Teresa Gaffey, director of finance and business operations for IIHR—Hydroscience and Engineering in the University of Iowa College of Engineering, has received the 2026 Distinguished Research Administrator Award.

David Cwiertny, William D. Ashton Professor of Civil Engineering and director of the University of Iowa’s Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination, has received funding to expand testing for lead in drinking water across Iowa through a statewide program called Get the Lead Out.

As NASA prepares for its historic crewed flyby of the moon on the Artemis II mission, researchers in the Midwest are working to answer a critical question for future lunar exploration: how astronauts will drive on the moon’s surface.

Get the Lead Out is a statewide program that tests lead amounts in drinking water. The initiative is led by David Cwiertny, William D. Ashton Professor of Civil Engineering in the College of Engineering and director of the University of Iowa’s Center for Health Effects of Environmental Contamination.

Keri Hornbuckle, distinguished chair professor of occupational and environmental health at the University of Iowa, said interacting with PCBs can have long-term effects on the human body.

University of Iowa undergraduate engineering and business students blended expertise to win first place at ENGCOMM, an international conference focused on the intersection of engineering and business last month.

This week marks both Weather Awareness Week in Iowa and Nebraska and Flood Awareness Month. In response, the University of Iowa has an online tool for residents to prepare for potential flooding.

Hongtao Ding, University of Iowa professor of mechanical engineering, has five newly issued or pending U.S. patents from research in laser-based manufacturing technologies, which is aimed at improving how materials are produced for industries such as aerospace, transportation, and automotive.

Greg LeFevre, University of Iowa associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, has won the Iowa Mid-Career Faculty Scholar Award for 2026.

Colleen Bringman, an associate professor of instruction of biomedical engineering, has received a 2026 President and Provost Award for Teaching Excellence, recognizing their exceptional and sustained contributions to student learning and success at the University of Iowa.