UIowa Neuroscience Graduate Program

Utsav Mukherjee, PhD, Successfully Defends Doctoral Thesis in Neuroscience

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience is proud to congratulate Utsav Mukherjee on the successful defense of his doctoral thesis on April 8, 2026.

Utsav’s dissertation, “Unraveling Novel Regulators of Hippocampal Long-Term Memory Consolidation,” represents a significant contribution to the field of neuroscience, advancing our understanding of the molecular and cellular mechanisms that underlie memory formation and persistence. His research highlights novel pathways involved in hippocampal function, offering valuable insight into the complex processes that support long-term memory.

Throughout his doctoral training, Utsav demonstrated a strong commitment to scientific excellence, thoughtful inquiry, and collaborative research. His work reflects not only technical rigor, but also a deep curiosity about the fundamental workings of the brain.

Utsav completed his graduate studies under the mentorship of Dr. Ted Abel, whose guidance and support helped shape this important body of work.

We extend our sincere congratulations to Dr. Mukherjee on this outstanding achievement and thank him for his contributions to the Neuroscience Program. We look forward to following his continued success in the years ahead.

Ashby Martin, PhD, Successfully Defends Dissertation in Neuroscience

The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Neuroscience is proud to announce that Ashby Martin, PhD, successfully completed his thesis seminar and doctoral defense on Monday, April 6, 2026.

Ashby’s dissertation, titled “Does the Use of a Speech Interpreter Affect Neuropsychological Assessment?”, explores an important and often underexamined factor in clinical and research settings. His work contributes valuable insight into how language access and interpretation may influence the accuracy and outcomes of neuropsychological evaluations—an area with significant implications for patient care, assessment equity, and cross-cultural research.

Throughout his graduate training, Ashby demonstrated a strong commitment to rigorous scientific inquiry and interdisciplinary collaboration. His research reflects both methodological precision and a deep awareness of real-world clinical challenges, embodying the mission of the program to advance impactful and translational neuroscience.

Ashby completed his doctoral work under the mentorship of Dr. Dan Tranel, whose guidance and expertise supported the development of this meaningful body of research.

We congratulate Dr. Martin on this outstanding achievement and thank him for his contributions to the program and the broader scientific community. We look forward to seeing the continued impact of his work in the years ahead and wish him every success in his future endeavors.