Biochemistry | School of Molecular & Cellular Biology

Biochemists investigate the processes in living systems from a molecular perspective. We lead innovative research programs in chemical biology, nucleic acids biochemistry, molecular virology, membrane biochemistry, genomics, microbial physiology, signal transduction & more. We provide tools to develop the next generation of medicine.

Graduates of our undergraduate and PhD programs have become leaders in medicine, pharmacology, agriculture, nutrition, microbiology, cell biology, food technology, pollution control, and biotechnology.

Biochemistry News

Biochemist Steve Sligar elected to National Academy of Sciences

Three University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign professors, including biochemist Steve Sligar, have been elected to the National Academy of Sciences, one of a scientist's highest professional...

Meet Samy Meroueh, new professor of biochemistry

The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology and Department of Biochemistry are pleased to welcome Samy Meroueh as a new professor of biochemistry this spring. He joins us from the Indiana University School of...

headshots of Emad Tajkhorshid and Hyun Park

Scientists use AI to identify new materials for carbon capture

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign researchers Emad Tajkhorshid and Hyun Park In collaboration with scientists from Argonne National Laboratory, the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the University of Chicago, have used AI to identify new materials for carbon capture. Carbon...

Supercomputing the secrets inside cattle antibiotics

Chemists have determined for the first time the crystal structure and unlocked the mechanism of reaction activity of a key component of the monensin enzyme. “The main finding was the first crystal structure for this family of enzymes,” said...

Researchers in conversation in a biochemistry lab

Structural study of mucosal antibody reveals unexpected host-pathogen interactions

Secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA), the predominant human mucosal antibody, can bind to bacterial surface proteins and trigger an immune response to...

Meet Yan Zhang, new assistant professor of biochemistry

The School of Molecular & Cellular Biology and Department of Biochemistry are pleased to welcome Dr. Yan Zhang as assistant professor of biochemistry. Dr. Zhang joined us in November 2023 from the University...