A new Science paper from the O'Dwyer Lab + partners shows how combining genomic + census data can accurately predict shifts in tree species abundance over time — a major step for forecasting forest dynamics and aiding conservation efforts. 🧪 🧪 Link ➤

Congrats to PhD student Elizabeth Bello (Entomology)! Winner of the 2025 Beckman Institute Research Image Contest, her electron micrograph of leafhopper brochosomes—tiny, ultra-hydrophobic, anti-reflective shields—was also featured in Epsiloon #Entomology 🔗

Tomato plants respond to flooding + herbivory by altering VOCs & microbial communities—and soil origin is key. New Plant & Soil study from Illinois researchers using soils from Sola Gratia & Humbleweed Farm. 🍅🌱🧪 🧪 🔗 buff.ly/K5nvLMW

Congrats to IB alumna Lexxanne on starting med school at UTHSC! 🩺 Her White Coat Ceremony marks the beginning of her journey. She shares: “My IB courses have done an amazing job preparing me for the academic rigor of medical school.”

Congrats to Dr. Andrew Suarez, named a 2025 Fellow of the Entomological Society of America! From biomechanics to invasion biology, his work has transformed how we understand ants—and how we teach science. 🐜🎓 🔗 buff.ly/3lGhXvA #entomology #ESA2025

It is with deep sadness that we share that Professor Amy Marshall-Colon passed away over the weekend. Amy was a gifted scientist, generous colleague, and strong advocate for early career faculty. She will be deeply missed by our department and the wider plant biology community.

Four incoming SIB grad students completed the Summer Predoctoral Institute and presented at the Illinois Summer Research Symposium. Congrats to Mary Heather Jingco (1st) & Sam Pring (3rd) on their award-winning talks! #STEMgrad #IllinoisGrad #AcademicSky

Mac Chamberlain’s cowbird research (Animal Behaviour) was recently featured in NYT, ScienceX, CBC As It Happens, and he also served as a scientific advisor for Nat Geo's Underdogs (Ep. 4). Public-facing science at its best! 🔗 buff.ly/H6NJAyS

Congrats to James O'Dwyer (2025 Campus Distinguished Promotion Award + Dean’s Distinguished Scholar) & Mark Lara (2025–26 Helen Corley Petit Scholar)! Plant Biology at Illinois is thriving 🌿🌎

Congrats to Juliana Soto‑Patión (PEEC, INHS) for winning Best Student Presentation at ICP8 in Marseille! Her talk on parasitic lice solving the Sapayoa evolutionary riddle was outstanding 🎉

Bees are in trouble. 🐝 In PBS’s Human Footprint, SIB’s Associate Professor in Entomology Dr. Alexandra Harmon-Threatt explores what 20,000+ bee species tell us about our own survival. 📺 July 16 @ 9/8c #HumanFootprintPBS #pollinator #ecology #bees #PBS

Just two months left until the inaugural Great Lakes Plant Science Conference! 🌿 Make sure to register by August 31 to join us in expanding horizons in plant science at: research.msu.edu/glpsc2025 #GLPSC2025 #PlantScience #PlantBiology

The Entomology Graduate Student Association (EGSA) has won the 2025 Campus Award for Excellence in Public Engagement! From insect petting zoos to the 43rd Insect Fear Film Festival, they’re redefining science outreach. 🐜🎉 🔗 buff.ly/KMp79Gq #SciComm #Entomology #UIUC

Big congrats to UIUC’s Dr. Stephen Long, named a 2025 World Food Prize Agri-Food Pioneer! His work boosting crop yields through better photosynthesis is changing the game for global food security. 🧪 buff.ly/SjT6l7C

Dr. Esther Ndumi Ngumbi (Entomology) reflects on her father’s choice to educate his daughters in a moving NPR Goats and Soda op-ed. A powerful Father’s Day tribute to equity in education. 🔗

🎓 Can’t believe it’s already been a whole month since Convocation! Time truly flies when you're celebrating milestones. Here's to the memories, the friendships, and the beginning of new chapters. 🧡 💙 #SIBGrad #Convocation2025

🪲 Got big click beetles? ABCLab is collecting live ones for research! Found near porch lights or tree trunks. Keep in a ventilated container w/ moist towel or soil. 📧 @cotesia.bsky.social | [email protected] 📍 317 Morrill Hall #Entomology

🚨 Abstracts to present a poster at the 1st Great Lakes Plant Science Conference are due June 30, 2025 at 11:59 p.m. ET! Don’t miss this chance to showcase your research and connect with prominent Great Lakes region plant scientists! Visit the #GLPSC2025 website to submit: research.msu.edu/glpsc2025

A new study co-authored by Dr. Phil Anderson rethinks saber-tooth biomechanics—moving beyond the old "shear vs. hold" model to a spectrum of feeding strategies. Evolution is more nuanced than we thought. 🧪 🧪 🔗 Read more:

Illinois is hiring an Assistant Director for the Integrative Biology Merit Program! Help foster equity and excellence in biology education. Teach, mentor, and lead with impact. Apply here 👉 buff.ly/JUQfiCC

Graduated but still exploring your next step? The MS in Integrative Biology offers advanced IB coursework, labs, and global research opportunities. Great for GPA boosts or prep for PhD/med school. Apply by July 15 for Fall 2025: buff.ly/dFt76uD

Join us in congratulating the IB Class of 2025 — a cohort of globally minded, intellectually curious graduates. Their dedication reflects the best of the IB mission. The future is in capable hands. 🌍🎓

EEB alum Abbigail Turner’s work on convergent nesting behavior in cavity-nesting birds is now published in Nature E&E! A compelling look at behavior & evolutionary genetics. 🧪 🧪 Read more:

You’ve got this, SIB students! Finals might be tough, but so are you! Whether you’re writing research papers or cramming for a few more tests, remember—you’re not alone, and you’ve already come so far. Good luck and when you're done, have a safe and wonderful break!

Dr. Amy Marshall-Colón has received the 2025 ASPB Excellence in Education Award for her outstanding contributions to plant biology teaching and mentorship. A well-deserved honor!

Plant Biology Prof. Andrew Leakey & team unveil a flexible AI approach for computer vision in crop breeding—boosting real-world accuracy + ag innovation. 🧪🧪 Read more on how we’re growing the future of food: sib.illinois.edu/news/2025-04...

🚨 1 week left! 🚨 Submit your abstracts and travel grant applications for #GLPSC2025, the inaugural Great Lakes Plant Science Conference. Network, present, and learn with leading plant scientists September 12–14 in Lansing, MI! research.msu.edu/glpsc2025

Congrats to Plant Biology grad student Lijia Guo for earning 3rd place in the 2025 Image of Research! Her photo of thawing Arctic tundra highlights climate change’s impact through science and art. 🔗

Huge congrats to Entomology alum T. Josek for winning the 2025 Staff Spirit & Dedication Award at Beckman Institute! From insect science to microscopy outreach, T. is making waves in STEM education. 🔗 sib.illinois.edu/news/2025-04...

Incredible to see global collaboration pushing the boundaries of plant resilience research! This roadmap is vital for understanding how life survives extreme dryness. 🧪🧪

What happens when field biology meets global exploration? IB 496 pushes students to study life in extreme environments and rethink what biology can be. This is just one of several options for students receiving an education in integrative science: sib.illinois.edu/news/2025-04...

Meet Tracy Lawson, one of our newest faculty members! Her lifelong passion for plants has taken her around the world, & now she's bringing her expertise in plant biology to Illinois. Learn more about her journey, research, and what she's most excited about in this next chapter: bit.ly/4jfguQQ

Entomology professor Adam Dolezal spoke to @wcia3news.bsky.social about unprecedented bee deaths and what they mean for IL agriculture and ecosystems. Learn more about this vital context on pollinator health from a leading expert. 🧪🧪 🔗 shorturl.at/ChLNU

Congratulations to Plant Biology grad student Daniel Sani for advancing to the final round of the 2025 Research Live! competition! Join us today from 5–6:30 PM at the Campus Instructional Facility to support him and other finalists. This competition is free and open to the public.

Happy Grad Student Appreciation Week! Huge thank you to all grad students for your hard work, passion, and dedication. You make a big impact every day — and we see you!

Are you pre-dental and wondering how the IB major fits into your care goals? Get some insights directly from Integrative Biology seniors who are going to dental school!

Congratulations to our very own Phil Anderson and Wendy Yang for receiving the 2025 Campus Awards for Excellence in Instruction! This prestigious honor recognizes their outstanding contributions to teaching and mentoring. Read more about their achievements here:​ buff.ly/sUQRp6G

The 42nd Annual Insect Fear Film Festival crawled into Foellinger Auditorium on Saturday, Feb. 22! 🕷️ From the 1990 classic Arachnophobia to a hands-on petting zoo, an art competition, and Hollywood bug wrangler Steven Kutcher. Watch the recap and learn more about IFFF!🎥

Are you pre-health and wondering how the IB major fits into your patient care goals? Get insights directly from IB seniors who are going to med school! They can talk about how they found patient care experiences, the MCAT, what classes were most helpful, or anything else you’re curious about.

Experience the exhibition in person on the second floor of the Graduate College during Graduate Student Appreciation Week, running from April 7 to April 11. You're welcome to visit anytime between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to explore these remarkable research images up close!

Q&A Panel with IB Pre-Med Seniors – April 2! Pre-health students: come chat with IB seniors heading to med school! They’ll share insights on everything from patient care experiences to MCAT prep and helpful courses. Got questions? This is your chance to get them answered!

Heroes Wanted! Join us for a DnD-themed science adventure at the Anita Purves Nature Center. Help save Champaign from invasive creatures while learning about environmental science in a fun and fantasy-filled way!

Pre-health folks, wondering how the IB major can set you up for success in med school? Hear directly from IB seniors heading to med school about: - Finding patient care experience - What the MCAT was like - Classes that helped them succeed - Plus, answers to all your questions!

Li-Qing Chen, Associate Professor of Plant Biology at Illinois, is the PI for the global SUYIMAR project, aimed at boosting maize and rice yields through enhanced photosynthesis and nutrient uptake. The project tackles climate challenges with experts worldwide. 🧪 🔗 buff.ly/Frvs9VY

Enjoy Spring Break Illini!

Seniors! Don't miss your opportunity to have your voice heard!

MCAT Prep Alert! Join IB 201: Genetics in Complex Organisms this fall with Prof. Charles Roseman. Dive into genetics, heredity, and societal issues like racism & inequality. Perfect for MCAT and other life science exams. This course is open to all majors!

Dr. Christina Cheng, a professor at Illinois in the department of Evolution, Ecology, and Behavior, and Dr. Julia York, a postdoctoral research associate, spoke with the US-SCAR about their work on how Antarctic fish survive extreme cold. 🧪 🧪 shorturl.at/SVkmv

Lily Hart, an entomology grad student in the DeWalt Lab, published a comprehensive stonefly checklist for Arkansas in the Biodiversity Data Journal. This research enhances ecological understanding and supports freshwater conservation efforts through museum specimen data. 🧪 🧪 🔗 buff.ly/U7C9gQg

Show off your creativity by submitting your design for the School of Integrative Biology’s next T-shirt and leave your mark on IB! Submit your artwork now through the IB website. 🦋🌿🔬 🔗 buff.ly/4igEd2x