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. 

Emad Tajkhorshid named a 2027 Biophysics Society Fellow

Dr. Emad Tajkhorshid
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce that Emad Tajkhorshid, J. Woodland Hastings Endowed Chair and Professor of Biochemistry,...

Benita Katzenellenbogen ranked among the world's top female scientists

Close-up of the learning figure in the Alma Mater statue
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce that Benita S. Katzenellenbogen, Swanlund Professor of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, has been...

Dr. Andrew Belmont reflects on 37 years at Illinois, Gutgsell Professorship

Dr. Andrew Belmont
“What will it mean to be human at the turn of the 22nd century?” was a course Dr. Andrew Belmont, Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology, once volunteered to co-teach. The new course was proposed as part of a university-wide effort to bridge the sciences and the humanities. When Belmont was...

Brian Freeman awarded I. C. Gunsalus Professorship

Foellinger Auditorium Exterior
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce that Brian Freeman, Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology, has received the...

Professor Wei Qin receives ASM Award for Early Career Environmental Research

Wei Qin holds a petri dish in front of projection screen showing bacteria. Photo by Fred Zwicky.
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign is pleased to announce that Wei Qin, Assistant Professor of Microbiology, has received the 2027 Award for...

Andrew Belmont named Gutgsell Endowed Professor

Hallene Gateway
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce that Dr. Andrew Belmont, professor of cell and developmental biology has been named a Gutgsell Endowed Professor. Gutgsell endowed appointments were...

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...