This Spring semester, ISA Graduate Assistant Joe Starr taught ISA:4041 Senior Capstone Project, which is open to all Seniors in ISA programs but is largely comprised of students in the MARC program. The UI-MARC (Maximizing Access to Research Careers) program supports juniors and seniors at the University of Iowa who are committed to pursuing a PhD or combined MD/PhD program after graduation. Through MARC, trainees have access to hands-on research opportunities, a faculty mentor, professional development workshops, competitive monthly stipends, and a strong community of students, faculty, and staff with common goals.
The Capstone course provided students with a comprehensive project management experience, guiding them through the entire lifecycle of a project. Outlining the structure of the class, Joe described that students began by ideating and planning their projects, focusing on real-world community issues. They then developed detailed project plans, managed risks, and created project schedules. The course emphasized the importance of being “kind to future you,” encouraging students to think ahead and plan effectively. Joe emphasized that these experiences are invaluable for MARC students as they transition to graduate school and research careers. By the end of the course, students were well-prepared with the project management competencies needed for success in both academic and industry settings.
Student projects included:
- Interpretive dance on evolution
- A website documenting university research sources
- A tabletop RPG on cell differentiation
- A tool for new article notifications
- A 3D sculpted brain model
- A blog on user interface and experience design
- A lesson plan for a training course
Joe expressed his gratitude for the great experience he’s had at the Iowa Sciences Academy. He enjoyed teaching all of his students and learning about science outreach. “Teaching such a dedicated group of students has been a pleasure,” Joe said, and he’s excited to see where the students’ journeys take them. Having earned his BS in Computer Science and BS in Mathematics, and continuing his pursuit as a fourth-year doctoral candidate in the Department of Mathematics, Joe stated that he particularly enjoyed learning about non-math research domains from his students. Seeing work being done in other disciplines gave him perspective on the similarities and differences of those fields.
In April, Joe was announced an awardee for the 2024-2025 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award. He was presented with his certificate at the awards reception on April 28th. Click here to view the full list of recipients.
This summer, Joe will be finishing his PhD degree and his thesis titled “Tabulation of Two String Arborescent Tangles,” which is part of “The Tanglenomicon” project being worked on in the applied topology group here at the University of Iowa. Looking forward, Joe is excited to apply what he’s learned at ISA to leading future undergraduate STEM research projects.
It is anticipated that the UI-MARC program grant will not be renewed for the FY26 year, due to changing funding priorities at the NIH.