Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology

Keiko Torii, PhD
Professor, Johnson & Johnson Centennial Chair in Plant Cell Biology
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute

"Breaking the Silence: How to Make Small Plant Mouths that Support Our Sustenance"

Accommodations

For all IGB events, gender neutral bathrooms are available on floors 1 and 2 of the IGB gatehouse, open during the hours of 8am to12pm and 1pm to 5pm. A private lactation room for IGB-affiliated members is available by request, see the IGB reception desk for access. Baby changing stations are available in the restrooms on the concourse level. For specific needs, please contact facilities@igb.illinois.edu

"Age and Sex-Dependent Morphological Differences within the Neuromuscular Junction of Gastrocnemius and Diaphragm " 
Sarah Asif, PhD Student
Neuroscience Program, Martha Gillette's Lab

Laurie Leonelli, Phd
Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering; University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign

"Shady situations: Strategies for improving photosynthesis in the lower canopy"

Come find the IGB at Grange Grove, the official tailgate party area, before all University of Illinois home football games. Come out to see the game and catch the IGB doing hands-on science at Grange Grove beforehand. Test your paleontology skills by digging for fossils at our booth! ILL! INI!

Ask the Director - Grants Edition
Curious about what happens behind the scenes for the IGB to be awarded our grants?

The large and prestigious grants IGB is known for take a coordinated effort from many contributors. Hear the exclusive stories and ask your own questions of IGB Director Gene Robinson about how we get our grants, what it takes to maintain them, or anything else you might be curious about. 

Submit your questions here or live during the discussion.

Accommodations

For all IGB events, gender neutral bathrooms are available on floors 1 and 2 of the IGB gatehouse, open during the hours of 8am to12pm and 1pm to 5pm. A private lactation room for IGB-affiliated members is available by request, see the IGB reception desk for access. Baby changing stations are available in the restrooms on the concourse level. For specific needs, please contact facilities@igb.illinois.edu

Sara Piccirillo, PhD
The Robert M. Faxon Jr. Endowed Professor in Neuro-Oncology; University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center

"Intra-tumor heterogeneity of human glioblastoma at single-cell and spatial resolution"

Jennifer Raff, PhD
Associate Professor of Anthropology
University of Kansas

"Linking Life Sciences and Humanities"

Jennifer Raff is an award-winning author and associate professor of anthropology at the University of Kansas (KU).

Her research focuses on understanding human history through the lens of genetics. She works with Indigenous communities and tribes across North America who wish to use ancient and contemporary DNA as a tool for investigating questions of recent and more distant histories.

Her first book, “Origin: A genetic history of the Americas” was a critical success, described as “an authoritative tale from the trenches told by a fearless scientist,” a “necessary and elegant text,” and by The New York Times as “the book anyone interested in the peopling of the Americas must read.” Origin, which was a New York Times bestseller for two weeks, received multiple awards including the Phi Beta Kappa Award in Science (2023).

Raff has also written numerous articles on genetics, history, and human variation for the general public, emphasizing not only the translation of complicated scientific concepts into accessible language, but also the ethics and complicated history of research on these subjects. She was described by the New York Times as “at the forefront of a culture change in our science.”

In 2024 she was awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship (General Nonfiction) to support work on her second book, “The Ancients: The untold story of how we became human” under contract with Twelve Books.

She received a PhD in 2008 from Indiana University, with a double major in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology (with a focus on genetics) and Biological Anthropology. She completed postdoctoral work at the University of Utah, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Molecular Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University at Chicago, and the University of Texas at Austin, before accepting a position at the University of Kansas in the Anthropology Department, receiving tenure in 2020.

She currently lives in Lawrence Kansas with her husband, Colin McRoberts, their son Oliver, her mother Kathleen Burke, and Alu The Dog, a 120 pound German Shepherd/Rottweiler mix.

Introductions from the new postdoc association co-leads, an introduction to IGB resources from Subha, and a welcome/town hall style Q&A from Gene. 

Lunch will be provided.

Accommodations

For all IGB events, gender neutral bathrooms are available on floors 1 and 2 of the IGB gatehouse, open during the hours of 8am to12pm and 1pm to 5pm. A private lactation room for IGB-affiliated members is available by request, see the IGB reception desk for access. Baby changing stations are available in the restrooms on the concourse level. For specific needs, please contact facilities@igb.illinois.edu