Why Iowa?

Iowa has been at the forefront of psychological research and training for a century, and we still lead today. Our students learn about the field in the classroom and laboratory, and out in the community, developing skills that help them stand out among their peers.

Learn More

Undergraduate Programs

Graduate Programs

Faculty

Apply to Our Graduate Program

Faculty Job Opportunities

Profiles and Research

The department's commitment to research excellence is matched by a commitment to providing outstanding research and professional training for undergraduates, graduate students, and postdocs.

Read Cheol's story
New Yorker

Research in the News

Professor Mark Blumberg's research exploring the developmental significance of REM sleep is the focus of an article in The New Yorker.

PB

Paras Bassuk named UI’s 23rd Rhodes Scholar

The University of Iowa is uniquely known for being a place where art meets science, where students are encouraged to explore and innovate across these disciplines. Paras Bassuk, UI’s newest Rhodes Scholar, personifies exactly what that means — and more.
Jodie closeup

Self Driving Cars & Crosswalks

NSF News Video
With an estimated 3.5 million self-driving vehicles expected on America’s roads by next year, University of Iowa researchers are investigating how to make crossing the road safe, especially for children.
Cathleen Moore

CLAS PBS professor receives NIH grant to research how to improve lifeguard training using virtual reality

Cathleen Moore, professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, will use the funds from the National Institutes of Health to develop techniques to make pools safer.
Bruce Bartholow

CLAS psychology professor awarded two NIH grants totaling $7.3 million

Professor Bruce Bartholow, who joined the University of Iowa over the summer, has two upcoming research projects funded by significant grants from the National Institutes of Health.

News and Announcements

PBS assistant professor awarded $3 million NIH grant to study the psychology and neuroscience behind social behavior

Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Dorit Kliemann, assistant professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, was awarded a multimillion dollar grant by the National Institutes of Health for her research on social cognition.

Blumberg $3.1M National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Lab explores origins, functions of sleep in premature infants

Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Mark Blumberg and his team aim to learn more about how sleep — and twitches that occur during a key phase of sleep — influences brain development in babies.

Voss and Wessel selected for National Academy of Medicine Emerging Leaders Forum

Monday, March 24, 2025
The Emerging Leaders Forum is an invitation-only event that gathers exceptional early- and mid-career professionals who show remarkable promise, achievement, and leadership in biomedical science, health care, health policy, and related fields.
View more

Upcoming Events

Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Program Thesis Defense Seminar: Matthew McGregor

Tuesday, June 10, 2025 2:01pm
Biology Building East
Matthew McGregor is a PhD candidate in the Neuroscience Interdisciplinary Graduate Program. His research has been conducted as a part of the Ryan LaLumiere laboratory. If you are unable to attend in person, please consider showing your support via Zoom. https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/96194009298Meeting ID: 961 9400 9298
View more events

6

Faculty Elected AAAS Fellows

$11M+

in Annual research Funding

130+

undergraduates doing research in our labs

1500+

Undergraduate majors in psychology and neuroscience

80+

doctoral students in psychology and neuroscience