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Awards and Honors

The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology and its departments of BiochemistryCell & Developmental BiologyMicrobiology, 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. 

Rachel J. Whitaker named Harry E. Preble Professor

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 world—so...

Diana Brown Named 2023 Wayne Duke Postgraduate Award Recipient

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, athletics,...

School of MCB celebrates undergraduate student achievements

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...

School of MCB recognizes contributions of faculty, staff, grad students

The School of MCB is proud to recognize its stellar faculty and staff for their valuable contributions to the research and instructional missions of the school. At the 2022 Holiday Celebration, MCB director Milan Bagchi, Deborah Paul Professor of Molecular & Cellular Biology, gave awards in...

College of LAS announces named scholars

Several professors, including two from the School of MCB's Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, have recently received named scholar positions for their contributions to research, education, and the academic mission of the College of LAS.

Govindjee receives Lifetime Achievement Award for photosynthesis research

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign plant biology professor emeritus Govindjee is a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Society of Photosynthesis Research, an honor he shares with Eva-Mari Aro, a professor emeritus of molecular plant biology at the University of...

MCB teachers ranked as excellent by students in Spring 2022

More than 30 MCB teachers and teaching assistants were recognized by their students in the Spring 2022 semester for excellence in instruction.

Young Innovator program successfully concludes its second year

The Young Innovator program is designed to help trainees become innovative leaders in their fields. The students attended classes for ten weeks over the summer and, at the end of the program, participated in an idea competition, showcasing the projects.

Graduate College welcomes first cohort of career exploration fellows

The Graduate College is excited to announce the first cohort of fellows participating in its Career Exploration Fellowship Program. The program connects doctoral students with university administrative units for substantive, mentored work experiences where they can develop skills and explore new...

School of MCB ranked in "Degrees of the Future 2022" list

Gizmodo released its list of top-ranked "Degrees of the Future 2022" in August. The news outlet partnered with the independent market research provider Statista to identify the top universities within 25 disciplinary areas.