The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to celebrate outstanding research conducted by our undergraduate students with an annual symposium. The Fall 2023 symposium was held on Thursday, November 2.
University of Illinois faculty are behind some of the most important discoveries in the last 150 years. Students are part of this inspiring tradition of innovation. MCB faculty conduct leading research programs in biochemistry, cell and developmental biology, microbiology, and molecular and integrative physiology. Being an undergraduate researcher provides valuable experience for students, who develop skills in conducting research, communication, leadership, project management, and more. The experience also prepares students for graduate school or a possible career in research.
Congratulations to this year's winners!
School of MCB Director’s Award for Exceptional Research Presentation
Leela Mouli, “Deconstructing the drivers of snaR-A noncoding RNA expression in cancer,” Dr. Kevin Van Bortle’s lab. Research supported by the 2023 School of MCB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
School of MCB Outstanding Research Presentation Award
William Dai, “Characterization of PNN-associated cells in the mouse inferior colliculus,” Dr. Daniel Llano’s lab. Research supported by the 2023 Jenner Family Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Lily Wenger, “Probing the Tumor Microenvironment via Bioluminescent Logic-Gate Technology,” Dr. Jefferson Chan's lab. Research supported by the 2023 School of MCB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship and the Arnold and Mable Beckman Foundation.
Shivang Bhaskar, “Effect of Nucleolar Stress on the Localization of SNUL-1 ncRNA,” Dr. Kannanganattu Prasanth’s lab. Research supported by the 2023 Jenner Family Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Aneek Mirza, “Interaction of Chromatin Remodelers with the Origin Recognition Complex,” Dr. Supriya Prasanth’s lab. Research supported by the 2023 Tom and Cynthia Cycyota Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
School of MCB Research Presentation Honorable Mention
Brendan Rattin, “PI(3,4,5)P3 is Necessary for ARHGEF39 Activation,” Dr. Jie Chen’s lab. Research supported by the 2023 School of MCB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, sponsored in part by Dr. Keith Westcott.
Asta Simonovic, “Investigating the Mechanism of IgA Assembly in Avian Species,” Dr. Beth Stadtmueller’s lab. Research supported by the 2023 Spudich Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Trisha Pal, “Associative Learning within Sea Urchins,” Dr. Rhanor Gillette’s lab. Research supported by the Gillette Lab.
Ishita Purwar, “TGF-ß Signaling Mediates downregulation of ESRP2 in Alcoholic liver Disease,” Dr. Auinash Kalsotra’s lab. Research supported by the 2023 School of MCB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
Many thanks to our 2023 judges: Shruti Bendre, Hunter Cobbley, Gracious Donkor, Saika Hossain, Tongyu (Tony) Liu, Simón Lizarazo, Snigdha Mathure, Alison Neff, Shreyasi Neogi, Quang Nguyen, Teak-Jung (TJ) Oh, Sangeetha Ramesh, Xiangning Song, and Amber Wang.
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An enriching experience
"The experience was not only exciting but also deeply informative, allowing me to engage with the exemplary research conducted by outstanding minds in the MCB program, Mechanical Engineering, and Biochemistry, and Bioengineering departments. Over the course of the symposium, I had the distinct pleasure of presenting my research and gaining valuable insights into diverse fields. The intellectual exchange among the best undergraduate minds was truly enriching, fostering a collaborative atmosphere that transcended disciplinary boundaries... I find myself deeply motivated to continue contributing to the ever-evolving landscape of research."
Ishita Purwar, Junior in MCB and Engineering Physics
Previous Symposia
2022
2022 Winners
School of MCB Director's Award for Exceptional Research Presentation
Emma Ibanez, in Justin Rhodes' lab, with "Engineering the first transgenic clownfish for studying socially influenced sex change." This research was supported by a School of MCB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
School of MCB Director's Award for Exceptional Research Presentation
Hunter Carrell, in Paul Hergenrother's lab, with "Derivatization of ErSO-TFPy, a Selective Killer of Estrogen Receptor Positive Breast Cancer." This research was supported by the School of MCB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship, supported in part by Frank Witney.
School of MCB Outstanding Research Presentation Award
Neha Ramachandran, in Milan Bachi’s lab, with "Analysis of the Role of Transcription Factor Runx1 in Uterine Angiogenesis." This research was supported by a Jenner Family Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
School of MCB Research Presentation Honorable Mention
Madeleine Meehan, in Marni Boppart's lab, with "Endurance trained extracellular vesicles as treatment to improve muscle recovery following disuse atrophy." This research was supported by a School of MCB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
School of MCB Research Presentation Honorable Mention
Anastasiya Sushkova, in Anna Kukekova's lab, with "Bioinformatic Discovery of Haplotypes in Genomic Regions Differentiating Populations of Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes)."
2021
2021 Winners
Visit our 2021 virtual symposium website to see all presentations
School of MCB Director's Award for Exceptional Research Presentation
Neal Dadlani, in Sayee Anakk’s lab, with “Elucidating Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) Mediated Adipose-Liver Crosstalk on Secondary Metabolic Effects in Liver.” His research was supported by a School of MCB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
School of MCB Outstanding Research Presentation Award
Veronica Pronitcheva, in Justin Rhodes’ lab, with "Mutating Nemo: TOL-2 Mediated Generation of Transgenic Anemonefish, Amphiprion Ocellaris with GFP Constructs." Her research was supported by a Jenner Family Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
School of MCB Research Presentation Award
Niraj Lawande, in Catherine Christian-Hinman’s lab, with "Aromatase Expression Following Induction of Status Epilepticus Using Kainic Acid." His research was supported by a Jenner Family Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship.
2021 Judges
Rich Berkowitz, Chester Brown, Jie Chen, Aurora Cruz Torres, Luisa DiPietro, James Dolan, Eric Floyd, Jonathan Godbout, Aaron Godwin, Jack Ikeda, Michael Recny, Lauren Seaver, Keith Westcott, and Kai Zhang