Urminder Singh, genetics, development and cell biology (GDCB) graduate student, is the recipient of an Iowa State University COVID-19 Exceptional Effort Award for Graduate Student Research Impact. Singh also received an honorable mention for the 2021 Zaffarano Prize from the Graduate College.

Singh, a graduate student in GDCB Professor Eve Wurtele’s lab, is one of 52 individuals/teams recognized with an award. The awards recognize “the extraordinary and innovative ways Iowa Staters strived to overcome the challenges of the pandemic.”

Geetu Tuteja, genetics, development and cell biology (GDCB) associate professor, is one of 12 Iowa State University women honored in the 2021 Women Impacting ISU calendar. Women honored are those “whose leadership has made a difference at Iowa State University.” A photo and narrative of each honoree is provided in the calendar.

The annual calendar is sponsored by the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics with funding provided by the Office of the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion.

Since the Carrie Chapman Catt Center for Women and Politics was not able to hold an in-person reception and ceremony to honor the 2021 honorees due to COVID-19. A video featured the calendar’s unveiling.  

The pandemic may have turned the world upside down last year, but several Iowa State University (ISU) genetics, development and cell biology (GDCB) students and two students affiliated with GDCB overcame obstacles and advanced their careers with aplomb. The Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Harvard University and Mayo Clinic are a few of the places where these graduates are continuing their stellar trajectories.