“We are nominating Pravda because she exemplifies the values of her graduate program, the Iowa Neuroscience Institute, and the university through her intelligence, strong work ethic, and genuine kindness.” – Ted Abel and Sarah Ferri

Hometown: Lake Villa, Illinois

Faculty mentors/advisors: Ted Abel, PhD, professor, chair and department executive officer of neuroscience and pharmacology, Carver College of Medicine; Sarah Ferri, PhD, assistant professor of pediatrics-developmental and behavioral pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine

Degree program and anticipated graduation date: PhD in pharmacology, Fall 2027

Pravda Quiñones-Labernik is researching why certain brain disorders develop differently in males and females. Her work looks at how changes in hormone levels early in life can affect the way the brain grows and functions. By uncovering the molecular mechanisms behind these changes, she aims to pave the way for personalized therapies that address social and cognitive challenges.

“Conducting research at the University of Iowa has helped me grow not just as a scientist, but as a collaborator and mentor,” says Quiñones-Labernik. “The collaborative spirit here inspires me to lift people up in our community, which has become one of the most rewarding aspects of my experience.”

Pravda is the first University of Iowa student ever awarded the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute Gilliam Fellowship and has already published groundbreaking work in neuroscience. After graduation, she plans to lead her own lab, investigating the intersection of neurodevelopmental and sleep disorders while creating inclusive environments for future scientists.