Hoffmann, Ellermeier Named to Co-leadership Positions for Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies

UI Health Care leaders have appointed two Carver College of Medicine faculty members to serve in graduate and postdoctoral studies leadership positions that are crucial to recruiting top talent, strengthening education and professional development programs, and supporting PhD students and postdoctoral scholars across the college.

Darren Hoffmann, PhD, has been named associate dean for graduate and postdoctoral studies — admissions and educational development, and Craig Ellermeier, PhD, has been named associate dean for graduate and postdoctoral studies — research career development. Both appointments are effective Aug. 1, 2026.

The Office of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies supports a broad and growing educational mission within the Carver College of Medicine. After careful review, college leaders appointed two complementary positions to better align leadership responsibilities with the needs of graduate students, postdoctoral scholars, faculty mentors, and training programs. 

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New Darren

OGPS Associate Dean - Admissions & Educational Development

Darren Hoffmann, PhD

Dr. Hoffmann is an associate professor and vice chair for education in the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology and serves as the curriculum director for the Biomedical Science Program for PhD students in the Carver College of Medicine.

In addition to his leadership positions, Hoffmann chairs the committee that runs all national graduate student development programming through the Center for the Integration of Research Teaching and Learning (CIRTL) and assisted in the development of a virtual anatomy model that became an industry standard for virtual anatomy teaching practices.

Ellermeier

OGPS Associate Dean - Research Career Development

Craig Ellermeier, PhD

Dr. Ellermeier is a professor in the Department of Microbiology and Immunology and director of graduate studies for the Microbiology Graduate Program. He has extensive experience mentoring graduate students, leading graduate admissions and curriculum efforts, and supporting trainees through research training, thesis committees, lab rotations, and externally funded research programs. 

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