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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 undergraduate, underrepresented minority students who aspire to research careers and gives them first-rate training that facilitates 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.

STUDENTS ACCEPTED FROM HIGH SCHOOL

Students admitted to IBA from high school spend their first year at The University of Iowa establishing good academic standing and conducting laboratory rotations.

During fall semester, IBA students enroll in 407:001 (CSI:1100) 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:1041) 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:1047) 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 and continue in the program throughout the year. 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

Applications also are accepted from current University of Iowa undergraduates majoring in the sciences as well as students transferring to Iowa. Students accepted to IBA during their first, second, or third year of college join the appropriate cohort of IBA scholars. During their first semester of participation, new undergraduates complete lab rotations and establish good academic standing. They also enroll in 168:041 (IBA:1041) IBA Student Development Seminar. Once students are matched with a research mentor, they earn wages for their laboratory work during summer and the academic year.

Admission

Students apply to Iowa Biosciences Advantage during their senior year of high school or once they are undergraduate students.

Applicants must:

have a strong interest in pursuing a research career;

have a qualifying academic major;

be in good academic standing;

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

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

Admission requires an interview. Admission decisions are made throughout the year.

Faculty

Faculty members from the University's broad range of basic and biomedical science disciplines serve as teachers and mentors to IBA students. They represent many departments, including anatomy and cell biology, biochemistry, biology, biomedical engineering, chemistry, health and human physiology, microbiology, molecular physiology and biophysics, neuroscience, and psychology.

Courses