Join us on Tuesday, April 1st to hear from Thomas R. Cech, PhD, 
Nobel Laureate and Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry

Dr. Cech will give the IGB Distinguished Public Lecture in Genomics 
followed by a reception and book signing of his latest work 
"The Catalyst: RNA and the Quest to Unlock Life's Deepest Secrets" 

Champaign Mayor Deborah Feinen will open the lecture by reading 
the official proclamation declaring April 1st, 2025 as Tom Cech Day!

Tuesday, April 1, 2025
3:30pm
I Hotel and Conference Center

Thomas R. Cech, PhD
Nobel Laureate
Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
BioFrontiers Institute
University of Colorado Boulder 

will present

"The Magic of RNA: New Medicines, Immortality, and the Power to Control Evolution"

The seminar will be hosted on Zoom at this link: https://psu.zoom.us/j/8078942764. Please see the attached flyer for more details on the presentation and speakers. We look forward to seeing you all there! Best wishes, The Penn State Big 10 Neuroscience Planning Committee Vinodh Kumar, Laurel Seemiller, Rachel Kang, and Sandy Austin G. Vinodh Kumar, Postdoctoral Scholar Department of Neurology, Penn State College of Medicine Hershey, PA 17033

This is a virtual event.

This fireside chat series is a recent student-led initiative by the eLife Community Ambassadors, ASBMB UIUC, and the MCB Graduate Student Association. Recent guests include Dr. Anthony Fauci (Former director of NIAID) and Dr. Jason McLellan (UT Austin).

A Fireside Chat with Dr. Holden Thorp, Editor-in-Chief of Science Family of Journals, 1:00-1:45PM, March 25^th

The MCB GSA and eLife community ambassadors are proud to present: " A fireside chat with Dr. Holden Thorp". Join us for a zoom conversation with Dr. Thorp, one of the leading voices in global science, where we will discuss open science, research culture, careers, and recent challenges in higher education. Dr. Thorp is a renowned chemist who is serving as the Editor-in-Chief of Science Magazine. One of the top leaders in science and higher education, Dr. Thorp served as the chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill from 2008-2013 and then the provost at the Washington University in St. Louis from 2013-2019. In addition to the decades of leadership experience, Dr. Thorp is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Academy of Inventors, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Registration link: https://illinois.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_CUIlBjU0Qse7hivYKydXqA#/registration

Join A-WIS for our monthly seminar series, Science Uncorked. Our next event will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 27, at The Literary in downtown Champaign. 

Our presenter will be Victoria Farrar, University of Illinois postdoctoral researcher, Evolution, Ecology and Behavior, who will present “From birds to your brain: exploring reproductive hormones”. 

Interested in presenting in the future? Let us know!
Feel free to forward this to anyone you think would be interested in attending. ALL are welcome to attend! 

Thomas R. Cech, PhD, Nobel Laureate and Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, University of Colorado Boulder will give the IGB Distinguished Public Lecture in Genomics "The Magic of RNA: New Medicines, Immortality, and the Power to Control Evolution" at 3:30 p.m. on April 1st, 2025 at the I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center. 

"The Magic of RNA: New Medicines, Immortality, and the Power to Control Evolution"

Thomas R. Cech, PhD
Nobel Laureate
Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry
Investigator, Howard Hughes Medical Institute
BioFrontiers Institute
University of Colorado Boulder

I-Hotel and Conference Center

Reception and book signing to follow.

Research Interests
Our laboratory focuses on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying lipid metabolism and human diseases. Our laboratory utilizes state-of-the-art technologies and animal models to elucidate how lipid metabolism is regulated in physiology, and how dysregulation of metabolism contributes to disease conditions, including obesity, diabetes, and cancer. Our ultimate goal is to investigate whether manipulating metabolism could be used as a therapeutic strategy for human diseases

Many international graduate students and postdocs will secure full-time employment in the United States. Find out what you need to know about U.S. immigration policies to make a smooth transition. This presentation will discuss the H-1B petition process for full-time hires and options for permanent residence in the U.S. The speaker will be Thomas Arkell, an attorney practicing immigration and employment law.

No registration required. This presentation will be held in Graduate College Room 202 (507 E. Green St) and simulcast 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

The ability to craft an effective funding proposal is a skill that can reap a lifetime of rewards. As a graduate student, now is the time to hone your grantwriting proficiency. In this workshop, designed for students in STEM fields, you will learn how to identify funding opportunities, strategize the components of an effective proposal, and think like a grantwriter. Come with questions about this mysterious genre, leave with a template that you can adapt to become a competitive applicant for prestigious university, national, and international funding competitions. 

Register in advance for the link to this online workshop. 

See more Graduate College Workshops.

Join us at noon on Wednesdays this spring for yoga with a view! All sessions are free and will be held in Beckman's fifth-floor tower room. All are welcome to bring their own mat! 

Join us from 10:30-11 a.m. Wednesday, April 2 in the Beckman Atrium to unwind with a visiting therapy dog! All are welcome to take a moment to destress, relax and recharge with the calming presence of a canine friend!

The Beckman Institute Open House is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 4, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025. It offers a fun, interactive look at the interdisciplinary research happening at the Beckman Institute. It happens at the same time as Engineering Open House each year. 

The Beckman Institute Open House is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, April 4, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 5, 2025. It offers a fun, interactive look at the interdisciplinary research happening at the Beckman Institute. It happens at the same time as Engineering Open House each year.