The Microbial Systems Initiative (MSI) is a vibrant cross-campus community of microbial sciences researchers who address problems in health, agriculture, energy, and other sectors. The Microbial Early-career Researchers Association (MicroERA) organizes professional development and networking opportunities for graduate students and postdoctoral researchers.

Three scientists in the Mera Lab, Stephanie Puentes-Rodriguez, Paola Mera, and Inoka Menikpurage, stand together smiling for the camera. They are in the doorway leading from one lab space to additional lab space. They are all smiling.

Researchers make new insights into bacterial cell cycle

In a recent paper published in the Journal of Bacteriology, the Mera Lab focused on how the bacterium Caulobacter crescentus coordinates the replication and separation of the chromosome simultaneously. The researchers found that the regulators of those two crucial events communicate with each other...
Yumi Iwadate smiles with a green background

Meet MCB: Yumi Iwadate, PhD

Dr. Yumi Iwadate is a postdoctoral fellow in the Slauch Lab in the Department of Microbiology and serves as one of two postdoctoral advisors for the Microbial Early-Career Researchers Association (MicroERA). She is featured in this month’s Microbial Systems Initiative researcher...
Graphics depicting floating microbes in blue shades.

University of Illinois students explore interdisciplinary approaches to Microbial Systems through MicroERA

University of Illinois students and postdocs are connecting across disciplines to explore research, networking, career and professional development opportunities related to microbial systems. The Microbial Early-career Researchers Association (MicroERA) was established in 2019 by graduate students...
Image of sign on wall that says "Cancer Center at Illinois" with Block I logo above it.

CCIL’s Cancer and Microbes Working Group explores new collaborations

The Cancer Center at Illinois and the Microbial Systems Initiative held the Cancer and Microbes Workshop as part of a new partnership formed between the CCIL and the MSI to promote collaboration at the interface of microbial sciences and cancer research.
Headshot of Cari Vanderpool

Cari Vanderpool elected Fellow of American Academy of Microbiology

Congratulations to Cari Vanderpool, professor of microbiology, who was recently elected a fellow in the American Academy of Microbiology.
Paola Mera smiles for headshot outside with a background of trees.

Welcome to Professor Paola Mera

Professor Mera was one of ten new faculty hires made in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology in the last three years. Mera is an assistant professor of microbiology, and is also an affiliate of the Microbial Systems Initiative.
Asma Hatoum

Welcome to Professor Asma Hatoum

Professor Hatoum was one of ten new faculty hires made in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology in the last three years. Hatoum is an assistant professor of microbiology and is part of the Microbial Systems Initiative.
Image of bacteria courtesy NIH Image Gallery

Microbial Systems Initiative positions Illinois as center for cutting-edge, collaborative research

With support and leadership from the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology, the Microbial Systems Initiative (MSI) aims to harness the existing and emerging strengths of the microbial sciences community and establish the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign as a leading center that will...
Graphics depicting floating microbes in blue shades.

The Next Gold Rush: Mining Microbial Genomes

“Microbes are king of the world. If human beings ceased to exist, microbes wouldn’t even notice [except those in the human microbiome], but if microbes ceased to exist today, human beings would cease to exist tomorrow.”