Global Biofoundry Consortium embraces grand challenge
The newly established Global Biofoundry Consortium, led by Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Huimin Zhao, looks to develop biofoundries for accelerated biological engineering and fundamental research.
University of Illinois awarded $8M from NIH to study nuclear structure
Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology Andrew Belmont to lead team as part of the National Institutes of Health Common Fund's recently-unveiled 4D Nucleome Program.
New synthetic tumor environments make cancer research more realistic
Chemistry professor Jeffrey Moore, graduate student Joshua Grolman and materials science and engineering professor Kristopher Kilian led a research team to create a new synthetic tissue environment for more realistic cell biology research.
Unlocking Fermentation Secrets Open the Door to New Biofuels
Assistant Professor of Bioengineering Ting Lu and colleagues have uncovered new insights into fermentation, opening new possibilities for advanced biofuel development.
Genome-editing Proteins Seek and Find with a Slide and a Hop
IGB members Huimin Zhao, Charles Schroeder, and team have observed how genome-editing proteins find specific targets, which could lead to better disease treatment gene therapies.
Illinois, Mayo Clinic Collaborate to Revolutionize Genomic Data Analysis
An interdisciplinary team of researchers will work together in a new NIH Big Data to Knowledge Center of Excellence to create powerful computational tools.
A group of researchers, led by Biosystems Design theme leader Huimin Zhao, has demonstrated the use of an innovative DNA engineering technique to discover potentially valuable functions hidden within bacterial genomes.
Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust Funds New Research Focus at IGB
The Roy J. Carver Charitable Trust has awarded the IGB a $2M grant, under the leadership of PI Huimin Zhao and co-PI Christopher Rao, to provide instrumentation and core facilities for a new theme devoted to synthetic biology.
Awards
Huimin Zhao, Centennial Endowed Chair Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering received the 2016 Charles Thom Award, recognizing exceptional merit in industrial microbiology and biotechnology, independence of thought, and originality that added appreciably to scientific knowledge.
ChengXiang Zhai, Professor of Computer Science received a Campus Award for Excellence in Graduate Student Mentoring from the University of Illinois for his dedication in mentoring more than 60 graduate students.
Huimin Zhao, Centennial Endowed Chair Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering was selected by the University of Illinois as the Steven L. Miller Chair in Chemical Engineering.
Ting Lu, Assistant Professor in Bioengineering received a 2016 Young Investigator Award from the Office of Naval Research for his proposal "Developing Designer Probiotic Cocktails to Reduce Foodborne Illness among Warfighters."
Ting Lu, Assistant Professor in Bioengineering received a National Science Foundation Faculty Early Career Development (CAREER) award to further his research on bacterial communities.
Charles Schroeder, Associate Professor of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering has been named a Dr. Ray and Beverly Mentzer Faculty Scholar, a position established through a gift from an alumnus of Chemical Engineering, Dr. Ray Mentzer and his wife Beverly Mentzer.
Jian Ma, Assistant Professor of Bioengineering was named a 2015-16 Center for Advanced Study Fellow.
Jeffrey S. Moore, Murchison-Mallory Professor of Chemistry has been named a Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Professor. This distinction honors respected researchers who also are transforming education within their fields.
Stephen Moose received a Faculty Award for Excellence from the College of ACES, recognizing outstanding professional achievement and demonstrated excellence in the areas of teaching, research, and extension. View the video here.
Christopher Rao received the Excellence in Research Award from the College of Engineering for his research accomplishments in the area of biomolecular engineering, on topics such as infectious disease, bioenergy production, and synthetic biology.
Charles Schroeder was named a Center for Advanced Study 2014-15 Fellow, pending BOT approval in January.
Huimin Zhao has been selected to receive the 2014 Gaden Award. Named in honor of Elmer L. Gaden, Jr., the founding editor of the journal Biotechnology & Bioengineering, the award recognizes an outstanding published paper from the journal in the last year.
