Prairie voles are one of the few mammalian species that form enduring social bonds. In this talk, I will highlight ongoing work using transcriptomic approaches to examine how the brain’s social memory systems promote selective affiliation toward familiar individuals. 

I will talk about our ongoing work in developing robust and reproducible protocols for the generation of brain-region-specific neuronal cell types and organoids and our ongoing efforts to apply these hiPSC-derived neural models to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying embryonic brain development and disorders.

Cullen Buie, PhD
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Biological Engineering; Massachusetts Institute of Technology

“High Throughput Gene Delivery Technologies for Applied Microbiology and Engineered Cell Therapies”

Please join us for a GrantForward training session on Wednesday September 23, 2026 from 12:00 – 1:00 via Zoom.

Some of you may be familiar with, and may already be using, GrantForward, a powerful funding opportunities search engine and application developed on our campus and free for use by all UIUC faculty and staff.

This training session, conducted by GrantForward personnel, will be aimed at teaching you the basic functions of GrantForward and helping you familiarize yourself with its interface and many capabilities. The instructor will cover basic search processes and touch upon some of the other, more advanced features, as well as how AI has been integrated into GrantForward’s various elements.  We encourage you to bring your questions!

You can register in advance for this session by clicking here.

This session is cross-posted for awareness. If you have any questions, please contact Rajeev Malik (rmalik@illinois.edu) or Sowmya Anand (sanand@illinois.edu) in the Office of Proposal Development. 

“Approaches to Live Cell Imaging with Leica Microsystems” 

Harold Vo, Confocal Sales Specialist, Leica Microsystems
Josh Andrew, Account Manager, Thomas Scientific 

Join a webinar focused on the ODSR multidisciplinary data science workshop support program. Learn about this competitive program that provides financial and in-kind support for new data science-focused activities. 

Share your collaboration interests and talk with potential partners about teaming up on a proposal. 

All disciplines and campus units are welcome.

This session is part of the ODSR Data Science Research Collaboration Community webinar series.

Build skills for communicating in unfamiliar situations, with the goal of developing connections, sharing ideas, and building partnerships. Participants will explore common types of problems and practice skills for resolving ability, motivation, and interpersonal problem situations. Understand complex conversations for communicating more effectively in both the speaker and listener roles.

Join us for a lively presentation, discussion, and practice session focusing on public speaking skills! We will provide tips about how to practice for common situations like conferences, poster sessions, interviews, and elevator pitches. 

Dr. Laura Stengrim is the Founding Director of the Speakers Workshop and Specialized Faculty in the Department of Communication at the University of Illinois. She joined the Speakers Workshop in 2024 after eight years as a faculty member and director of the Speaking Center at the University of Southern Mississippi. She holds a Master's degree in English (Writing Studies) and a Ph.D. In Communication from the U of I. Her research interests include rhetorics of globalization, trade, and war, political histories, international and multilingual students in U.S. higher education, and writing and speaking pedagogies. Throughout her career, she has enjoyed mentoring and working with students in writing center and communication center spaces, and watching them build confidence as they step into their unique and wonderful selves.  

Join Us for a Fireside Chat With a Decacorn

Join The Grainger College of Engineering as we sit down with alumnus Dan Caruso ('86, B.S., Mechanical Engineering), a three-time "decacorn" who has built industry-defining companies — including one that sold for $8.5 billion. Caruso will share insights on his career as an entrepreneur and discuss the future tech frontier, including quantum computing, space technology and the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship.

Monday, September 28, 4 p.m.
Emceed by Rashid Bashir, Dean, The Grainger College of Engineering
Meet-and-greet networking reception directly following

Beckman Institute, Auditorium (Room 1025)
405 N. Mathews Ave.
Urbana, IL 61801

First 50 attendees to arrive will receive a free copy of Caruso's book, "BANDWIDTH: The Untold Story of Ambition, Deception, and Innovation that Shaped the Internet Age and Dot-Com Boom."

Dan Caruso's career highlights include co-founding executive roles at Level 3 Communications and leadership positions at Metropolitan Fiber Systems (MFS), both achieving multi-billion-dollar enterprise values. Caruso also spearheaded the 2004 take-private of ICG Communications, achieving a remarkable 25x return. In 2020, he founded Caruso Ventures, a prominent investment firm focusing on both quantum and space technology. His expertise is shared with aspiring innovators through numerous organizations, including Endeavor Global, Colorado Thrives, Elevate Quantum and the University of Chicago's Polsky Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation.

Develop skills to set clear expectations, give feedback, and recognize employees effectively to support ongoing performance and growth. Supervisor Fundamentals equips new supervisors with the foundational skills, knowledge, and behaviors to lead teams effectively, uphold institutional standards, and foster a high-performing, inclusive workplace culture. Complete the Self-Paced Pre-Learning, to register for the live workshop.

This session will introduce you to the range of non-tenure track faculty roles in academia (e.g., Lecturer, Teaching Assistant Professor, Adjunct Instructor, etc.). We will discuss issues like employment stability, common work responsibilities, and more. This session will better equip you to understand the landscape of higher education in the U.S., whether you are actively seeking employment in roles like these or just curious about them.

No registration required. This session will be broadcast online at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/eventspace 

See the full listing of Graduate College workshops at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/workshops

*If you require any disability-related accommodations to participate in this workshop more fully, please email gradsuccess@illinois.edu

Clarify your role, identify your management strengths, and define the kind of supervisor you want to be. Supervisor Fundamentals equips new supervisors with the foundational skills, knowledge, and behaviors to lead teams effectively, uphold institutional standards, and foster a high-performing, inclusive workplace culture. Complete the Self-Paced Pre-Learning, to register for the live workshop.

If you are starting (or jumpstarting) your job search, we've got you covered. This workshop will provide an overview of the entire job search process from beginning to explore career paths and finding roles, through preparing effective application materials and excelling in an interview. Whether you're curious about what it takes to find a job outside of higher education or you're actively looking for jobs, this workshop will help refine your strategy.

No registration required. This session is available online at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/eventspace

See the full listing of Graduate College workshops at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/workshops

Schedule a career advising appointment at https://go.grad.illinois.edu/careeradvising

*If you require any disability-related accommodations to participate in this workshop more fully, please email gradsuccess@illinois.edu

Crop Sciences Research and Education Center
4202 S. 1st St, Champaign, IL 61822
On-site free parking will be available. 
Free admission*

INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS • GAMES • KIDS ACTIVITIES • TRACTORS • and MORE!

Harvest Open House with Crop Sciences will bring the fun of the harvest season and the fantastic scientific advances in agricultural production to one location. Students, families, and the community are all invited to this interactive experience! 

We’re excited to share scientific advances in agricultural production with people of all ages through fun, hands-on activities. Help us welcome the fall season with pumpkins, popcorn, science, and family fun that includes wagon rides, a petting zoo, and an inflatable obstacle course!

In celebration of the Morrow Plots’ 150th anniversary, we will offer shuttle rides from the event to the plots, where attendees can enjoy a brief presentation on their history, followed by a guided tour.

For general information, please email harvestdays@illinois.edu.

*Admissions and interactive experiences are free; however, some experiences or options at the event, such as food, will require guests to pay. No pets allowed.

This event will take place rain or shine, unless severe weather conditions occur.

Celebrate backyard bugs and bats at the free Central Illinois Bat Festival, featuring expert talks, guided hikes, family activities, vendors, food trucks, a costume contest, and an evening bat acoustic walk with a live ecologcation demonstration.

Brittany Rogness, Jordyn Chace, Ricky Gieser, and Claire Berdik of the Illinois Bat Conservation Program will give talks on helping backyard bats, bat DNA, pollinator gardens, and the importance of moths, while Abby Pagels will lead a bat hike.

Interested in an afternoon of pumpkins, apple picking, and more? Come visit Curtis Orchard with the Neuroscience Student Organization on Saturday, September 26 at 1:00 PM. Fellow graduate students, friends, and family are welcome! Please complete the RSVP form to help us coordinate rides.