Integrative Biology at Illinois

09/03/2026

Another fantastic SIB Kickoff is in the books! 🎉

Despite the scorching weather, our students, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate the start of a new academic year. It was wonderful seeing everyone connect over food and the annual IB shirt, meet with RSOs, and enjoy the energy of a campus buzzing with the excitement of a new semester. A huge thank you to all who made this event possible and came despite the heat.

Here's to a successful semester ahead!

09/02/2026

Three Illinois faculty receive Fulbright awards Aug 28, 2026 12:15 pm by Analicia HaynesGlobal RelationsResearch Images View More Images... CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Three University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign faculty members received Fulbright U.S. Scholar Awards for the 2026-2027 academic year fro...

08/28/2026

The front lawn of the Natural History Building, is there a more perfect setting on campus for the IB community to meet and start off the year? Join us September 1st from 4-6pm for free food and a chance to meet current IB students & faculty!

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08/21/2026

🎉 Welcome to a beautiful start to the semester, Illini Biology! 🎉

Yesterday, our newest biology students gathered on the front lawn of the Natural History Building for a fun meet & greet. It was wonderful seeing them connect with future classmates over popsicles, arts and crafts, and the wonderful Pawfficer Stevie! We're so excited to welcome this bright group to our community and can’t wait to see all they accomplish this year.

08/18/2026

We’re mammoth-ly excited to welcome SIB students back to campus! It feels like just yesterday we were all roaming these halls together and we can't wait to get back to it. We're excited to see what discoveries this semester holds.

Welcome home, Illini! 🧡💙

08/14/2026

Introducing the 16 rising stars in the 2026-27 cohort of the Emerging Research Leaders Academy!

In addition to managing their growing research programs, several of these mid-career researchers have stepped into positions of administrative service and leadership within their units, professional societies, and on the editorial boards of leading journals. They have secured major awards and earned recognition from professional societies and international conferences.

These rising stars represent 17 academic units in 7 colleges and have affiliations with seven of Illinois’ ten campuswide interdisciplinary research institutes.

Join us in congratulating the 2026-27 Emerging Research Leaders!

From the College of ACES:
🔸Maria Chu, Agricultural and Biological Engineering
🔹Sharde McNeil Smith, Human Development & Family Studies
🔸Josie Rudolphi, Agricultural and Biological Engineering

From the College of Applied Health Sciences:
🔹Dan Fogerty, Speech & Hearing Science

From the Carle Illinois College of Medicine:
🔸Manuel Hernandez, Biomedical and Translational Sciences

From the College of Education:
🔹Miray Tekkumru-Kisa, Curriculum and Instruction
🔸Amber Ray, Special Special Education

From The Grainger College of Engineering:
🔸Wawrzyniec Dobrucki, Bioengineering
🔹Katie Driggs-Campbell, ECE
🔸Nicola Perry, Materials Science & Engineering

From the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences:
🔹Josh Vura-Weis, Chemistry
🔸Phil Anderson, Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, Integrative Biology
🔹Chunyuan Diao, Geography and GIS
🔸Paola E. Mera, Microbiology, School of Molecular & Cellular Biology

From the Prairie Research Institute:
🔸Sarah Baires, Illinois State Archaeological Survey

From College of Veterinary Medicine:
🔹Kari Foss, Veterinary Clinical Medicine

Learn more: https://healthinstitute.illinois.edu/news-events/news/introducing-the-2026-27-emerging-research-leaders

ERLA is facilitated by Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute (IHSI), in partnership with Beckman Institute, Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, Social & Behavioral Science Institute, College of Applied Health Sciences at Illinois, Liberal Arts & Sciences at Illinois, The Grainger College of Engineering and the Office of Proposal Development.

08/10/2026

Congratulations to Angelique Acevedo, a Plant Biology graduate student in SIB, for winning the prestigious Katherine Esau Presentation Award at Botany 2026! Her bold curiosity and dedication to exploring the mysteries of plant biology embody the spirit of SIB. Read more about her achievement here: https://buff.ly/sSqJXc3

07/27/2026

Seven of this year's recipients of a Fulbright grant have accepted their award — and all seven are LAS students!

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers grants to academically and professionally outstanding students who are interested in furthering its mission of building international relationships and helping solve global challenges.

In the fall, these students will embark on journeys all across the world. They'll spend a year in places like Italy, Taiwan, Armenia, and more, teaching English or pursuing advanced degrees that will help them achieve their goals of ushering in a more connected and understanding global community.

We celebrate their incredible passion and ambition and wish them a wonderful and transformative experience abroad!

Illinois English Integrative Biology at Illinois Global Studies at Illinois History at Illinois University of Illinois Psychology Department University of Illinois School of Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics

07/09/2026

Discover how nature’s ancient tools inspire modern science! EEB Associate Professor Phil Anderson’s latest research compares cactus thorns and dinosaur teeth to understand biological puncture performance. This fascinating study sheds light on evolution and biomechanics, revealing secrets from millions of years ago. Dive into the story and see how Illinois researchers are uncovering the past to inform the future.

Read more: https://buff.ly/8l0TESp

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05/27/2026

Discover the thrill of scientific discovery with IB496: Alpha Taxonomy of Insects this Fall 2026! Students work hands-on with real, undescribed insect species. Collaborate to co-author a publication describing new species, including Amazonian cockroaches. One student recently described 5 new species! So what are you waiting for? Sign up for the course this fall and join us and be part of groundbreaking research.