University College

Courses

Iowa Biosciences Advantage

Iowa Biosciences Advantage (IBA) is a highly competitive undergraduate research and academic enrichment program funded by the National Institutes of Health. The program identifies academically talented undergraduates who are members of underrepresented minorities and who aspire to careers in research, and gives them first-rate training that facilitates their entry into doctoral programs in biomedical, behavioral, and biophysical sciences.

Iowa Biosciences Advantage students have opportunities to work in research laboratories with faculty mentors during the course of their undergraduate careers. The program's faculty represents a broad range of disciplines in the basic and biomedical sciences. IBA students also benefit from specialized course work, career workshops, and academic advising for biomedical and bioscience careers.

Students selected for IBA must maintain good standing in academics and research. Good academic standing requires a g.p.a. of at least 3.00 and is evaluated at the end of each semester. Good research standing is determined by each student's research mentor.

Students work with their mentors throughout the academic year and summer. They present their research in August at the Annual IBA Scholar Research Symposium.

STUDENTS ACCEPTED FROM HIGH SCHOOL

During fall semester, IBA students enroll in a special section of 407:001 The College Transition (2 s.h., graded satisfactory/unsatisfactory), which covers topics such as defining college culture, discovering University resources, refining study skills, taking tests, and setting goals.

During spring semester, IBA students enroll in two courses. They take 168:041 IBA Student Development Seminar (1 s.h.), an extension of subject matter introduced in The College Transition. They also take a special section of 168:047 IBA Research in Biomedical Science (0 s.h.) and complete two research rotations. The rotations, which are set up by IBA staff, introduce students to laboratory research at the University.

At the end of the first year, each student is evaluated for admission to the IBA Scholar Program. Students selected as IBA scholars remain on campus for the eight-week summer session. They earn wages for laboratory work with their research mentors, live in the IBA Summer Learning Community, and participate in IBA events.

STUDENTS ACCEPTED FROM COLLEGE

Admission

Applicants must:

have a strong interest in pursuing a research career;

have a qualifying academic major;

be in good academic standing (grade-point average of at least 3.00);

submit an IBA application, including short essays and a release for IBA to obtain the applicant's transcripts; and

submit one letter of recommendation from a science or math instructor.

Faculty

Courses