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Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology News

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  • Christiaan Sybesma: An Extraordinary Biophysicist of Our Time

    The life and outstanding contributions of Christiaan Sybesma, one of the greatest biophysicists of all times and a former faculty member of Biophysics and Botany (now Plant Biology) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, were recently highlighted in an article published in Photosynthesis Research.   

  • Weak Chemical Interactions Drive Protein Evolution

    Weak interactions between proteins in the cell play a critical role in biological processes. Weak interactions are very common and can add up in the cell, leading to signaling, chaperoning and other important activities. They also generate a spatio-temporal heterogeneous cytoplasm.

  • Govindjee Pays Tribute to His Mentor Eugene I. Rabinowitch

    Govindjee paid tribute to his mentor Eugene I. Rabinowitch in an article recently published by Photosynthesis Research. "He was frst, and foremost, a great human being, a friend to all, a top leader in science, and a person who constantly thought and strived for peace in this world," said Govindjee in describing Rabinowitch. Read full article here

  • Graduate Spotlight: Alexander Moffett

    Alex Moffett graduated with a PhD in Biophysics and Quantitative Biology in August 2019. For the past five years, he had been researching how plants use the growth hormone brassinosteroids to control the growth of their cells.

  • Defne Gorgun Receives Outstanding Short-Form Student Oral Presentation Award

    Congratulations to PhD candidate Defne Gorgun for receiving the Outstanding Short-Form Student Oral Presentation (Blitz Talk) Award at the 1st MCB Retreat! Kudos to her advisor Professor Emad Tajkhorshid!

  • Govindjee's Photosynthesis Museum

    Not only has plant biology professor emeritus Govindjee made key contributions to the scientific understanding of photosynthesis, but he has also maintained his own photosynthesis museum where he collected a significant amount of artifacts, papers, books, and photographs related to  photosynthesis research. Read full article HERE

  • Biophysics Researcher Investigates Means to Control the Conformation of DNA Molecules in Nanopores

    Sequencing the human genome allows for better understanding of genetic variations at the molecular level, such as the relationships among diseases, inheritance, and individuality. It increases the ability to take preemptive actions prior to disease development or to adopt treatments for diseases that have not yet been diagnosed.

  • Shriyaa Mittal Receives Graduate College Dissertation Completion Fellowship

    The Graduate College’s Fellowship Board has completed its review of nominations for the 2019 Dissertation Completion Fellowship competition. Forty-five departments from across campus submitted a total of 78 nominations and, of those, 18 nominations from 18 departments were selected for awards.  Biophysics and Quantitative Biology student Shriyaa Mittal was one of the 18 awardees.

  • Shashank Pant Named 2019 Beckman Institute Graduate Fellow

    Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology PhD candidate Shashank Pant was among seven graduate students named 2019 Beckman Institute Graduate Fellows.

  • Biophysics Faculty Designs the First Artificial Catalyst to Reduce Sulfite with Similar Activity to the Natural Enzyme

    Mitigating the environmental damage caused by contaminants such as nitrate, perchlorate, arsenate, and other similar compounds has been historically hindered by scientists’ inability to reduce sulfite.

  • Graduate Spotlight: Marcelo C. R. Melo

    Marcelo C. R. Melo has recently graduated with a doctoral degree from the Biophysics and Quantitative Biology program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

  • IBS Hosts Biophysics Graduate Research and Networking Symposium

    Students in Illinois’ Center for Biophysics and Quantitative Biology program gathered to showcase and share their research at the Biophysics Graduate Research and Networking Symposium on Tuesday, October 30th at the Illini Union. The event, hosted by the Illinois Biophysics Society (IBS), featured research poster presentations by graduate students, a scientific image contest, and presentations by faculty focused on their respective scientific journeys.

  • Collaborative Paper Published by Professors Kai Zhang and Dipanjan Pan

    The labs of Professors Kai Zhang and Dipanjan Pan recently published a collaborative paper investigating the use of carbon dots with induced surface oxidation for imaging at single-particle level. The full paper is avaialble here

  • A Grad Student's Perspective on Planning a Networking Event

    University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign graduate student Shriyaa Mittal shares her experience planning and hosting a Biophysical Society-sponsored networking event with five other graduate students. 

  • Biophysics Graduate Student Awarded a Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF)

    Anda Trifan has been awarded a Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship (DOE CSGF). Created in the early 1990’s, the program was developed to meet the nation’s growing need for science and technology professionals with advanced computer skills. Congratulations, Anda!

  • BiOP Graduate Student Receives National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRF)

    Kevin Cheng has been awarded a National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship (NSF GRF). Congratulations, Kevin!

  • Emeritus Professor Leads Research in AI

    Molecular and Integrative Physiology Emeritus Professor Rhanor Gillette developed an artificially intelligent (AI) ocean predator. The “Cyberslug” reacts to food and responds to the real-life predator in the same way that the real predator reacts. The animal the cyberslug was based on is the slug Pleurobanchaea californica. READ MORE

     

  • BiOP Graduate Student Recognized

    Kevin Cheng has been selected for campus-wide recognition by the Graduate College Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DEI).  Kevin will be presented a certificate of achievement at the upcoming DEI'S Celebrating Diversity, Recognizing Excellence ceremony and reception.  Recipients are nominated by their units based on academic, teaching or service achievements. 

  • BIOP Prof named University Scholar

    Biophysics Professor Saurabh Sinha has been named University Scholar for 2018.  He is one of six on the Urbana campus who are being recognized for their "excellence in teaching, scholarship and service".  Congratulations, Saurabh!

  • Lauterbur Honored Posthumously

    The late Paul Lauterbur, has been inducted into the Engineering and Science Hall of Fame.  Prof. Lauterbur was a member of the Biophysics faculty until his passing in 2007.

  • Five Questions: Eric Johnson-Chavarria

    Biophysics alum, Eric Johnson-Chavarria ('14) has just been appointed as a NIH-AAAS Science and Techology Policy Fellow for 2017. He took some time to answer a few questions for us.

  • Nair Investiture

    Congratulations to our Director, Professor Satish Nair, on his investiture as the I.C. Gunsalus Professor in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences!  The ceremony was held on September 5, 2017, in the Charles Miller Auditorium, CLSL.