Awards and Honors

The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology and its departments of Biochemistry, Cell & Developmental Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular & Integrative Physiology recognize outstanding undergraduate, graduate, faculty, staff, and alumni with several awards and fellowships. In addition to school and departmental honors, MCB is always thrilled to highlight awards from other campus units, and national/international organizations. Some of the most recent news stories spotlighting our community are listed below. 

MCB PhD candidate selected for multiple accolades at school, college level

Tanya Pattnaik
When Tanya Pattnaik was just starting her PhD at the University of Illinois, a professor told her no matter what kind of experiments she designed, techniques she learned, or papers she wrote, two things were certain. Number one: she’d gain the research and scientific expertise required to and...

MCB senior receives Boren Scholarship to study in Tanzania this summer

Man with black hair and glasses and beard wearing grey T-shirt
The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology is pleased to announce that MCB senior Sameer Abbasi has been awarded a federal Boren Scholarship to study Swahili in Tanzania this summer. ...

Congratulations, graduates!

Graduates attend School of MCB convocation in Krannert Center
Congratulations to the Class of 2026!The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology held its spring convocation on May 17, 2026, at Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.Over 400 students walked across the stage of Foellinger Great Hall to receive their diplomas. The school awarded bachelor...

College of LAS honors MCB faculty

Headshots of Xin Li, Pamela Martinez, Kevin Van Bortle
The College of Liberal Arts & Sciences has honored multiple professors, researchers, and research staff members with named scholar positions and research awards in recognition of their contributions to education and learning at the University of Illinois.Congratulations to the School of...

Congratulations to School of MCB undergraduate award recipients!

students stand on stage while being recognized for their academic achievements
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology honored exceptional undergraduate students at its annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 7, at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center.School and department leaders recognized students for academic achievements, research achievements, and more. They also...

Auinash Kalsotra named Phillip A. Sharp Professor of Biochemistry

Wearing a blue blazer, Nash Kalsotra stands in a biochemistry lab between two benches while two graduate students behind him
The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology is honored to announce that Auinash Kalsotra has been named the Phillip A. Sharp Professor in Biochemistry.Dr. Kalsotra is one of the world’s pre-eminent RNA researchers and has also been...

Winners announced for 2026 Life Inspiring art, science contest

RNAscope confocal images of mouse brain with watercolor textures photographed and digitally layered into a single composition
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to congratulate the 2026 winners of its “Life Inspiring” art competition, which celebrates the intersection of life sciences and art.Students, staff, and faculty were encouraged to submit original works of art reflecting their scientific...

Microbiologist Wei Qin wins Sloan Foundation Fellowship

Wei Qin in blue shirt stands in front of computer screen and microscope
Three faculty of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, including microbiologist Wei Qin, have received Sloan Foundation Fellowships from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The...

School of MCB celebrates faculty, staff awards

Blue and orange confetti flies in the air.
Congratulations to recipients of this year's School of MCB faculty and staff awards!It is a school tradition to recognize outstanding members of the community at our year-end holiday party, and this year we presented awards across seven categories, honoring achievements in research, teaching, and...

Highly cited researchers: Boxuan Zhao recognized for global impact

Highly Cited researchers this year at Illinois include scientists from across campus.
Though he only completed his postdoctoral work two years ago, the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology’s own Professor Boxuan Zhao already ranks among the world's most influential scientists. Earlier this month, Zhao was...