School of Molecular & Cellular Biology

In MCB, we seek answers to fundamental questions about how organisms work and the many implications for life. Through a rich culture of

collaboration, we drive new discoveries in human health and empower students with the critical and analytical skills needed for successful careers.

Breaking New Boundaries. Together.

Finding solutions to the complex challenges facing society today requires multi-investigator and cross-disciplinary endeavors. MCB researchers are embedded within major interdisciplinary research institutes across campus, and they collaborate with peers throughout the world. Together, we are propelling breakthroughs in foundational and translational research.

Faculty and students are uncovering insights into neurological and metabolic disorders, such as epilepsy and diabetes. They are at the forefront of diagnosing and treating cancer and combatting infectious diseases like the novel coronavirus and influenza.

We are the lifeblood of biomedical research at the University of Illinois.

A few examples of our recent collaborations:

• We have been instrumental in expanding COVID-19 testing, collaborating on vaccine research, and developing therapeutics, including a decoy receptor that neutralizes coronavirus in cell cultures.

• Faculty play a central role in the U of I’s Microbial Systems Initiative, which is expanding interdisciplinary microbial research and education with implications for health, energy, and agriculture.

• We led the charge to bring cryo-electron microscopy to campus, which will have a transformative impact on biological research. This tool allows investigators to visualize large, complex biological macromolecules at the resolution of individual atoms.

• MCB scientists are key contributors to the Cancer Center at Illinois. Launched in 2017, the center brings together cancer biologists, engineers, clinicians, and other specialists with the goal of accelerating advances in cancer detection, prevention, therapy, and quality of life for patients.

• As affiliates of the Beckman Institute, the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, MCB researchers are vital members of several large-scale, themed research projects.

Life is extraordinary.So is the work we do.

Catalyzing Research ExcellenceThe University of Illinois has been and always will be a catalyst for people driven to change the world through learning, discovery, and innovation. Researchers in MCB have led groundbreaking advances, from the discovery of archaea, the third domain of life, to new vitamins essential to our health. They have been recognized with such honors as the MacArthur Fellowship and Presidential Early Career Award and they have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Inventors.

Today, MCB scientists continue that legacy of bold, creative, and collaborative work. The school is committed to building on our strengths and fostering research excellence. In the past three years, the school has hired ten new faculty in neuroscience, immunology, developmental biology, microbial sciences, and mechanobiology.

We are excited for the future and the many discoveries to come.

(Left to right) Research images from the Xin Li lab, the Erik Procko lab, and the Collin Kieffer lab.

“MCB has recruited many great talents in recent years. I’m confident these new scientists, together with our current accomplished faculty, will strengthen and enrich our path-breaking research endeavors.” - Milan Bagchi, Director of the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology

Number of faculty among four departments60

MCB annual R&D expenditures~$33M

Tailored Education

In the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology, students are empowered to pursue their dreams, whether it’s professional school, graduate school, or a career in industry or higher education.

MCB students arrive on campus as leaders and continue to lead in their fields after graduating. Our alumni have become surgeons, researchers at top-tier institutes and executives at pharmaceutical and healthcare companies. They’ve launched biotechnology startups, founded free healthcare clinics, and volunteered with medical humanitarian organizations.

Undergraduate Program: Boundless opportunitiesMCB undergraduates receive a broad, rigorous education in biological sciences and can tailor the curriculum to their interests. We’ve created an array of programs and opportunities:• Undergraduate research, including Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships • Study abroad, including research and job-shadowing opportunities for pre-med and pre-dentistry students• Honors concentration, featuring project-based learning and special discussion sessions• Alumni and peer mentoring• BEST Scholar Program, providing scholarships, plus mentorship from academic leaders• A wide variety of specialized, advanced classes, such as neurobiology, gene expression and regulation, bacterial pathogenesis, and virology, to facilitate interdisciplinary training

MCB also offers a course-based master’s degree program (MS in MCB) for those who seek additional preparation for professional school or careers in industry, government, or academia.

World-class PhD trainingAt Illinois, PhD students engage in high-impact research alongside renowned faculty. Our program is among the best in the nation.

PhD students are admitted to the school under an umbrella program and spend their first semester rotating among three different labs to explore their interests. They then join a lab with one of the school’s leading departments: Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, Microbiology, and Molecular and Integrative Physiology.

Labs here are collegial and collaborative, allowing graduate students to be fully immersed in their work and to experience interdisciplinary training. Faculty are accessible to their students, which creates a strong environment for mentoring.

Our PhD graduates become faculty at top academic research institutions and leaders in industry, including pharmaceutical companies, national laboratories, and clinics.

Committed to InclusivityOur entire community firmly believes that scientific discovery and advances in the life sciences can be made by anyone, and that diversity within our school drives the innovation that keeps MCB research at the forefront of scientific discovery. However, we recognize that societal, academic, and structural barriers have often kept talented individuals out of our community.

We are committed to eliminating these barriers and supporting students and scientists of all backgrounds, both to push our science to new heights and to fulfill our mission as an educational institution. We welcome and strive to support all students as they think deeply about the molecular basis of life, work hard to understand basic biology, and share their scholarship with others.

Cultivating Student Success

“I love the collaborative atmosphere. We help each other to reach our research goals.” – Ananya Sen,

PhD student in Microbiology

Number of PhD students~220~1500 Number of undergraduate

students

Partnering with MCB

Faculty, staff, and students in the School of Molecular and Cellular Biology are collaborative by nature. We love connecting with alumni and friends, and there are many opportunities to do so.

School administration Milan Bagchi, Director Christine Majers, Associate Director, Administration & Business Affairs Christine des Garennes, Associate Director, MCB CommunicationsMCB Undergraduate Instruction Brenda Wilson, Associate Director, MCB Undergraduate Education Melissa Michael, Associate Director, Curriculum and InstructionMCB Graduate Program James Imlay, Associate Director, MCB Graduate ProgramCharitable giving opportunities Ashley Nagele, Assistant Director, Advancement

• Volunteer to mentor undergraduate students• Financial support for undergraduate students, including BEST and SURF scholarships• Fund graduate fellowships to attract and retain our outstanding PhD students• Sponsor lectures or outreach programs• Fund named chairs, professorships and professorial scholars to recruit and retain world-renowned faculty

About Us

Department of Molecular & Integrative PhysiologyHead: Claudio Grosman

In MIP, we strive to understand gene products at multiple levels of biological organization, from molecules and macromolecular complexes to

cells, tissues, and whole organisms. With the tools of molecular genetics, biophysics, and modern

systems biology, physiologists are at the forefront of life and biomedical sciences.

Department of MicrobiologyHead: Jim Slauch

Microbes drive all aspects of life on the planet. Finding solutions to global challenges, such as

emergence of new infectious diseases, skyrocketing antimicrobial resistance, and the health of our

planet’s ecosystems, will depend upon discoveries from microbiology research. Illinois faculty focus on the physiology, genetics, and pathogenesis of

microbial organisms and viruses.

Department of Cell & Developmental BiologyHead: Supriya Prasanth

Using multidisciplinary approaches, researchers in CDB study how cells grow and divide, assemble, and function to form multicellular organisms. We investigate fundamental biological questions and

are dedicated to training and educating students in modern molecular and cellular biology, cancer biology, developmental biology,

and neuro-cognitive sciences.

Department of BiochemistryHead: Satish Nair

In Biochemistry, we investigate the processes in living systems from a molecular perspective.

Our faculty are active in many dynamic research areas, such as chemical biology,

nucleic acids biochemistry, molecular virology, membrane biochemistry, genomics,

microbial physiology, signal transduction, and much more. These efforts provide the tools for the development of the next generation of medicines.

For more information, please visit our website: mcb.illinois.edu

MCB Communications Office135 Burrill Hall

404 S. Goodwin Ave. Urbana, IL 61801

Research image from the Lori Raetzman lab: “Pituitary expansion: dividing stem cells (red only) and restricted progenitors (red + green).”

To share your good news and update your contact information, visit go.illinois.edu/mcbalumnicontact

or email communications@mcb.illinois.edu

To get in touch with our faculty and staff, visit mcb.illinois.edu/about/contactus