Bioenergetics and Photosynthesis

Govindjee receives Lifetime Achievement Award for photosynthesis research

2022-09-12

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...

New Rabinowitch Lecture Series honors pioneering Illinois biophysicist

2022-06-07

Black and white photo of Eugene Rabinowitch

The Departments of Biochemistry and Plant Biology are pleased to announce the creation of the Rabinowitch Lecture Series, which will feature guest speakers who have made key achievements in the two fields.

Emeritus professor Govindjee delivers 2022 Anton Lang Lecture

2022-05-23

Govindjee stands next to a plaque outside titled "Understanding Photosynthesis."

Congratulations to Govindjee, University of Illinois professor emeritus of biophysics, biochemistry, and plant biology, who delivered the 2022 Anton Lang Lecture at Michigan State University this spring.

Mining microbial genomes to discover natural products

2022-04-09

Image of plants with graphics of molecular compounds overlayed.

The world around us contains many chemicals that are useful for medicines, crop protection, and animal health. These chemicals—known as natural products—have typically been discovered by sheer luck. Unsurprisingly, traditional techniques often find the same products, like antibiotics, repeatedly...

New study identifies culprit behind onion rot: the chemical pantaphos, which is toxic to some brain cancer cells, could also have biomedical applications

2021-03-09

Since 1983, the bacteria Pantoea ananatis has been known to infect several important crops including onions, rice, and corn. It was unclear, however, what molecules were involved. A new study, published in mBio, has identified one of the culprits: pantaphos. Intriguingly, the researchers have...

Govindjee: A pioneer in photosynthesis

2019-02-19

A career spanning six decades, over 400 papers, 25 graduate students, and numerous awards surely means a relaxing retirement? Not quite. Govindjee, at 86 years, is still dissecting the mechanisms of photosynthesis. He also collaborates with researchers across the globe to improve crops for food and...