Congrats to all University of Iowa Dare to Discover '25 campaign rising stars! Special shout out to our own IGPI Informatics and Computer Science students Phuong Nguyen (Informatics PhD), Delaney Norris (Human-Computer Interaction Informatics MS), Nahid Zeinali (Health Informatics PhD), and Liao Zhu (CS BS | Mathematics BS).
Learn more about each outstanding student by clicking on their names or scroll to find their reflections on engaging in research below.
"Being part of this campaign has been an inspiring chance to share my research and highlight the value of creativity and innovation. Working in Dr. Zeng’s lab, including collaborating with faculty in the College of Dentistry, has expanded my computational skills, guided my dissertation topic, and ultimately made me a more successful, collaborative scientist at the University of Iowa."
-Phuong Nguyen
"Being part of the Dare to Discover campaign is an incredible honor—it really feels like a milestone in my journey as a researcher to have my work recognized. During my second year as an undergrad at Iowa, research found me in an unexpected way—what started as a simple office hours visit with a professor turned into one of the most impactful opportunities of my time at the university. Finding my advisor and getting involved in research not only inspired me to pursue my master's but also opened doors to incredible experiences, from traveling to new places to connecting with the Child-Computer Interaction community."
-Delaney Norris
"I’m excited and grateful to be part of the 2025 Dare to Discover campaign! Research at the University of Iowa has been such a meaningful part of my journey, helping me grow, learn, and connect with incredible people. It’s an experience I’ll always treasure!"
-Nahid Zeinali
"Participating in research here has deepened my technical knowledge, allowed me to build strong connections with professors and faculty in the Computer Science department, and also deepened my knowledge into the hospital system at the University of Iowa, helping me understand the complexities of healthcare data and its impact on patient outcomes. Having connections with professors and faculty has helped me become more successful and involved at the University."
-Liao Zhu
