The Rex Montgomery Dissertation Prize is endowed by a generous gift from Dr. Rex Montgomery and recognizes the most meritorious dissertation by a doctoral student conducting research in prevention of disease and/or the translation of research into clinical practice.

Students from a variety of graduate programs are eligible, including the biomedical and health sciences, as well as related social sciences.

Departments are limited to nominating one candidate. To be eligible, students must have received or completed all requirements for the doctorate during the period of July 1, 2019 to June 30, 2021. Recipients of the Rex Montgomery Prize receive a cash award and are honored in the spring at a special reception held in conjunction with the James F. Jakobsen Graduate Research Conference, organized by the Graduate Student Senate.

Serena Banu Gumusoglu (Neuroscience) received the Rex Montgomery Dissertation Prize in 2020.

In her dissertation, Maternal Immune Mechanisms and Offspring Neurodevelopment, Gumusoglu determined the role of inflammation during pregnancy in shaping offspring brain development, and clarified potential treatment and prevention targets.

The winner of the Rex Montgomery Dissertation Prize is eligible to become the University of Iowa's nominee in the national competition for the Council of Graduate Schools/University Microfilms International Distinguished Dissertation Award in years when Biological and Life Sciences is an award category.

See a list of past winners and their dissertation titles.

Nominations for the 2021 prize should be submitted online by June 4 at 5 p.m. and must include:

  • a brief letter of nomination from the DEO or DGS
  • an extended double-spaced abstract of the dissertation in PDF form, not to exceed 10 pages
    • appendices containing non-textual material, such as charts or tables, may be included
    • pages should be numbered and each should bear the name of the nominee
  • a 3-page double-spaced dissertation summary in non-technical language, presenting the purpose, methods, and results of the research, and a clear statement of its significance within the discipline
  • an updated copy of the nominee's curriculum vitae, not to exceed 5 pages
  • an electronic copy of the dissertation in PDF form

Nominees also must have three references submit letters evaluating the significance and quality of their dissertation work (Please include a list of names and contact information for references).

  • one of these letters is to be from the nominee's dissertation supervisor
  • another from a member of the nominee's dissertation committee
  • the third from a person of the nominee's choice

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