student pipetting

Life Inspiring

At the School of Molecular & Cellular Biology

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.

News from the School of MCB

Wearing a blue blazer, Nash Kalsotra stands in a biochemistry lab between two benches while two graduate students behind him
Auinash Kalsotra named Phillip A. Sharp Professor of Biochemistry
The School of Molecular and Cellular Biology is honored to announce that Auinash Kalsotra has been named the Phillip A. Sharp Professor in Biochemistry.Dr. Kalsotra is one of the world’s pre-eminent RNA researchers and has also been...
Pallob Barai and Reean Abdullah at the lab bench
MCB researchers uncover a novel mechanism of STAT3 activation in cancer
One day, on assignment researching non-canonical functions of aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases — housekeeping enzymes essential for protein synthesis — Pallob Barai noticed an intriguing pattern.“A particular AARS enzyme, TARS1, was found to be correlated with poor patient survival in different cancers,...
Song and Prasanth
MCB scientists’ discovery begets new insights into cancer tumor growth
New research from the K.V. Prasanth lab, in collaboration with scientists across the University of Illinois and other institutions, has revealed that gene positioning near nuclear speckles — key nuclear domains that promote gene expression — along with the mechanistic functions of the non-coding...
RNAscope confocal images of mouse brain with watercolor textures photographed and digitally layered into a single composition
Winners announced for 2026 Life Inspiring art, science contest
The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology is pleased to congratulate the 2026 winners of its “Life Inspiring” art competition, which celebrates the intersection of life sciences and art.Students, staff, and faculty were encouraged to submit original works of art reflecting their scientific...
Comingling RNA barcodes, each correlating to a neuron, indicate where neurons connect in the brain
RNA barcodes enable high-speed mapping of connections in the brain
By tagging neurons with molecular “barcodes,” researchers mapped connections among thousands of neurons in the mouse brain with unprecedented speed and resolution.The approach could expand understanding not only of the layout of elaborate networks in the brain, but also how the brain functions,...
Three petri dishes on a lab bench
New study finds deep ocean microbes already prepared to tackle climate change
Deep-sea waters are warming due to heat waves and climate change, and it could spell trouble for the oceans’ delicate chemical and biological balance. A new study, however, demonstrates that the microbe Nitrosopumilus maritimus may already be adapting well to warmer, nutrient-poor waters....
graduate students and their peer mentors give thumbs up and peace signs to camera while sitting in an auditorium
Creating Connection: How peer mentorship is reshaping graduate life in MCB
When graduate students arrive on campus for the first time, many of them coming from distant states or other countries, their first days can feel isolating as they navigate choosing a lab and research focus, deciding where to live, securing employment, and building new friendships. These challenges...
Yupeng Li -- Lipid on the Move
Illinois scientists play key role in discovering new family of membrane transport protein
The task: calculate every movement of every human in New York City and, based on those data, create a picture-perfect map of the city's skyline. Seem impossible?And yet, this resembles what two School of Molecular & Cellular Biology scientists recently accomplished while investigating E....

School of MCB Convocation

9 a.m. Sunday, May 17, 2026
MCB students put arms around each other at a welcome event

Innovative education

How will you change the world?

Our mission is to empower students. In MCB you will receive a rigorous education and you can tailor a curriculum according to your passions. Our alumni have become physicians, researchers at top-tier institutions, and business leaders. They've launched biotechnology start-ups and founded free healthcare clinics. They are changing the world. You can, too.

Undergraduate Programs  MS in MCB  PhD Programs
A community of collaborators

Impactful research

We are at the forefront of life-changing biomedical research. Combatting infectious diseases like influenza. Uncovering insights into neurological and metabolic disorders. Developing new treatments for diseases such as breast cancer. New and exciting research programs are being developed in neuroscience, immunology, microbial sciences, developmental biology, mechanobiology, and much more. Faculty, postdocs, graduate students, and undergraduates are all part of the MCB research community.

Calendar of Events

View all events