Articles from April 2026

Valerie Payré

Meet the CLAS faculty member whose research is out of this world

Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Valerie Payré, assistant professor in the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability, was never interested in confining her research to Earth; instead, she expanded her horizons to studying the formation of volcanoes on Mars.
gloved hands working on experiment

CLAS faculty collaborate with medical professionals to change lives in unique ways

Tuesday, April 21, 2026
From studying migraines in mice to infections in hospitals, these College of Liberal Arts and Sciences faculty members are working to change lives through interdisciplinary research with medical professionals.
A profile picture of Dylan Johnson

A PhD, a family, and the work of theoretical mathematics

Tuesday, April 21, 2026
A doctoral student in mathematics describes his work in operator theory, how he structures his time across research, teaching, and family, and why he feels a responsibility to make the most of the opportunity in front of him.
Stephanie Miracle dances barefoot on a rocky hillside, with mountains and open sky in the background.

Stephanie Miracle to receive Obermann Interdisciplinary Achievement Award

The new award recognizes scholars who cross disciplinary boundaries to produce insights not possible within a single field.
Paige Lewis stands in front of an orderly bookshelf

CLAS professor Paige Lewis talks about books they love

Monday, April 20, 2026
University of Iowa professor and poet Paige Lewis shares how their love of books, animals, and epic storytelling shapes their work, including their upcoming novel Canon. Rooted in a lived-in library and a hands-on writing practice, Lewis approaches literature as something to be used, marked, and fully experienced
Elizabeth Heineman, Brian Lai, and Jan Steyn headshot photos.

Three CLAS faculty win the Hubbard-Walder Award

Elizabeth Heineman, Brian Lai, and Jan Steyn were selected as 2026 recipients of the Hubbard-Walder Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Richard Dvorsky, the Aerospace Principal Engineer, poses for a portrait in front of the coordinate measuring machine in the space lab in Van Allen Hall, Iowa City, Iowa, on Monday, April 13, 2026.

After Artemis II, CLAS researchers look ahead to next phase of lunar exploration

Monday, April 20, 2026
CLAS researchers and alumni are contributing to future moon missions through lunar lander simulations and instrument development following Artemis II.
students gather outside Trowbridge Hall at an Earth Day booth hosted by SEES

Estate gift fuels bold vision for SEES and interdisciplinary discovery

Monday, April 20, 2026
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences received a gift of over $12 million from the estate of Ira L. Sorenson (BA, 1928), establishing the Ira L. and Vera S. Sorenson Fund in support of the School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability (SEES).
David Miles (Physics and Astronomy), Jessica Gorzelitz (Health, Sport, and Human Physiology), Robert Bork (Art and Art History), Bingbing Zhang (Journalism and Mass Communication), and Richard Dvorsky (Physics and Astronomy)

Five CLAS researchers shine in 2026 Discovery and Innovation awards

The Office of the Vice President for Research Discovery and Innovation Awards continue the University of Iowa's longstanding tradition of recognizing work across research, scholarship, creative activity, public engagement, and research support. Honorees include David Miles, associate professor of physics and astronomy; Jessica Gorzelitz, assistant professor of health, sport, and human physiology; Robert Bork, professor of art and art history; Bingbing Zhang, assistant professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication; and Richard Dvorsky, aerospace principal engineer and interim research administrator in physics and astronomy.
Man Guo, Monica Correia, Matthew Hill, John Freeman

Meet four CLAS researchers and artists

Friday, April 17, 2026
Learn more about the exciting work of the following College of Liberal Arts and Sciences researchers and artists.