Integrative Biology at Illinois

Seven of this year's recipients of a Fulbright grant have accepted their award — and all seven are LAS students!

The Fulbright U.S. Student Program offers grants to academically and professionally outstanding students who are interested in furthering its mission of building international relationships and helping solve global challenges.

In the fall, these students will embark on journeys all across the world. They'll spend a year in places like Italy, Taiwan, Armenia, and more, teaching English or pursuing advanced degrees that will help them achieve their goals of ushering in a more connected and understanding global community.

We celebrate their incredible passion and ambition and wish them a wonderful and transformative experience abroad!

Illinois English Integrative Biology at Illinois Global Studies at Illinois History at Illinois University of Illinois Psychology Department University of Illinois School of Literatures, Cultures and Linguistics

Discover how nature’s ancient tools inspire modern science! EEB Associate Professor Phil Anderson’s latest research compares cactus thorns and dinosaur teeth to understand biological puncture performance. This fascinating study sheds light on evolution and biomechanics, revealing secrets from millions of years ago. Dive into the story and see how Illinois researchers are uncovering the past to inform the future.

Read more: https://buff.ly/8l0TESp

From cactus thorns to dinosaur teeth: Study analyzes biological puncture tool performance | School of Integrative Biology | Illinois Image

Discover the thrill of scientific discovery with IB496: Alpha Taxonomy of Insects this Fall 2026! Students work hands-on with real, undescribed insect species. Collaborate to co-author a publication describing new species, including Amazonian cockroaches. One student recently described 5 new species! So what are you waiting for? Sign up for the course this fall and join us and be part of groundbreaking research.

Better late than never, right? Our grads have officially crossed the stage, and we’re still basking in the glow (and catching up on our posts)! Share your favorite weekend graduation moments with us so we can celebrate this milestone together!

SIB is proud to celebrate our outstanding Integrative Biology Honors major, Fisher Houston, on receiving the prestigious Udall Scholarship! This honor recognizes Fisher’s dedication to environmental leadership and academic excellence. Join us in congratulating him on this remarkable achievement!

Link:

Illinois junior receives prestigious Udall Scholarship | School of Integrative Biology | Illinois CHAMPAIGN, Ill. —University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign junior R. Fisher Houston is one of 65 students nationwide awarded the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship.

We're excited about Rebecca Song’s work this summer! As a conservation biology and urban studies scholar, Rebecca is combining their passion for ecology with community engagement through Downtown Greens, enhancing urban green spaces in Fredericksburg, VA. Their research on ecological trade-offs in insect populations highlights the vital connections between biodiversity and community health. We look forward to seeing how their project advances conservation efforts with a community-centered approach!

Meet the 2026 Community-Academic Scholars 🧡💙

This summer, these students will spend 10 weeks working with a community mentor and an academic mentor on projects designed to make a direct impact on the communities they serve.

Not only will the students support and advance important research, they will develop a better understanding of the unique considerations and benefits of community-engaged research.

Congratulations to this year’s scholars:

🔸 Ace Aceves | biochemistry

🔹Tori Arduini | Natural Resources & Environmental Sciences (NRES)

🔸Celia Barkley | NRES

🔹Alisha Daga | Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering

🔸Grace Fan | Psychology

🔹Sydney Geiger Bryce | earth, society & environmental sustainability

🔸Zahra Ghadeer | Molecular & Cellular Biology(MCB)

🔹Lina Gil | Spanish and psychology)

🔸Amanda Jamrog | History

🔹Isabel Jimenez | Kinesiology

🔸Ellie Kim | Neuroscience

🔹Alan Medina | MCB

🔸Manh Nguyen | Statistics

🔹Zoe Rains | psychology

🔸Aman Saji | electrical and computer engineering (ECE)

🔹Roshellie Salgado (neuroscience)

🔸Rebecca Song | conservation biology and urban studies

🔹Jaritzi Villegas | (Civil and Environmental Engineering

🔸Wonjin Yang (Mathematics)

Learn more about the scholars and their projects:
https://healthinstitute.illinois.edu/news-events/news/the-2026-community-academic-scholars-are-poised-to-make-an-impact

We have more news coming out of SIB! Our former talented undergraduate students have co-authored groundbreaking research uncovering how plants respond to multiple environmental stresses. This discovery not only advances plant science but also has important implications for agriculture and food security worldwide. We’re proud to see our students making real-world impacts through research and contributing to solutions that benefit us all.

Read more about their inspiring journey and the science behind it:

Former undergraduate researchers help uncover how plants respond to multiple environmental stressors | School of Integrative Biology | Illinois A newly published study in the Journal of Chemical Ecology offers new insight into how plants respond when faced with multiple environmental challenges at once.