This Week in Illinois Research
Proud Moments
As we approach commencement weekend, it's exciting to see so many students in caps, gowns, and tassels, posing for pictures at iconic campus locations. I'm the proud parent of a member of the Class of 2024 myself, and I'm looking forward to joining the search for that perfect backdrop to capture these important memories.
I was reflecting on my own academic journey last week when we learned the wonderful news that three members of our research community were elected to the National Academy of Sciences: Chen-Yu Liu, Stephen Sligar, and Ken Suslick. This one is personal—Steve was my Ph.D. advisor, and Ken was my former teacher. These mentors helped make me the scientist that I am today, and their guidance as role models shaped my career path in other ways, too. I'm looking forward to celebrating and formally honoring all three of these exceptional scholars. It will also be a treat to formally meet Chen-Yu, who joined our community in late 2022.
You may not know Chen-Yu, Steve, Ken—or the members of the Class of 2024, for that matter—but I'm sure you join me in cheering their successes. Whether proud parent, proud student, proud colleague, or proud community member, we have much to celebrate as we wrap up the academic year.
Sincerely,
Susan
Featured Stories
New leadership and increased visibility add up to a defining moment for CSBS
During the height of the pandemic, U.S. researchers worked around the clock to roll out a vaccine in record time. It was a triumph of scientific achievement – one capable of preventing serious illness and slowing the spread of COVID – yet nearly half of eligible Americans chose not to get a vaccine in the first nine months of availability.
Gerald Wilson joins Illinois as its first director of entrepreneurship
Turning research and innovation into tangible benefits to society has always been a priority and strength at UIUC. Now, with the hire of Gerald Wilson as Director of Entrepreneurship, the university’s commitment and impact are being elevated to new heights.
University of Illinois Scientists Win $9.5M to Study Emerging Pathogens
Researchers at UIUC have been awarded $9.5M from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to study how to prevent viruses from spreading among animals and humans.
Around Campus
Congratulations to the EnterpriseWorks incubator
Congratulations to the EnterpriseWorks incubator at the University of Illinois Research Park for winning Stage One of the Small Business Administration's 2024 Growth Accelerator Fund Competition. The award recognizes EnterpriseWorks' Entrepreneurial Leadership Development Accelerator program.
A coalition of museums at large, public universities
A coalition of museums at large, public universities—including Illinois and KAM—have "planned nonpartisan shows focused on democracy, with the goal of getting students more engaged."
Illinois researchers across disciplines now have access to a Zeiss Xradia 630 Versa micro-CT scanner
Illinois researchers across disciplines now have access to a Zeiss Xradia 630 Versa micro-CT scanner. Located in Beckman’s Microscopy Suite, it’s the …
A program to teach animal health officials
Yvette Johnson-Walker, Gay Miller, and Will Sander have created a program to teach …
a link between PFAS “forever chemicals” and testicular cancer
A paper by Zeynep Madak Erdogan, Joseph Irudayaraj, Michael Spinella, and their students shows a …
The Farm Bill has been making news
The Farm Bill has been making news, and Jonathan Coppess has a new book that explores the important legislation: …
National Landscape
Science museums around the country are transforming their buildings
Science museums around the country are transforming their buildings and exhibits to “allow visitors to better, and more personally, connect with the sciences” and spark dialogue about “how science can help address major societal issues.”
Concerns were raised about data duplication
More than 30 articles co-authored by a Nobel Prize-winning neuroscientist are under scrutiny after concerns were raised about data duplication, discrepancies in images, and other issues.
Illinois at #4 on Forbes new “Public Ivies” list
The “bloom has been off the Ivies,” according to Forbes, and the magazine put Illinois at #4 on its new “Public Ivies” list, based on test scores and admissions data.
NIH is revising the application and peer review process for research training fellowships
NIH is revising the application and peer review process for research training fellowships. The changes aim to enhance participation from applicants at smaller schools, mentors relatively early in their careers, and well-qualified students with less-conventional academic backgrounds.
The NAS has established the Science and Innovation Fund for Ukraine
The NAS has established the Science and Innovation Fund for Ukraine to cultivate a robust “science and technology enterprise capable of rebuilding Ukraine and fueling its long-term economic prosperity and national security.”
A new study from the Beckman Foundation
A new study from the Beckman Foundation shows that removing applicants’ institutional affiliations from their submissions could help funding agencies address a common disparity: "prestige privilege," or the bias toward funding applicants from institutions that are perceived as more distinguished than others.