Meet the winners of the 2026 student, postdoctoral research excellence awards

Thursday, March 12, 2026

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The Office of the Vice President for Research (OVPR) and the Office of Undergraduate Research (OUR) recognized 11 exceptional undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers at a celebration at the Old Capitol Museum on Tuesday, March 10.

This cohort is directly addressing some of the most pressing issues facing Iowans and beyond, for example contributing to viable cancer treatments, providing better dementia care, as well as understanding how civil wars impact children.

"Our student and postdoctoral researchers show levels of intellect, creativity, and academic rigor that are truly inspiring," said David Schwebel, vice president for research. "We look forward to celebrating our young academics every year and value the opportunity to highlight the vital role they play in our vibrant culture of discovery and innovation."

OVPR and OUR solicit nominations for the awards from the campus community each year.

Postdoctoral Research Excellence Award

This award honors postdoctoral scholars and fellows whose research and scholarly activity is recognized as highly original work that makes a significant contribution to the field.

Farnoosh Shemirani, PhD, postdoctoral research fellow, internal medicine and epidemiology

Shemirani studies how nutrition can improve health outcomes for people with neurological and metabolic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), where inflammation is a key underlying process. After earning her PhD in nutrition sciences from the Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Shemirani joined the lab of Terry Wahls, clinical professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, as a postdoctoral research scholar in 2022.

Since then, she has conducted multiple secondary analyses of dietary clinical trials performed in the Wahls Lab about the effects of nutrition on MS outcomes. Most recently, she led a team in conducting a systematic review and meta-analysis about the effect of different diets on inflammatory markers in MS. Through an innovative, collaborative study that uses AI expertise, she sought to better understand the biological pathways through which diet affects the symptoms of MS. To date, she's authored 17 peer-reviewed manuscripts, with five as a first author and one as corresponding author.

Shemirani has secured several awards to propel her research, including the Iowa Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (IIAI) Pilot AI Research Grant, the Obermann Interdisciplinary Research Grant, and the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center's Diana Benz Memorial Fund Seed Grant. She has also been appointed to the NIH T32 Training Grant in Diabetes, administered by the Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center.

"I have had the opportunity to evaluate many exceptional trainees. Dr. Shemirani ranks among the very best," said Linda Snetselaar, professor in the Department of Epidemiology and Endowed Chair of Preventive Nutrition Education in the College of Public Health. "Her intellectual independence, scientific rigor, and hard work distinguish her as a truly elite postdoctoral scholar."

Graduate Research Excellence Awards

These awards honor students in terminal degree programs who are conducting research and scholarly activity that is highly original and makes a significant contribution to the field.

Jodie McLennan, physics and astronomy PhD student

McLennan studies pulsating aurora, a type of northern lights, and how they affect Earth's magnetosphere and atmosphere. Among her many accomplishments, McLennan has advanced this field with the first in-situ validation of a ground-based methodology that measures changes in the aurora energy. She is also the recipient of the prestigious Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) award that funds her work for three years.

"She is a stellar example of everything I believe Iowa should be most proud of in their graduate students: advancing scholarly excellence, and providing distinction in teaching, educating, and mentoring," said Allison Jaynes, associate professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences (CLAS).

McLennan expects to complete her degree in May 2027.

Harindu Rajapaksha, chemistry PhD student

Rajapaksha has made substantial contributions to the study of the chemistry of radioactive materials. He has become an expert in neptunium chemistry, a poorly understood element found in nuclear waste.

Rajapaksha received the prestigious Seaborg Institute Summer Research Fellowship at Los Alamos National Laboratory, as well as two UI fellowships, the Graduate College Summer Research Fellowship and the CLAS Dissertation Writing Fellowship. As a graduate student at the University of Iowa, He has co-authored 16 published articles, including eight as first author.

"His research productivity and scientific advancements during his graduate career are unparalleled and clearly demonstrate that he is a rising star in the fields of radiochemistry and computational chemistry," said Tori Forbes, professor in the Department of Chemistry in CLAS.

Ellen Voigt, cancer biology MD/PhD student

Voigt explores the causes of and treatments for Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumors (MPNSTs), a deadly and painful cancer that lacks effective therapies. Voigt studies the disease through three different methods she developed and validated: in cultured cells, in mice with MPNST tumors, and from patient tumors. Her findings offer a promising new therapeutic approach for treating MPNSTs.

"She is a deep thinker and one of the most careful yet creative experimentalists I've ever trained," said Dawn Quelle, professor in the Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology in the Carver College of Medicine.

Voigt anticipates a May 2026 PhD graduation with MD graduation in 2028.

Gawain Williams, health services and policy PhD student

Williams studies why some communities experience worse cancer outcomes than others, with a special focus on prostate cancer among Black populations living in rural areas. His work combines both qualitative and quantitative approaches to examine how health policies, healthcare systems, and patients' real-life experiences all intersect in the shaping of cancer-related inequities.

"Mr. Williams is an exceptional doctoral researcher whose work demonstrates a rare combination of conceptual originality, methodological rigor, and sustained commitment to advancing health equity," said Kayla Faust, clinical research associate in the Institute for Clinical and Translational Science. "His research agenda makes a meaningful and lasting contribution to health services research, cancer disparities scholarship, and rural health policy."

Williams successfully defended his dissertation in February 2026 and expects to graduate in May 2026.

Innovation in Safety Award (Student)

The Innovation in Safety Award (Student) celebrates exceptional and groundbreaking innovations that advance safety at the University of Iowa.

Emma Markun, chemistry PhD student

Markun has developed best practices for the safe transport of cryogens in elevators in the Chemistry Building at the University of Iowa. Cryogens, including liquid nitrogen, off-gas and must be vented to avoid pressure build-up. Consequently, liquid nitrogen displaces oxygen in the air and can lead to critically low oxygen levels. Cryogens present safety risks in elevators where there is little to no fresh air supply.

Markun developed guidance and best practices for the transport of common cryogens in the Department of Chemistry elevators by researching peer institutions' practices and adapting them for the University of Iowa. Then, she calculated the maximum volumes that can be transported safely with elevator passengers for the building's freight and passenger elevators. She then developed a protocol for unaccompanied transport. Markun has created educational materials and will conduct training sessions.

"Emma's efforts in bringing this liquid nitrogen transport change to fruition are substantial and represent a major innovation safety that is beginning in our department," said Edward Gillan, professor in the Department of Chemistry in CLAS.

Markun expects to complete her degree in May 2027.

Excellence in Undergraduate Research Awards

These awards, offered by the Office of Undergraduate Research, sponsor up to five undergraduate students involved in research and creative work. Winners receive an OUR fellowship for the upcoming summer or academic year.

Lindsey Henkenius, nursing major

In an Alzheimer's Association-funded project, Henkenius identified and characterized why patients hospitalized with dementia reject care-a complex phenomenon that requires detailed observation using a rigorous behavioral scale.

"Lindsey is the best undergraduate research assistant I have worked with in my career," said Clarissa Shaw, assistant professor in the Division of Acute and Critical Care in the College of Nursing.

Henkenius expects to graduate in December.

Nina Osborne, geographical and sustainability science and environmental policy and planning major

Osborne's research lays the foundation for linking remotely sensed signals to underlying plant characteristics to provide insight into how Midwestern forests respond to climate change. As an undergraduate researcher for Susan Meerdink, assistant professor

"I was so excited when she agreed to be my undergraduate researcher, and she has been the best undergraduate researcher I've employed or worked with in my academic career," said Meerdink.

Osborne expects to graduate in May 2027.

Jackie Ott, human physiology major

Ott's research examines how transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), a regulator of cell growth and repair, drives skeletal muscle wasting in cancer and explores potential treatment strategies.

In Talbert's Muscle Molecular Physiology Lab, she independently performs hands-on techniques like cell culture, real-time PCR, western blotting, and gene-inactivation experiments to map TGF-β signaling and its metabolic effects. Her work has revealed evidence that TGF-β disrupts metabolic function, including suppressing a key enzyme, strengthening its link to cancer-related muscle loss.

"The quality I think that most exemplifies why Jackie is deserving of an EURA is how brave she has become as a scientist...While other students are often afraid of failure, Jackie is always willing to try new things and isn't afraid to fail," said Erin Talbert, assistant professor in the Department of Health, Sport, and Human Physiology in CLAS.

Ott expects to graduate in May 2027.

Brooke Paasch, Political Science and International Relations major

Paasch explores two important social challenges: the psychological impact gender has on child soldiers in civil wars and the factors that shape individuals' position on immigration policies. One research method she's become proficient in is meta-analysis, which combines data from multiple studies, requiring her to be meticulous and detail oriented. Another is statistical analysis, teaching her to be analytical and curious.

"Brooke is a leader in my research team...helping me finish the data collection on negotiations in civil wars, mentoring new team members, and being a model to the new students on how to conduct research as an undergraduate," said Brian Lai, associate professor in the Department of Political Science in CLAS.

Paasch expects to graduate in May 2027.

Sean Strand, Biology major

Strand's research seeks to understand the mechanisms behind how clusters of cancer cells migrate and metastasize. For example, in the Tootle Lab, using fruit flies with a modified genome, he has observed how the "bundling" protein fascin affects cell migration and identified that fascin is an important regulator of cell movement.

"Sean does not just perform experiments but seeks to understand the project from the big picture/significance to the data supporting the hypothesis to interpreting the results and putting them in the context of the field," said Tina Tootle, professor and chair in the Department of Biology in CLAS.

Strand expects to graduate in May 2027.