And we're excited to have you joining us at Illinois!

M. Brent Hawkins@homeobox.bsky.social · 2w ago

I am excited to open my lab at @ibioillinois.bsky.social in Spring 2027! We will use zebrafish & other fishy friends to reveal the genetic basis of large scale changes in the vertebrate body plan, and how this impacts both human health and evolution. Join me at UIUC! 🧬🧫🔬 www.hawkinslaboratory.com

🐝Honey bee larvae are unable to detect odors that adult bees rely on for survival, a new study finds. This is likely a consequence of the bees’ social evolution, scientists say. @ibioillinois.bsky.social Read more here: news.illinois.edu/honey-bees-s...

New study by EEB's Associate Professor Phil Anderson compares cactus thorns & dinosaur teeth to reveal insights into biological puncture tool performance and evolution. Fascinating biomechanics research! 🧪 🧪 🔗 buff.ly/8l0TESp

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

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sib.illinois.edu

This spring I took over and redesigned the only Gen Ed on plants here #IB103. We walked through every core aspect of plant bio in lectures & labs, but also through art & design. I had a blast, the evaluations are rewarding (4.9/5), the redesign got an award from the college, and a little press too!

This fall, IB496: Alpha Taxonomy of Insects is offering hands-on taxonomy with undescribed insect species, collaborative publication, and real research experience. One student described 5 new species the last time this course was taught! Join us to advance insect taxonomy in SIB.

Graduation posts: fashionably late but filled with joy! Share your weekend grad pics and let’s celebrate the milestones that matter. Help us give a big congrats to all our SIB graduates!

Congrats to Integrative Biology Honors major Fisher Houston on earning the prestigious Udall Scholarship! A testament to his leadership and commitment to environmental science. 🔗

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.

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🎉Entomologist Gene Robinson, the newly appointed executive director and CEO of the Illinois Discovery Partners Institute, will be inducted into the American Philosophical Society. Dr. Robinson was formerly the Director of the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology at Illinois. Congratulations!

Proud to support undergrad Rebecca Song, a 2026 Community-Academic Scholar in conservation biology & urban studies! This summer, Rebecca advances community-engaged research with real-world impact.

Interdisciplinary Health Sciences Institute@illinoishealth.bsky.social · 3mo ago

This summer, Illinois students will spend 10 weeks working with a community mentor & an academic mentor on projects designed to make a direct impact on the community. Congratulations to this year’s scholars! Details on the scholars and their projects: healthinstitute.illinois.edu/news-events/...

Former undergraduate researchers in SIB, mentored by Dr. Esther Ngumbi, published new findings on plant responses to multiple stresses. This study is key in advancing our understanding of crop resilience. 🧪 🧪 Proud to see undergrads contributing to impactful plant science research!

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.

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Humans have been crowned the scariest organism in our tournament! Thanks to all who voted and participated. Looking forward to more fun and learning next year!

New research from the Plant Biology reveals how desiccation tolerance evolved in plants, tracing ancient survival tools that enable “resurrection plants” to survive extreme drought. Insights could inform future crop resilience strategies. 🧪 🧪 Read more: buff.ly/jjijahE

Vote in the final round of the Scariest Organism Tournament! Humans reshape ecosystems and create powerful tech; ticks spread serious diseases and expand with climate change. Who’s scarier? Vote in the final round of the Scariest Organism Tournament! Vote: buff.ly/SyaDJM4 Bracket: buff.ly/TG1RmIq

Happy Earth Day from SIB! Our research in forests, pollinators, aquatic life, and insects advances sustainability through science and discovery. We're proud to help protect our planet. #ILLINOIS #CuriosityDrivesImpact #EarthDay

We're so excited to host our Solving the World's Challenges panel on Invasive Species tomorrow, April 21, from 2:30-3:30 in our New Book area! Come in person, or follow this link to register online or learn more: go.library.illinois.edu/FunkACESLibr...

Final Four: #1 Humans vs #2 Rabies & #8 Ticks vs #13 Destroying Angel Fungi. Ecosystem-altering power, near-certain fatality, disease vectors, and deadly toxins face off. Cast your vote for the scariest! 🦠🍄🐜🌍 Vote: buff.ly/SWKCDLh Bracket: buff.ly/TG1RmIq

Tigga Kingston was invested as the inaugural Shelford-Pitelka-Batzli Professor of Mammalian Ecology at Illinois. This honor highlights her leadership in ecology research. Read more: buff.ly/FuoOihs #ILLINOIS #curiositydrivesimpact

Tigga Kingston named inaugural Shelford-Pitelka-Batzli Professor in Mammalian Ecology | School of Integrative Biology | Illinois

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March Madness may be over (congrats to the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball on a Final Four run!) but SIB’s Scariest Organisms bracket continues. Round 4 is live. Vote in the tournament 👉 buff.ly/YwnhSxg See the updated bracket 👉 buff.ly/mSCbw7Z

Meet our panelists for the 8th annual Solving The World's Challenges panel, with the theme Invasive Species! To learn more about the event, each panelist, or to register to attend virtually, visit go.library.illinois.edu/FunkACESLibr...!

Happy Graduate Student Appreciation Week! 🌿 SIB grad students keep discovery alive—from insects to ecosystems. Share your grad experience or drop some encouragement for current students. Let’s celebrate the people behind the science.

Round 3 of SIB’s Scariest Organisms bracket is live. Only the fiercest contenders remain, vote by Tuesday night! Vote in the tournament 👉 buff.ly/BQAbJWd See the updated bracket 👉 buff.ly/mSCbw7Z And good luck to the Illinois Fighting Illini men's basketball in the Final Four tomorrow! Go Illini!

Two PEEC grad students are finalists for Research Live! 2026 🎉 Brian Graves on accessible VR design, Weiqing Qu on plant climate vulnerability. April 7, Gregory Hall. Come cheer them on! 👉 buff.ly/G5MvkqG

Two PEEC students amongst finalists for Research Live! | School of Integrative Biology | Illinois

Two PEEC graduate students have been named among the Top 9 Finalists for the 2026 Research Live! Finalist Showcase. Hosted by the Graduate College, this event invites students to present their…

sib.illinois.edu

Round 2 of SIB’s #MarchMadness bracket is live! Vote for the “scariest organism” across vertebrates, invertebrates, pathogens, & plants: Poll: buff.ly/6YeJBSd Bracket: buff.ly/KjIvX2P 🏀 And of course, congrats to Illinois Men's Basketball team on making the Elite 8! 🏀

Last call! Scariest Organisms voting closes TONIGHT! Close matchups: monkeys vs sharks, dengue vs yellow fever, camel spiders vs tarantula hawks, death cap vs nightshade 😬 Parasitic wasps 🤝 mushrooms that can kill you in half a bite. 🗳️ buff.ly/CcCdVsA

March Madness, but it’s biology: Scariest Organisms Edition! 👀 Vertebrates vs invertebrates vs plants vs pathogens—who wins? Vote, explore some wild organisms, and defend your picks! Poll closes Thursday night, second round dropping next Friday. 🗳️ buff.ly/CcCdVsA 📊 [https://buff.ly/5lciXYr

Updates on IFFF 2026: Doors will open at 5 PM on February 28th, 2026, at Foellinger Auditorium. This year's festival is titled "Insect-Human Hybrids!"

Congrats to Christina Swanson, The University of Illinois' 2026 Student Success Champion! Her leadership fuels impact and exemplifies the curiosity, collaboration, and innovation that define SIB. Proud to celebrate her achievement! #LASImpact #CuriosityDrivesImpact 🔗

Academic Advisor Christina Swanson named 2026 Student Success Champion Award Winner | School of Integrative Biology | Illinois

SIB is proud to announce that Christina Swanson has been honored with the 2026 Student Success Champion Award.

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It is almost that time of year again - for the Insect Fear Film Festival! Join us this year for the 43rd annual Insect Fear Film Festival, held on February 28th, 2026. This year's festival is titled "Insect-Human Hybrids!"

🍃 Plenary 🍃 photosynthesis2026.com Lisa Ainsworth @ibioillinois.bsky.social 🌿Lisa’s research into the mechanisms of plant responses to climate change aims to maximize crop production in a future climate of elevated carbon dioxide, ozone, higher temperatures and drought #ICPR26 #plantscience

🧪 🧪 New EEB study shows fish skin & scales resist rapid puncture attacks, revealing how flexibility + movement help survival. Mentorship + student curiosity fueled this research. #ILLINOIS #curiositydrivesimpact #collegeoflas 🔗

EEB scientists reveal how fish skin helps protect against fast attacks | School of Integrative Biology | Illinois

Scientists at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have helped uncover how fish skin protects fish from sharp, fast attacks in the wild, and the research highlights how curiosity, creativity,…

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