Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · 1d

Meet LassoESM, a lasso peptide-tailored protein language model developed by a team from the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. ChBE professor Diwakar Shukla, project co-leader, has provided valuable insights into machine learning knowledge.

chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Learning the language of lasso peptides to improve peptide engineering

chbe.illinois.edu

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · 7d

Illinois researchers Alexa Kuenstler, Simon Rogers, Damien Guironnet and Antonia Statt are part of a four-year project selected for funding by the NSF DMREF program, to design polymers critical for next-gen computer chips.

NSF funds DMREF project to design polymers critical for next-gen computer chips

chbe.illinois.edu

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · 14d

Professors Charles Sing (ChBE) and Cecilia Lea (MatSE) are part of a multi-institutional team working to create new, biological-based membranes that can be made without the use of toxins.

chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Team awarded $2 million to develop new separation membranes inspired by biological cells

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · 14d

ChBE professor Deborah Leckband has been named a 2026 Fellow of the Biophysical Society for her "pathbreaking research in biophysics that has transformed our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of biomolecular mechanics and force transduction". Congratulations!

chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Leckband named 2026 Fellow of the Biophysical Society

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · 22d

Congratulations to ChBE grad student Afia Subhani and Chemistry grad student Micah Robinson, recipients of the Gender Equity in the Chemical Sciences Inclusive Leadership Award. We couldn't be prouder of these students for modeling inclusive excellence on campus!

Photo of Gender Equity in the Chemical Sciences Inclusive Leadership Award recipients. ChBE grad student Afia Subhani is on the left, and Chemistry grad student Micah Robinson is on the right.

ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · 27d

ChBE professor Ying Diao will lead a team of researchers who have received a $2M grant to revolutionize electronic and energy materials by advancing knowledge in the fields of semiconducting polymers, chirality-induced spin selectivity and electrocatalysis. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Inspired by nature: researchers receive $2M grant to develop chiral electronics

chbe.illinois.edu

ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · 29d

ChBE professor Alexa Kuenstler has been recognized by the College of LAS as a Lincoln Excellence for Assistant Professors (LEAP) Scholar for her contributions in research and teaching. She is one of six professors who received the honor. Congratulations!

chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Kuenstler named LEAP scholar for contributions in teaching and research

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Reposted by ChBE Illinois

Brendan Harley @profharley.bsky.social · Sep 2

New Opinion out today in @chicagotribune.com

"The Bio10 is an academic powerhouse."

"The health of our society depends on generations of young students equipped to embrace, and succeed in the face of, uncertainty."

www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/02/o...

Chicago Tribune Op-Ed, 9/2/2025: The health of our society depends on students equipped to embrace uncertainty

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Aug 29

ChBE Illinois researchers have unveiled a new framework for understanding and controlling the behavior of granular hydrogels — microscopic gel particles that mimic living tissue — paving the way for designing better biomaterials.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Illinois researchers unlock new insights into granular hydrogels for biomedical applications

chbe.illinois.edu

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Aug 28

ChBE Illinois is seeking an Office Support Associate to assist in the department's business and student services offices and provide backup to other positions. Come join our friendly, dedicated team! Deadline to apply: September 10, 2025.

illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...

ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Aug 19

NSF has awarded $20M in Phase 2 funding to the Center for Single-Entity Nanochemistry and Nanocrystal Design. As part of the project, ChBE prof. Paul Kenis will help with experiments that highlight how individual nanocrystals behave.

chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

NSF funds Phase 2 of multi-institutional nanocrystal research center

chbe.illinois.edu

ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Jul 29

With a new five-year, $15M award, the NSF has renewed its support of the Molecule Maker Lab Institute, which develops AI tools for discovery and synthesis of molecules for uses in medicine, energy, industry and more. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

@moleculemaker.bsky.social

NSF reinvests in Molecule Maker Lab Institute, AI tools to solve chemistry’s challenges

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Jul 9

A new spin on salad dressing 🥗 Researchers at Illinois have developed an innovative approach to addressing food waste and carbon emissions through the design of a catalyst for converting food waste-derived biocrude to sustainable aviation fuel.

chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Illinois researchers pair nanocatalysts, food waste to reduce carbon emissions in aviation

chbe.illinois.edu

ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Jul 2

ChBE professor Hong Yang has been named a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, their highest professional award. RSC Fellows are recognized for their outstanding contributions to the chemical sciences. 🏆

chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Yang named Royal Society of Chemistry Fellow

chbe.illinois.edu

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Jul 2

Led by ChBE professor Huimin Zhao, a team of innovative researchers combined the use of AI and automated biology to improve the performance of two important industrial enzymes. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Self-driving lab: AI and automated biology combine to improve enzymes

chbe.illinois.edu

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Jun 24

Recycling reinvented!♻️A new study by prof. Baron Peters’ research group offers a model that addresses a key obstacle to efficient plastic recycling.

chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Model tackles key obstacle to efficient plastic recycling

chbe.illinois.edu

ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Jun 12

ChBE professor Paul Kenis has received the 2025 Carl Wagner Memorial Award from the Electrochemical Society, in recognition of excellence in research and teaching. 🔷🔶

chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

Kenis receives Carl Wagner Memorial Award

chbe.illinois.edu

ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · May 30

Researchers at ChBE Illinois have found a path to perform efficient, sustainable enantiomer separations, of importance for drug screening and manufacturing, using planar chiral polymers and electrochemistry.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

@uofigrainger.bsky.social @lasillinois.bsky.social

Custom-designed polymers open new path to electrochemical separations for sustainable drug manufacturing

chbe.illinois.edu

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · May 29

Congratulations to ChBE undergrad, Anggana Yudono! 🎊Yudono is one of the Gilman scholarship recipients and will have the opportunity to study in Denmark.

chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...

ChBE Undergraduate Receives Gilman Scholarship

chbe.illinois.edu

ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · May 6

Congratulations to graduate student Génesis Ríos-Adorno in @profharley.bsky.social's lab who received an Outstanding Mentor award during the C2 awards ceremony on April 28. She is a mentor to ChBE undergraduate Stephenie Merchan, who nominated her for the award.

Génesis Ríos-Adorno poses with her award certificate in front of a C2 Chemical Sciences through community sign.

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · May 1

Happy Decision Day and welcome to all of our new Illini! We can't wait for you to experience all that we have to offer. #illinois #chbe

ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Apr 24

Apply to our Masters of Engineering in Chemical Engineering Leadership program by May 1! The M.Eng is a professional master's degree for early to mid-career engineers who aspire to become industry leaders.
Learn more and apply: chbe.illinois.edu/admissions/m...

Two students collaborate while writing on a white board wearing safety goggles.

ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Apr 22

Happy #EarthDay, Illini! It was great to see everyone soaking up the sun on the quad today 😎🤩

Tree with green leaves partially blocking the brick exterior of Rodger Adams Laboratory.

Trees with pink flowers and green leaves partially cover the brick exterior of Noyes Laboratory.

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Apr 22

Congratulations to Professor Brendan Harley for finishing the Boston Marathon! Read about his journey from being diagnosed with leukemia to researching and raising money to fight cancer.
www.wandtv.com/community/th...

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ChBE Illinois @chbeillinois.bsky.social · Apr 18

On Wednesday, the Illinois chapter of OXE, the Chemical Engineering Honors Society, held their senior mixer for networking, food and fun! We hope everyone had a blast!

A large group of Chemical Engineering seniors pose together in the corner of a room.