Our Mission

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine is one of the first cross-departmental graduate programs at The University of Iowa. It was founded by John Menninger in 1974, and funded by a National Research Service Award Training Program in Molecular Medicine from 1975-1992. This initial Program did not admit students or grant degrees. Instead, after their first year of graduate study, students from various departments were chosen and awarded stipends based on merit. Similarly to today, the students and faculty met for a weekly seminar, designed to inform trainees about the variety of research that was of interest to cell and molecular biologists, to give trainees practice in presenting their research to a critical audience, and to provide a social connection for trainees who were working in various departments. In 1992, the Molecular Biology Graduate Program was formalized into a degree-granting PhD program, and in 2017, the program changed its name to Molecular Medicine to reflect a expanded focus on translational science.

Today, the Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine still fosters the interdisciplinary efforts of a diverse group of investigators—both faculty and students—with common interests in molecular and cellular biology. Currently the program faculty represent the departments of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Biological Sciences, Chemistry, Dows Institute for Dental Research, Internal Medicine, Microbiology, Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, Neurology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology & Visual Sciences, Otolaryngology, Pathology, Pediatrics, Pharmacology,  Psychiatry, Radiation Oncology, and Surgery. The program actively recruits new students with diverse research interests.

Molecular Medicine Events

Scholars' Table feat. Dr. Reinaldo Franqui Machin  promotional image

Scholars' Table feat. Dr. Reinaldo Franqui Machin

Tuesday, February 25, 2025 12:00pm to 1:30pm
The Graduate College is hosting a Scholars’ Table lunch open to graduate students to network and connect with external speakers and alumni. Apply for an opportunity to join Scholars’ Table on February 25th to meet Dr. Franqui Machin.

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Misty Perez

Friday, April 4, 2025 2:00pm
Pappajohn Biomedical Discovery Building
Misty Perez is a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Science (Molecular Medicine) Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. She is a part of Dr. Matt Potthoff's lab.

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Kyleakin Helm-Kwasny

Thursday, April 17, 2025 10:30am
Medical Education Research Facility
Kyleakin Helm-Kwasny is a current student of the Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, PhD Candidate, and is in Dr. Al Klingelhutz's laboratory.

Molecular Medicine Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Kai Vorhies

Friday, April 18, 2025 10:30am
Medical Education Research Facility
Kai Vorhies is a PhD candidate in the Biomedical Science Program (Molecular Medicine) and a member of Matt Potthoff's lab within the Neuroscience & Pharmacology Department. He is excited to share his research and defend his thesis.
Iowa mascot in lab coat looking at microscope

# 24

Ranking in research among public institutions

a person in a science lab

$ 295 Million

External medical research funding for FY2023

science lab

# 44

Overall ranking by the 2024 U.S. News & World Report

Molecular Medicine News

Abel Lab

Sleep research led by Ted Abel featured in Fall 2024 issue of Medicine Iowa

Friday, November 15, 2024
BSURP 2025

BSURP 2025 Application Portal Opens 11/1

Thursday, October 31, 2024

Interdisciplinary Graduate Programs Events

Women In Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour

Monday, January 13, 11:00am to Monday, December 8, 2025 12:00pm
Carver Biomedical Research Building
Join us for the Women in Micro & Immuno Coffee Hour. It is the monthly coffee hour on the second Monday of the month from 11 a.m. to noon in 1289 CBRB. Enjoy coffee, pastries and contribute to the discussion! This is open to ALL — students, staff, postdocs, and faculty interested in promoting women in science. Speakers change monthly. Contact: jessica-tucker@uiowa.edu for details.
Curator Guided Tour of 'A Roll of the Dice: Symbolism in the Sackner Archive' with Rich Dana promotional image

Curator Guided Tour of 'A Roll of the Dice: Symbolism in the Sackner Archive' with Rich Dana

Tuesday, February 18, 2025 4:00pm to 5:00pm
University of Iowa Main Library
Join curator Rich Dana for a special guided tour of the current Main Library Gallery exhibition, A Roll of the Dice: Symbolism in the Sackner Archive. All are welcome to attend this free event. This tour is offered in partnership with the Iowa City Downtown District's Free Week. About the exhibit:   In 1897, French Symbolist poet Stéphane Mallarmé revolutionized the world of graphic design with a single poem that forever changed the way we look at words. His work illustrated how text conveys...
ACB Seminar Series - Israel Wipf & Juan Rodriguez  promotional image

ACB Seminar Series - Israel Wipf & Juan Rodriguez

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 9:30am to 10:30am
Bowen Science Building
Israel Wipf, a Cell and Developmental Biology Student in the Tootle Lab, will present a seminar titled "The Role of Lipid Droplets and ATGL During In Vivo Collective Cell Migration." Juan Rodriguez, a Cell and Developmental Biology Student in the Yang Lab, will present a seminar titled "Regulation of IDE-mediated Hepatic Insulin Clearance by Nitrosative Stress”
Samantha Zuhlke, "Polarization and Government Non-profit Dynamics" promotional image

Samantha Zuhlke, "Polarization and Government Non-profit Dynamics"

Friday, February 21, 2025 12:00pm to 1:30pm
Schaeffer Hall
SUDHINDRA BOSE SPEAKER SERIES “Polarization and Government Non-profit Dynamics” Samantha Zuhlke Assistant Professor University of Iowa, School of Planning and Public Affairs
CS Colloquium - Large Language Models and Human Cognition promotional image

CS Colloquium - Large Language Models and Human Cognition

Friday, February 21, 2025 3:30pm to 4:30pm
MacLean Hall
Charles Elkan (University of California, San Diego) on "Large Language Models and Human Cognition"
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