Research Seminars @ Illinois

Wednesday, July 15, 2026

• Final Defense of Wesley Harrison, "Development of New-to-Nature Enzyme Chemistries with Photobiocatalysis"

  Time

  3:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Lab

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Thursday, July 16, 2026

• Samantha Barlock, Final Defense, UIUC, "Development of transition metal-mediated cyclization reactions for applications in complex molecule synthesis"

  Time

  1:00 pm

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

• Astrophysics, Relativity, and Cosmology Seminar - Raj Kishor Joshi (Nicolaus Copernicus Astronomical Center) "Interior magnetic field dynamics in Magnetars" "Interior magnetic field dynamics in Magnetars"

  Time

  11:00 am

  Location

  Rhondale Tso Seminar Room, Loomis 236

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Thursday, July 23, 2026

• Conservation in Action Series: Mosquito Ambassador Program

  Time

  6:00 - 7:30 pm

  Location

  Museum of the Grand Prairie

  Join INHS Medical Entomology Laboratory scientist Kylee Noel to explore mosquito ecology, backyard management, and bite prevention.

  • Social/Informal Event

  

Friday, July 24, 2026

• PhD Final Defense – Yurui Li

  Time

  10:00 am

  Location

  CEEB 2015

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

• IMPA Undergraduate Summer Research Poster Session

  Time

  1:30 - 3:00 pm

  Location

  Illini Union room 104

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

• IMPA Undergraduate Summer Research Poster Session

  Time

  1:30 - 3:00 pm

  Location

  Illini Union room 104

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

• JSM - Illinois Statistics Alumni and Friends Reception

  Time

  5:00 - 7:00 pm

  Location

  Thomas M. Menino Convention & Exhibition Center, Room CC-260 - Boston, MA

  • Reception/Open House

  

Thursday, August 6, 2026

• FINAL DEFENSE: Jubyeong Chae "'Mechanistic Understanding and Development of Nickel-Catalyzed C-C Cross-Coupling Reactions". Advisor: Professor Liviu Mirica

  Time

  1:00 pm

  Location

  1024 Chem Annex

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

• Fall Job Market Workshop Series (for graduate students)

  Time

  3:30 pm

  Location

  4080A LCLB

  • Professional Development

  

Wednesday, August 26, 2026

• Machine Learning With Natural History Collections

  Time

  9:00 am - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Forbes Natural History Building, Room 1005

  Join Field Museum researchers Bruno de Medeiros, assistant curator of insects, and Elizabeth Postema, postdoctoral research scientist, for a free, hands-on workshop.

  • Professional Development

  

Thursday, August 27, 2026

• A Chip Odyssey Film Screening + Industry Panel & Reception

  Time

  4:00 - 8:30 pm

  Location

  Grainger Auditorium

  • Film Screening

  

Monday, August 31, 2026

• International Symposium on Energy, Carbon, and Industrial Systems

  Time

  8:30 am

  Location

  I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center

  This two-day symposium brings together researchers, industry leaders, project developers, and policymakers to discuss energy systems, carbon capture and utilization, AI-driven energy demand, carbon markets, and financing pathways for energy-carbon projects. Interested participants may request an invitation on the event page.

  • Conference/Workshop

  

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

• IQUIST Seminar: Brad Christensen, Northrup Grumman

  Time

  11:00 - 11:50 am

  Location

  190 Engineering Sciences Building, 1101 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801

  Speaker: Brad Christensen

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Fuson Student Talks: Morgan Gugger, UIUC, "Title: TBD"; Faith Kern, UIUC, "Pendant Activation: Governed by Interactions Between Mechanophores and Glassy Polymer Networks", Dongchen Ouyang, UIUC, "Title: TBD"

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Lab

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• NSP Faculty Mixer

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  Beckman Institute 1005

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

• Prof. Nick Jackson, UIUC, TBD

  Time

  2:00 - 3:00 pm

  Location

  CLSL B102

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Thursday, September 3, 2026

• CHBE 565-International Paper Co Seminar-Prof. Varong Pavarajarn, Chulalongkorn University (Host: Prof. Chris Rao) "When Industry Asks "How?", Scientists Ask "Why?": Molecular Interactions Behind Carbon Capture and Surface-Controlled Chemical Transformations"

  Time

  2:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Laboratory

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Professor Mei Shen, UIUC, TBD

  Time

  3:30 pm

  Location

  1024 Chem Annex

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Tenure Talk: Professor Mei Shen, "TBA"

  Time

  3:30 pm

  Location

  1024 Chem Annex

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Friday, September 4, 2026

• Biochemistry Seminar: Dr. Chang Cui (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) - "Mechanism, Structure and Inhibitor Design of Human Ribonucleotide Reductase"

  Time

  12:00 pm

  Location

  Charles G. Miller Auditorium, B102 CLSL

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• First Friday Psychology-Beckman Colloquium

  Time

  3:00 - 4:30 pm

  Location

  TBA

  The Psychology Department is excited to continue the First Friday Psychology-Beckman Colloquium Series for the 2026-2027 academic year, a monthly event designed to bring together members of the Department of Psychology, Beckman Institute, and beyond for engaging, cross-area conversations.

  • Lecture

  

Monday, August 31, 2026

• International Symposium on Energy, Carbon, and Industrial Systems

  Time

  8:30 am

  Location

  I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center

  This two-day symposium brings together researchers, industry leaders, project developers, and policymakers to discuss energy systems, carbon capture and utilization, AI-driven energy demand, carbon markets, and financing pathways for energy-carbon projects. Interested participants may request an invitation on the event page.

  • Conference/Workshop

  

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

• IQUIST Seminar: Brad Christensen, Northrup Grumman

  Time

  11:00 - 11:50 am

  Location

  190 Engineering Sciences Building, 1101 W Springfield Ave, Urbana, IL 61801

  Speaker: Brad Christensen

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Fuson Student Talks: Morgan Gugger, UIUC, "Title: TBD"; Faith Kern, UIUC, "Pendant Activation: Governed by Interactions Between Mechanophores and Glassy Polymer Networks", Dongchen Ouyang, UIUC, "Title: TBD"

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Lab

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• NSP Faculty Mixer

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  Beckman Institute 1005

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

• Prof. Nick Jackson, UIUC, TBD

  Time

  2:00 - 3:00 pm

  Location

  CLSL B102

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Thursday, September 3, 2026

• CHBE 565-International Paper Co Seminar-Prof. Varong Pavarajarn, Chulalongkorn University (Host: Prof. Chris Rao) "When Industry Asks "How?", Scientists Ask "Why?": Molecular Interactions Behind Carbon Capture and Surface-Controlled Chemical Transformations"

  Time

  2:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Laboratory

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Professor Mei Shen, UIUC, TBD

  Time

  3:30 pm

  Location

  1024 Chem Annex

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Tenure Talk: Professor Mei Shen, "TBA"

  Time

  3:30 pm

  Location

  1024 Chem Annex

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Friday, September 4, 2026

• Biochemistry Seminar: Dr. Chang Cui (University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) - "Mechanism, Structure and Inhibitor Design of Human Ribonucleotide Reductase"

  Time

  12:00 pm

  Location

  Charles G. Miller Auditorium, B102 CLSL

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• First Friday Psychology-Beckman Colloquium

  Time

  3:00 - 4:30 pm

  Location

  TBA

  The Psychology Department is excited to continue the First Friday Psychology-Beckman Colloquium Series for the 2026-2027 academic year, a monthly event designed to bring together members of the Department of Psychology, Beckman Institute, and beyond for engaging, cross-area conversations.

  • Lecture

  

Tuesday, September 8, 2026

• "Topological Brain Maps and the Shape of Thought," by Marty Sereno, Emeritus Professor Psychology, San Diego State University Adjunct Professor Cognitive Science, University of California San Diego

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  Beckman Institute 1005

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

• HRI Opening Reception

  Time

  4:00 - 6:00 pm

  Location

  Levis Faculty Center

  Join us on the back patio to gather with the humanities community at Illinois.

  • Reception/Open House

  

• HRI Opening Reception

  Time

  4:00 - 6:00 pm

  Location

  Levis Faculty Center

  Join us on the back patio to gather with the humanities community at Illinois.

  • Reception/Open House

  

Thursday, September 10, 2026

• CHBE 565-International Paper Co Seminar-Prof. David Gracias, Johns Hopkins University (Host: Prof. Hyun Joon Kong) "Physical Intelligence at the Interface of Biology and Engineering"

  Time

  2:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Laboratory

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Materials Seminar, TBD, Professor Qian Chen, University of Illinois

  Time

  3:30 pm

  Location

  1024 CHEM ANNEX

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Materials Seminar, TBD, Professor Qian Chen, University of Illinois

  Time

  3:30 pm

  Location

  Chem Annex 1024

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Friday, September 11, 2026

• Biochemistry Seminar: Dr. Cheng-Ming Chiang (UT Southwestern Medical Center) - "Phospho-BRD4 IDR-Targeting Compounds as Antiviral and Anticancer Agents"

  Time

  12:00 pm

  Location

  Charles G. Miller Auditorium, B102 CLSL

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• CEAPS Chinese Studies Faculty Get Together

  Time

  1:30 - 3:00 pm

  Location

  306 Coble Hall, 801 S Wright St, Champaign

  • Social/Informal Event

  

Monday, September 14, 2026

• C.S. Marvel Lecture: Professor Melanie Sanford, University of Michigan, "Title TBA"

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  Roger Adams Lab, 600 S Mathews Ave, Room 116

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• C.S. Marvel Lecture: Professor Melanie Sanford, University of Michigan, "Title TBA"

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Lab

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• AsiaLENS | "Our Mr. Matsura" (Film Screening + In-Person Discussion w/ Filmmaker Beth Harrington)

  Time

  5:30 pm

  Location

  Spurlock Museum, Knight Auditorium 600 S Gregory St, Urbana, IL 61801

  Our Mr. Matsura, a feature documentary film, is the story of photographer Frank Matsura who journeyed from his native Japan to live in rural Washington State in the early 1900s. The film presents a picture of the “frontier” that departs from the existing popular culture narrative and celebrates the singular contribution of a community-building immigrant artist in America.

  • Film Screening

  

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

• Seminar on Seminars, Professor Kenneth Suslick, University of Illinois

  Time

  3:30 pm

  Location

  1024 CHEM ANNEX

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Seminar on Seminars, Professor Kenneth Suslick, University of Illinois

  Time

  3:30 pm

  Location

  Chem Annex 1024

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Aubrey Kelly, Emory University

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  Beckman Institute 1005

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• C.S. Marvel Lecture: Professor Melanie Sanford, University of Michigan, "Title TBA"

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  Roger Adams Lab, 600 S Mathews Ave, Room 116

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• C.S. Marvel Lecture: Professor Melanie Sanford, University of Michigan, "Title TBA"

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Lab

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Wednesday, September 16, 2026

• Prof. Dayne Swearer, Northwestern University, TBD

  Time

  2:00 - 3:00 pm

  Location

  CLSL B102

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Thursday, September 17, 2026

• SE290 - John Thelan

  Time

  11:00 am

  Location

  1310 DCL

  • Lecture

  

• CHBE 565-International Paper Co Seminar-Prof. Janani Sampath, University of Florida (Host: Prof. Charles Sing)

  Time

  2:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Laboratory

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• 22nd Annual Goldstick Family Lecture in the Study of Communication Disorders

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  University of Illinois Philanthropy Center, Room 102/103, 303 St. Mary’s Road, Champaign IL

  • Lecture

  

Friday, September 18, 2026

• Biochemistry Seminar: Dr. Hong Jin (Univeristy of Illinois Urbana-Champaign) - "Translation beyond Initiation, Elongation and Termination"

  Time

  12:00 pm

  Location

  Charles G. Miller Auditorium, B102 CLSL

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• CEAPS Faculty Workshop | "Research Funding for East Asian Studies"

  Time

  1:30 - 3:00 pm

  Location

  306 Coble Hall, 801 S Wright St, Champaign

  • Conference/Workshop

  

Monday, September 21, 2026

• R.C. Fuson Lecture: Professor Robert J. Phipps, University of Cambridge, "Title: TBD"

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Lab

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• R.C. Fuson Lecture: Professor Robert J. Phipps, University of Cambridge, "Title: TBD"

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Lab

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

• Parr Lecture in Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Prof. Yong Wang, Washington State University (host: Prof. Chris Rao/CHBE) "From Catalytic Insights to Transformative Technologies"

  Time

  2:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Laboratory

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Cadaver Dogs and Multi-Species Justice

  Time

  3:00 pm

  Location

  Levis Faculty Center 210

  • Lecture

  

• Cadaver Dogs and Multi-Species Justice | Kate Bishop and Jenny L. Davis

  Time

  3:00 pm

  Location

  Levis Faculty Center, Room 210, 919 W Illinois St

  • Lecture

  

• Materials Seminar, TBD, Professor Marie Christine Daniel, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

  Time

  3:30 pm

  Location

  Chemistry Annex

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Materials Seminar, TBD, Professor Marie Christine Daniel, University of Maryland, Baltimore County

  Time

  3:30 pm

  Location

  Chem Annex 1024

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Kimberly Long, Psychology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  Beckman Institute 1005

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• R.C. Fuson Lecture: Professor Robert J. Phipps, University of Cambridge, "Title: TBD"

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Lab

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• R.C. Fuson Lecture: Professor Robert J. Phipps, University of Cambridge, "Title: TBD"

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Lab

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

• Prof. Hsing-Ta Chen, University of Notre Dame, TBD

  Time

  2:00 - 3:00 pm

  Location

  CLSL B102

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Nathan Hensley | No Escape, No Ending: Gesture, Improvisation, Solidarity

  Time

  4:00 pm

  Location

  Levis Faculty Center, Room 210, 919 W Illinois St

  • Lecture

  

Thursday, September 24, 2026

• SE290 - Robert DuBois

  Time

  11:00 am

  Location

  1310 DCL

  • Lecture

  

• CHBE 565-International Paper Co Seminar-Prof. Wenyu Huang, Iowa State University (Host: Prof. Hong Yang)

  Time

  2:00 pm

  Location

  116 Roger Adams Laboratory

  • Seminar/Symposium

  

• Exhibit Opening — “I could people the hours with creations”: Celebrating Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein

  Time

  3:00 - 5:00 pm

  Location

  Main Library Room 346 — 1408 W. Gregory Dr, Urbana, IL 61801

  Please join us in the RBML from 3-5 pm on Thursday, September 24, for the opening reception of our new exhibit. Curator Lynne Thomas will present brief remarks, and refreshments will be served. This exhibit will remain on display through summer 2027. 

  • Reception/Open House

  

• Carr Visiting Author Series: Mary Helen Specht

  Time

  4:30 pm

  Location

  TBD

  Join us for a reading by author Mary Helen Specth! Mary Helen Specht is the author of the forthcoming novel Mudlark (July 2026) and the novel Migratory Animals, a New York Times Editors' Choice and winner of the Texas Institute of Letters Best First Fiction Award and the Writers’ League of Texas Fiction Prize.

  • Performance