Allison Kindig, a University of Iowa graduating senior from Cedar Rapids, has been awarded a 2015 Gates Cambridge Scholarship. Kindig, a Presidential Scholar and an active member of the UI’s Honors Program, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in industrial engineering as well as a minor in business administration and a certificate in global health studies.

Faculty, staff and students of public or private colleges or universities in Iowa, and researchers and educators affiliated with Iowa state agencies may apply for seed grants from the University of Iowa Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination. The application deadline is April 6.

University of Iowa researcher Budd Tucker has been awarded one of three Research to Prevent Blindness/International Retinal Research Foundation Catalyst Awards for Stem Cell Research Approaches for Age-Related Macular Degeneration.The four-year award of up to $250,000 is designed to help fund high-risk/high-gain vision research by scientists who are working on cutting-edge approaches to age-related macular degeneration involving stem cells.

A University of Iowa study has found that land-clearing fires in Central America intensified the tornadoes of April 27, 2011, the worst day of U.S. tornadoes since 1974.