Executive Board 2022-2023

head shot of Kailey Cash

Kailey Cash, PhD

Title/Position
Vice President (2022-2023)
Kailey Cash, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Scholar in Maria Spies’ lab in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology within the Carver College of Medicine. Kailey earned her Ph.D. from the University of Iowa in the lab of Sarit Smolikove, studying DNA damage repair in response to laser-induced DNA damage in meiotic cells. Her current work focuses on characterizing DNA repair protein mechanisms at the single molecule level. Kailey is the Vice President of UIPDA. Outside of research, Kailey enjoys tending to her garden, reading sci-fi novels, and playing with her dog, Atlas.
Headshot

Andrew Jezewski

Title/Position
President (2022-2023)
Vice President (2021-2022)
Policy & Advocacy Committee Chair (2019-2021)
Andrew Jezewski, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Krysan Lab in the Stead Family Department Pediatrics at the University of Iowa. Andrew completed his Ph.D. work characterizing mechanisms of antimalarial drug resistance and investigating antiglycolytic therapies for the treatment of malaria under the mentorship of Audrey John at Washington University in Saint Louis. His current work aims to understand the role of carbon dioxide tolerance as a requirement for cryptococcal virulence. Andrew is the Chair of the UIPDA Policy and Advocacy Committee. Outside of research, Andrew enjoys tending to his greenhouse and garden, college football, biking, and being outdoors.
Head shot of Austin McKee

Austin McKee, PhD

Title/Position
Secretary/Treasurer (2022-2023)
Austin McKee, Ph.D. is a Postdoctoral Research Scholar in the Mubeen Lab in the Chemical and Biochemical Engineering Department at the University of Iowa. Austin completed his Ph.D. in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering at the University of Iowa under the supervision of Dr. Syed Mubeen with a thesis topic of Using Electrons to Transform Negative-Value Feedstocks to Benign or Value-Added Products. Austin's current research under Drs. Mubeen and Raghavan explores the creation of an electrochemical oxygen concentration device to disrupt/supplement the medical oxygen field.

College Representatives

School Representative
Carver College of Medicine  
College of Dentistry  
College of Education Nesibe Karakis, PhD
College of Engineering Austin McKee, PhD
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Shivangi Jain, PhD
College of Nursing  
College of Pharmacy  
College of Public Health Laura Dean, PhD
At Large  
International Representative Rohan Wakade, PhD

Committee Members

 

Social Outreach Policy & Advocacy Professional Development Awards
Nicole Green (co-chair) Nicole Green (chair) Annabel Minard (chair) Shivangi Jain (chair)
Laura Dean (co-chair)   Nicole Green  
       
       
       
     

 

       
       

Interested in joining or leading a committee? We are currently accepting new members in all areas. To learn more about the responsibilities and current initiatives in each visit the links below. We are happy to prioritize opportunities that fill in gaps in your training!

Social & Outreach

Policy & Advocacy

Professional Development

Awards

UIPDA knows that diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is a priority area and seeks to infuse these conversations into networking/community building, career prep, and in advocating for our community as a whole. If you have a particular DEI topic you would like featured in this semester's programming, please email Andrew Jezewski.

 

Leadership

Leadership skills are core skills. We are always looking for new committee members to bring motivated postdocs into leadership roles! If you are interested, please contact the current President and Vice President about how to get involved.