The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology is within the Carver College of Medicine. Although the department is primarily housed on a single floor within the Bowen Science Building (BSB), several laboratories are also located in the adjacent Medical Education Research Facility (MERF), Eckstein Medical Research Building (EMRB) and Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building (PBDB). Laboratories are spacious and interconnected, allowing for frequent interactions and easy use of shared equipment. Bowen Science Building also houses the basic science departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Microbiology and Immunology, Neuroscience and Pharmacology, and Molecular Physiology and Biophysics. Researchers in all departments benefit from shared core facilities.
The Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, which was organized in 1948, consists of 23 research-active primary and secondary faculty members who have received national and international recognition. The faculty supervise post-doctoral fellows, graduate students and undergraduates in active research programs that are well supported by grants from the NIH, NSF, ACS, AHA, and other agencies. Total research funding for primary members of the department exceeds $5 million per year. Graduate alumni are making substantial contributions in industry and academia.
The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is one of the nation’s largest university-owned teaching hospitals and ranks in the top ten in funding for public medical schools.
Combining the community atmosphere of a small Midwest city with a cosmopolitan flair, Iowa City tops the list of the best metropolitan areas in the U.S. to live according to the Editor & Publisher Market Guide. It offers an abundance of cultural, historical, and recreational opportunities similar to those of a large city in a safe, friendly, and low cost-of-living environment; Iowa City was designated as a UNESCO City of Literature in 2008. Fans of the performing arts can enjoy the University's renowned Hancher Performing Arts Series, which attracts Broadway shows and internationally recognized music and dance performances, while sports enthusiasts can enjoy being at a Big Ten University that provides many opportunities to attend college football, basketball, and other athletic events. The downtown area has a pedestrian mall with unique shops, restaurants and live music, and hosts events such as a yearly jazz festival, bike and road races, and several annual art festivals.