Each year, the Office of the Vice President for Research’s (OVPR) Dare to Discover banner campaign highlights researchers and scholars from across the university.

Research conducted by Alex Pauls, a PhD student in the College of Education’s School Psychology program and MA in educational measurement and statistics, was selected to be featured in this year’s campaign. 

Pauls, who is from Manchester, Iowa, studies how to help individuals who exhibit severe, challenging behaviors—such as aggression, property destruction, and self-injury—through clinical care and research. His work focuses on developing effective interventions and understanding why these behaviors sometimes relapse after treatment ends. 

Read the full feature and learn more about Pauls’ research.

The Dare to Discover banners will be displayed throughout downtown Iowa City through March of 2026.

Access all the student profiles from this year’s Dare to Discover initiative and to learn more about the personal stories behind the faces of discovery and creativity.