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.

Xinzhu Yu receives NIH Director's New Innovator Award

2023-10-03

Xinzhu Yu, a professor of molecular and integrative physiology in the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, is a recipient of the...

Catherine Christian-Hinman honored for achievements in biomedical sciences

2023-09-08

Congratulations to Professor Catherine Christian-Hinman, who was selected to receive the 2023 University of Virginia School of Medicine Distinguished Achievement Award in Biomedical Sciences. The award recognizes exceptional research and professional accomplishments, outstanding discovery and...

MCB faculty awarded named scholar appointments

2023-06-06

The College of LAS has awarded more than 25 professors, including three from the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, with named scholar positions for their contributions to education and research at the University of Illinois.

MCB alumna offered Fulbright award

2023-05-26

13 University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign students and recent graduates, including an alumna from the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, were offered Fulbright grants to pursue international education, research and teaching experiences around the globe this coming year. Another six...

Students stand on stage to accept awards.

MCB celebrates student achievements at awards ceremony

2023-05-11

The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology honored undergraduate and graduate students at its annual Awards Ceremony on Thursday, May 4, at the Alice Campbell Alumni Center.

Wide exterior shot of the Beckman Institute on a summer day.

Beckman Institute announces 2023 fellowship, award recipients

2023-04-28

Twelve students have been selected to receive 2023 Beckman Institute fellowships and awards. The awards, which fund interdisciplinary research that takes place over the summer, will be celebrated at a poster session on July 28, 2023.

The 2023 cohort of the Beckman Institute Postdoctoral Fellows Program (from left): Kelly Powderly; Patricia Cintora; Zhengchang Kou; Yannan Hu; Zane Thornburg; and Alejandro De la Cadena. They are standing outside in a group with arms folded, smiling for the camera.

Members of MCB labs earn newly-established fellowships focused on cancer research

2023-04-04

The Beckman Institute has announced its 2023 class of six postdoctoral fellows. Fellows are selected in accordance with the core values of the institute: excellence, collaboration, integrity, transdisciplinarity, exploration, and diversity.

Whitaker speaks at the podium while a screen titled "Investiture of Rachel Whitaker" shows a picture of her and a cutout photo of Alma.

Rachel J. Whitaker named Harry E. Preble Professor

2023-02-28

For Rachel J. Whitaker, life tends to feel like it’s all hands on deck. Whitaker, a professor of microbiology, spends much of her time researching the evolution of archaea, bacteria, and viruses in the natural and clinical...

Diana Brown cheers on the volleyball court.

Diana Brown Named 2023 Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award Recipient

2023-03-06

Illinois setter Diana Brown was named one of two recipients for the Big Ten Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award, the conference office announced Wednesday. Brown, who majored in molecular and cellular biology, was awarded a $10,000 postgraduate scholarship for her achievements in academics,...

Exterior shot of the School of MCB's Chemical & Life Sciences Building during summertime.

School of MCB celebrates undergraduate student achievements

2022-12-20

The School of MCB is proud to recognize research and academic achievements of its undergraduate students. The following December 2022 graduates earned Highest Distinction for Research in the School of MCB: Emma Ibanez, PI: Dr. Justin Rhodes The following students earned...