Three University of Iowa undergraduates, Molly Harris, Manuela Lizarazu, and Rochelle Lopez, have won the 2022 Iowa Neuroscience Institute Summer Scholar Awards.

The INI Summer Scholar Program supports Iowa undergraduates planning to pursue research during the summer in the lab of an INI faculty member. As INI Summer Scholars, the students receive a stipend of $5,000 and have the opportunity to attend a summer undergraduate seminar series and a variety of informal events. The INI Summer Scholar application process is highly competitive, and Harris, Lizarazu and Lopez stood out for the quality of their research plan, mentor endorsement, and academic performance.

Harris works in the laboratory of Ryan LaLumiere, professor of psychological and brain sciences. She is involved in research that investigates the neurocircuitry underlying the inhibition of drug-seeking behavior.  

Lizarazu works in the laboratory of Jason Radley, associate professor of psychological and brain sciences. She is involved in research that seeks to unravel the brain pathways involved in stress response.

Lopez works in the laboratory of Bengi Baran, assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences. She is involved in research that investigates the role of sleep in cognitive and affective disturbances in neuropsychiatric disorders.

Psychiatric and neurological disorders are devastating to individuals, their families, and society. Created with the transformative grant of $45 million from the Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust, the INI seeks revolutionary discoveries in fundamental neuroscience to translate an understanding of how the brain works into clinical treatments for disorders of the brain and nervous system.