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. 

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...

James Slauch named Deb & Tim Paul Chair in Human Infectious Disease & Immunology

Man in blue polo stands in lab atrium with colorful signs in background
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce James Slauch has been appointed the inaugural Deb & Tim Paul Chair in Human Infectious Disease & Immunology.Dr. Slauch is an infectious diseases and...

MCB graduate research shines at annual retreat

retreat organizers stand in two rows with the keynote speaker and school director
Over 240 scholars from across the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology and related units gathered at the I Hotel and Conference Center on Aug. 19, 2025, for the school's annual Graduate Research Retreat. Seventy-two graduate students presented their research as oral or poster presentations....

MCB undergrads honored at campus research symposium

headshots of smiling college students
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce that several students won awards at the 2025 University of Illinois Undergraduate Research Symposium earlier this year. Congratulations to Arnab Roy and Anuprova...

Campus, College of LAS recognize outstanding MCB faculty

Man in suit and tie stands in front of lab bend, Woman in Glasses and orange shirt and black blazer stands in atrium, Man in eyeglasses and blue shirt stands in atrium
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce that several of its faculty members have been recognized by the University of Illinois and College of Liberal Arts & Sciences for their contributions to research and education....