10
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position
Apply By February 17, 2023

Neurocognitive basis of parent-child interactions and child development

Development, Experience and Neurocognition Lab, Psychological and Brain Sciences

Research assistants will have the opportunity to assist with various lab procedures (e.g., collecting data during child lab visits, data management, and video coding of parent–child interactions). More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Near future
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit
Hours per week

10
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Experience in cleanroom environments, nanofabrication instrumentation/maintenance

MATFab Facility

This position is part of the University of Iowa's Material Analysis, Testing, and Fabrication (MATFab) facility, which houses cutting-edge equipment for nanofabrication. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Near future; Spring semester
Compensation Academic Credit; Pay
Hours per week

5-15
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

R&D of Next Generation Semiconductor Photonics and Optoelectronics

Prineas Lab, Physics and Astronomy

We make use an extensive semiconductor infrastructure, from epitaxial growth, to microfabrication, to electrical/optical characterization, to modeling for research and developing next generation compound semiconductor optoelectronics and photonics applications. More information
How to apply Contact john-prineas@uiowa.edu
Start Date Immediate
Compensation Pay
Hours per week

10 during academic year; 20+ summer
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

 

Cognitive Neuroscience, Cognitive Psychology

Hwang Lab for Neurocognitive Dynamics, Psychological and Brain Sciences

The Hwang lab conducts research to understand the neural mechanisms of executive functions. Specifically, we are interested in discovering the neural architecture, processes, and dynamic systems that allow brain networks to select, inhibit, transfer, and integrate information.  More information
How to apply Email Hannah Morrow (See "More Information")
Start Date Immediate; Near Future; Fall, Spring, Summer semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit
Hours per week

6-10, two semesters at least
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Cognitive control and action selection

Action, Cognition, & Learning Lab, Psychological and Brain Sciences

The research assistants will be invited to participate in all aspects of psychological research relating to the organization of voluntary action. We are primarily interested in how individuals select their responses as they perform one or more tasks. More information
How to apply Contact Professor Hazeltine
Start Date Spring semester
Compensation Academic Credit
Hours per week

6-9
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Human Subjects Research

Michaelson Lab, Psychiatry

Our research team includes a number of undergraduate students who help us recruit, collect, and enter data. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Spring semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit
Hours per week

TBD
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Schrodinger's equation for electrons in a molecule

Shepherd Lab, Chemistry

We are trying to find ways to solve the Schrodinger’s equation for the electrons in a molecule, an example of a many-body problem with exponential scaling with system size. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate; Fall, Spring, or Summer semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit; Opportunity to advance to paid position
Hours per week

5-10 during academic year, 15-20 during summer
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Solar conversion of excess atmospheric CO2 into liquid fuels

Shepherd Lab, Chemistry

Quantum chemistry can be used to see what’s going on inside of a chemical reaction, and computer simulations allow us to watch molecules as bonds break and form. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate; Fall, Spring, or Summer semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit; Opportunity to advance to paid position
Hours per week

5-10 during academic year, 15-20 during summer
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Language and Culture Contextualization: Digital Intervention in Intercultural Communicative Competence

Seeding Excellence: OVPR Community Engaged Scholars

This research project is a preliminary investigation of how storytelling and technology support intercultural communication between diverse communities and institutions from a wide range of linguistic and cultural backgrounds. More information
How to apply Email Dr. Yuchen Liu: see "More Information"
Start Date Immediate; Near future; Spring semester; Summer semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit; Pay
Hours per week

10-20 (~2-4 hours/day, 5 days/week) 
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position
Apply By March 2023

Analysis of environmental contaminants in biological samples

Lehmler Lab, Occupational and Environmental Health

We are looking for student research assistants who would like to investigate the role of persistent organic pollutants in adverse health effects. The research project is located on the UI Research Park and involves the analysis of environmental contaminants in biological samples using state-of-the-art analytical tools. More information
How to apply Email Dr. Xueshu Li: see "More Information"
Start Date Immediate; Near future
Compensation Academic Credit; Pay
Hours per week

10 -20 during the academic year; up to 40 during summer, at least one 8-6 hour day
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Development of behavior problems and positive adjustment in children

Developmental Psychopathology Lab

The Developmental Psychopathology Lab conducts research to understand how children develop behavior problems as well as positive adjustment. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Spring semester; Summer semester; Fall semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit
Hours per week

10 
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Natural disasters, disaster migration, and violent conflict internationally

The Disasters, Migration, and Violence Lab, Political Science

Interested in natural disasters, environmental migration, and conflict? The Disasters, Migration, and Violence (DMV) Lab seeks students interested in learning more about the research process in a hands-on, collaborative social science research group experience. More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate  Near future
Compensation Academic Credit; Pay; To be determined
Hours per week

5-10hrs
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Cognitive Neuroscience

Wessel Cognitive Neuroscience Lab, Neuroscience

Undergrad Research Assistants will run Cognitive Neuroscience tasks with EEG and TMS neuroimaging techniques. No lab experience required. More Information
How to apply See "More Information" 
Start Date Spring semester; Summer semester; To be determined
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit; To be determined
Hours per week

10
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Dietary and lifestyle approaches to improving quality of life in Multiple Sclerosis

Wahls Lab, Internal Medicine

The Wahls Research lab is interested in the relationship between diet quality and clinical outcomes. Motor function is assessed using timed walk and hand function tests. Vision function, quality of life and blood biomarkers are also assessed. The study Efficacy of Diet on Quality of Life in Multiple Sclerosis is a five year study, completing in 2027.  More information
How to apply Email Mary Ehlinger via ehlingerma@healthcare.uiowa.edu with a cover letter expressing your interests and qualifications, a resume and an unofficial transcript.
Start Date Immediate  Near future
Compensation Volunteer (Optional 0-credit hour course for transcript recognition)
Academic Credit (1-4 semester hours)
Pay is available in addition to volunteer hours
Hours per week

At least 10 hours a week with blocks of time of 3-4+ hours, 2-3 days a week, Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 pm.
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Uterine endometrial cancer: Molecular mechanisms, targeted therapy

Yang Lab, Pathology

Uterine endometrial cancer incidence (~65,950 new cases/year) and deaths (~12,550 deaths/year) are on the rise. To help endometrial cancer patients and cure endometrial cancer, we need understand the characteristics of this disease.  More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate; Near future; Fall semester; Spring semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic Credit
Hours per week

10+, blocks of 4 hours or more
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be a continuous position

Control of circulation in health, disease and aging.

Sabharwal Lab, Internal Medicine

Our lab studies neural circuitry and signaling mechanisms in cardiovascular (heart failure, cardiomyopathy) and neurodegenerative diseases (Alzheimers disease, ALS).  More information
How to apply See "More Information"
Start Date Immediate; Near future
Compensation Volunteer; Academic credit
Hours per week

10-20
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be continuous position

New treatments for diabetes, cancer and neurological disease

Bioelectronic Medicines Translational Research Lab

The Carter laboratory combines cutting edge bioengineering and molecular biology techniques to study how electromagnetic fields can be used to cure diabetes and cancer.  More information
How to apply Please paste CV/resume in an email and send to calvin-carter@uiowa.edu
Start Date Immediate; Near future
Compensation Volunteer; Academic credit; Pay
Hours per week

10+
Timeline Ongoing, potential to be continuous position

Sleep disturbance in psychiatric disorders

Neurodevelopment and Psychopathology Lab, Psychological and Brain Sciences

Our focus is on defining the physiological features of sleep disturbances in psychiatric disorders, investigating their relations with symptoms and cognitive deficits, and examining the neural circuitry involved in these sleep deficits. More information.
How to apply See "More Information".
Start Date Immediate; Summer semester; Fall semester
Compensation Volunteer
Hours per week

10
Timeline Ongoing or potential to be continuous position

Social-Emotional Development from Infancy to Adolescence

Child Lab

We study children’s social-emotional development from infancy to adolescence. Students in this lab have the opportunity to work on a longitudinal study to help collect data during laboratory sessions, code behavioral data from videos, and perform preliminary data management.

More information...
How to apply Click HERE to fill out interest form.
Start Date Spring semester; Near future; Fall semester; Summer semester
Compensation Volunteer; Academic credit
Hours per week 9
Timeline

Ongoing or potential to be a continuous position