Awards and Honors | School of Molecular & Cellular Biology

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.

Six students sit on a white staircase in front of a blue sky.

2024 Toogun Award winner recognized for exceptional research

2024-05-21

Established in 2015, the Oyetunji A. Toogun Memorial Award for Excellence in Research is an annual award named in honor of Tunji Toogun, a PhD student in the Department of Cell & Developmental Biology who passed away in 2007. The annual award recognizes CDB graduate students for their...

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Congratulating the 2024 student award winners

2024-05-07

The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology honored dozens of undergraduate and graduate students at its annual award ceremony, held on May 2. These student awards, fellowships, and scholarships recognize academic achievement, research accomplishments, and excellence in teaching and are made...

Biochemist Steve Sligar elected to National Academy of Sciences

2024-05-03

Three University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professors, including biochemist Steve Sligar, have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of a scientist's highest...

Emad Tajkhorshid poses by journal covers

Emad Tajkhorshid receives Beckman's Vision & Spirit Award

2024-04-11

The Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology honored three faculty and staff members who show visionary spirit and dedication on the 124th anniversary of founder Arnold Beckman’s birth. Congratulations to...

Chernobyl and Biology: Dual Degree Prompts Alumni Award Winner to Pivot

2024-04-02

Congratulations to Dr. Mesa, a 2024 College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient! In April 1986, a nuclear reactor exploded at the Chernobyl Power Plant in the Soviet Union. The worst nuclear disaster in...

"Accidental Offer" Shaped Career Trajectory of LAS Alumni Award Winner

2024-04-02

Congratulations to Dr. Monteggia, a 2024 College of Liberal Arts & Sciences Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient! Lisa Monteggia’s journey to a career in psychiatric neuroscience began nearly forty years ago in a microbiology lab at...

Five students smile while holding award certificates.

Congratulations to winners of the 2024 Graduate Research Retreat

2024-04-02

The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce the award winners from the 2024 Graduate Research Retreat, held at the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center on Friday, March 29. Awards were...

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School of MCB alumni chosen for College of LAS awards

2024-01-16

Eight alumni of the University of Illinois College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, including two with ties to the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, will receive recognition during the college’s 2024 alumni awards at a celebration in April. They are researchers and entrepreneurs who have...

Congratulations to James Imlay, selected as Swanlund Chair

2024-01-12

Nine University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty members, including microbiology professor James Imlay, have been named university endowed chairs...

graphic with snowflakes and the word Congratulations

School of MCB celebrates faculty, staff and graduate students

2023-12-14

The School of MCB is proud to recognize outstanding members of its community at the annual holiday celebration. On Dec. 7, 2023, several faculty and staff were presented awards for their valuable contributions by School of MCB Director Milan Bagchi, Deborah Paul Professor of Molecular &...