The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to announce that Benita S. Katzenellenbogen, Swanlund Professor of Molecular & Integrative Physiology, has been named one of the world’s best 1,000 female scientists by Research.com. Katzenellenbogen is ranked #330 globally and #196 in the United States.
Dr. Katzenellenbogen is a leading researcher in understanding breast cancer. She studies the structure and function of nuclear hormone receptors, such as those for estrogen and progesterone. Katzenellenbogen also investigates the proteins and mechanisms within the reproductive system and mammary gland — and their tumors.
By conducting genome-wide analyses of receptors and transcription factors, Katzenellenbogen examines how nuclear hormone receptors and cell signaling pathways interact in both normal, and cancerous, cells.
“We have a major interest in hormones and breast cancer, mechanisms of endocrine sensitivity, and resistance to cancer therapies,” Katzenellenbogen writes. She also stresses her lab’s focus in reproductive biology and improving cancer treatment effectiveness.
Katzenellenbogen’s research totals nearly 500 publications and 55,000 individual citations spanning her 40-plus year career. Among many awards, Katzenellenbogen has received the Swanlund Professorship in both Cell & Developmental Biology and Molecular & Integrative Physiology, multiple awards from The Endocrine Society, and the Brinker Award for Scientific Distinction from Susan G. Komen for the Cure.
According to Research.com, their world rankings are based on “bibliometric data collected from leading scholarly databases, including OpenAlex and CrossRef, supplemented by multiple other reputable sources. These platforms provide comprehensive and up-to-date metadata on scientific publications, citations, and author profiles, enabling a robust and multidimensional evaluation of research impact.”
Katzenellenbogen is one of two Illinois scientists in the 2026 edition of Research.com’s rankings for best female scientist, the other being Dr. Catherine J. Murphy in the Department of Chemistry.
