Seminars of Interest

Friday, March 27, 2026

FINAL DEFENSE: Samantha Brown, "Small Molecule Iron Mobilizers Mitigate Neurodegeneration in Animals" Advisor: Professor Martin Burke

10:00 am

Noyes Lab 157
- Seminar/Symposium
Final Defense of Ankit Gautam, "Computational design for critical element sustainability: from platinum-free electrocatalysis to developing non-empirical tight-binding methods for rare-earth element recovery"

11:00 am 03/06/2026

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
Biochemistry Seminar: Dr. Dianne Newman (CalTech) - "Unveiling low-power survival strategies on life's metabolic edge"

12:00 pm

Charles G. Miller Auditorium, B102 CLSL
- Seminar/Symposium
Final Defense of Archana Verma, "Thermodynamic Origins of Molecular Doping Efficiency for Advancing Predictive Design of Organic Semiconductors"

2:00 - 4:00 pm

1024 Chem Annex
- Seminar/Symposium

Monday, March 30, 2026

FINAL DEFENSE: Justin Malme "Light and Heat: Studies on the Excited State Dynamics of Heteoleptic First-Row Transition Metal Complexes". Advisor: Professor Joshua Vura-Weis

9:00 am

RAL 433
- Seminar/Symposium
Final Defense: Rachel Martini (van der donk Lab) - "Discovery and Characterization of Glycocin and Lanthipeptide Natural Products"

10:00 am

612 IGB
- Seminar/Symposium
FINAL DEFENSE: Sukanya Dutta, "Plasmon Generated Solvated Electrons". Advisor: Professor Stephan Link

1:30 pm

B102 CLSL
- Seminar/Symposium
Final Defense: Junyao Zhu (Shapiro Lab) - "A Novel Pathway Controlling the Anticancer Therapy-induced Immunogenic Cell Death"

2:00 pm

419 RAL (Rose Room)
- Seminar/Symposium
CHBE 121 Poster Session

6:00 pm 8:00 p.m.

Richmond Family Gallery in the Alice Campbell Alumni Center, 601 S. Lincoln Avenue, Urbana, IL 61801.
- Seminar/Symposium

Tuesday, March 31, 2026

Wednesday, April 1, 2026

Final Defense of Hsin-Lan "Nicole" Chiang "Machine Learning for Protein Engineering Across Data Modalities"

10:00 am 03/06/2026

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
Prof. Teri W. Odom, Northwestern University, "Light-Matter Interactions mediated by Plasmonic Lattices"

2:00 - 3:00 pm

CLSL B102
- Seminar/Symposium
Final Defense of Bidipta Ghosh, "DEFECT ENGINEERING IN COMPLEX METAL OXIDE ELECTROCATALYSTS FOR OXYGEN EVOLUTION REACTION"TBA

3:00 pm 03/06/2026

TBA
- Seminar/Symposium
Wenkan Liu (Wu Lab) - 'HAAbGAT: A Graphic Attention neural network model for HA-Antibody Epitope Prediction and Screening'

4:00 pm

116 RAL
- Seminar/Symposium
Hossein Omidi Ardali (Tajkhorshid Lab) - "Cholesterol Enhances Peripheral Binding of the FERM Domain to Membrane"

4:30 pm

116 RAL
- Seminar/Symposium

Thursday, April 2, 2026

Final Defense of Kavinraaj Ella Elangovan "Solution Processing of Organic Electronics and Predictive Modelling of Emergent Properties""

11:00 am 03/06/2026

2269 Beckman Institute
- Seminar/Symposium
Soyu Zi CHEM 575 Seminar: "Programming Cells To Build Functional Living Materials"

12:00 pm

217 Noyes Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
FINAL DEFENSE: Heryn Wang "Interfacial and Structural Design of Catalysts for Electrochemical Redox Reactions". Advisor: Professor Andrew Gewirth

3:00 pm

RAL 171
- Seminar/Symposium
AbbVie Lecture: Dr. Justin Dietrich, AbbVie, "Utilization of DEL Screening to Identify Non-Covalent Inhibitors of the Coronavirus Main Protease and Optimization into Clinical Candidate ABBV-903"

4:00 - 4:30 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
AbbVie Lecture: Professor Robert R. Knowles, Princeton University, "Excited-State Catalysts for Selective Bond Activations"

4:30 - 5:30 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium

Friday, April 3, 2026

Dr. Susan Hafenstein (University of Minnesota) - "Structural Studeis of virus and host interactions"

8:30 am

Charles G. Miller Auditorium, B102 CLSL
- Seminar/Symposium
Nohemy Celis, Final Defense, UIUC, "Molecular Prosthetics for CFTR: Restoring Anion Secretion to Cystic Fibrosis Airway and Intestinal Epithelia"

3:00 pm

B102 Chemical Life Sciences Laboratory
- Seminar/Symposium

Monday, April 6, 2026

Final Defense of Neil Tran, "Elucidating Reactivity of Atomically Dispersed Catalysts via Multiscale Modeling: Active Sites, Reaction Mechanisms, and Fluid-Modulated Kinetics"

8:00 - 10:00 am

165 Noyes
- Seminar/Symposium
Genentech Lecture: Dr. Jacob Timmerman, Genentech, "Data Science-Driven Evolution of the Manufacturing Process to TRPA1 Inhibitor GDC-6599"

4:00 - 4:30 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
Genentech Lecture: Professor Jim Wells, University of California, San Francisco, "Attacking the Cancer Surfaceome"

4:30 - 5:30 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium

Tuesday, April 7, 2026

Final Defense of Rajarshi Samajdar, CONFORMATION GOVERNS NANOSCALE ELECTRON TRANSPORT IN BIOMOLECULES AND SYNTHETIC ORGANICS

1:00 - 3:00 pm

217 Noyes
- Seminar/Symposium
Inorganic Seminar, "Visualizing Reactive Intermediates: Radical and High-Valent Chemistry Across Biological and Synthetic Catalysis", Professor Shiliang Tian, Purdue University

3:30 pm 12/02/2025

Chem Annex 1024
- Seminar/Symposium

Wednesday, April 8, 2026

Final Defense of Haowei Long, Low-Temperature Anion Exchange Membrane Ammonia Electrolysis for Hydrogen Production

9:00 am 03/06/2026

117 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
Kameron Medine, Final Defense, UIUC, "Automated Synthesis of Lipids"

2:00 pm

217 Noyes Laboratory
- Seminar/Symposium
Prof. Marissa Weichman, Princeton, "New Experimental Platforms for Molecular Polaritonics"

2:00 - 3:00 pm

CLSL B102
- Seminar/Symposium
Brooke Bouwens (Hergenrother Lab)- ""Investigating the Role of TRPM4 in ErSO-TFPy Mediated Cell Death".

4:00 pm

116 RAL
- Seminar/Symposium
Amna Mehfooz (K. Zhang Lab) - "TBA"

4:30 pm

116 RAL
- Seminar/Symposium

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Final Defense of Sonji Lamichhane, "SCREENING AND IMAGING TOOLS FOR DETECTING MAMMALIAN CELL DIFFERENTIATION AND ALGAL BACTERIAL INTERACTION"

9:00 am 03/06/2026

433 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
Daniel Greenan, Final Defense, UIUC, "Fine Tuning the Properties of Amphotericin B as a Molecular Prosthetic and as an Antifungal"

9:30 am

Noyes Laboratory, 505 S Mathews Ave, Room 217
- Seminar/Symposium
Riley Carter, Final Defense, UIUC, "Bioinformatics-guided Discovery of New Natural Product Biosynthetic Strategies"

1:00 pm
- Seminar/Symposium
CHBE 565-International Paper Co Seminar-Prof. Todd Squires, University of California, Santa Barbara, (Host: Prof. Baron Peters) "Driving Particles and Fluids Using Chemical Fluxes"

2:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium

Friday, April 10, 2026

Alec Murray, Final Defense, UIUC, “A Prosthetic Reaction”

10:00 am

157 Noyes Laboratory
- Seminar/Symposium
Final Defense: Rebecca Schneider (Stadtmueller Lab): "Structural Characterization of Avian Polymeric Antibodies: Insights into Evolutionary Divergence and Function"

10:00 am

116 RAL
- Seminar/Symposium
ChBE/OXE Undergraduate Research Symposium

12:00 - 4:00 pm

Levis Faculty Center, Room 300
- Seminar/Symposium
CHBE Scholarship Awards Ceremony & Reception

4:30 - 6:00 pm

Levis Faculty Center, Room 300
- Ceremony/Service

Monday, April 13, 2026

Organic Syntheses Lecture: Professor Michael Krische, University of Texas at Austin, "Hydrogen Transfer for Catalytic C-C Coupling Beyond Premetalated Reagents"

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium

Tuesday, April 14, 2026

Inorganic Seminar, "Macrocyclic templates facilitating strong and weak interactions", Professor Raúl Hernandez Sanchez, Rice University

3:30 pm

Chem Annex 1024
- Seminar/Symposium

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Prof. Andres Montoya Castillo, CU Boulder, "Deciphering & Controlling the Mechanisms of Energy Flow Across Materials"

2:00 - 3:00 pm

CLSL B102
- Seminar/Symposium
Hao Fan (Y. Zhang Lab) - "From Cold Shock to Ribosome Heterogeneity : How Bacteria Reshape The Translational Landscape Under Stress"

4:00 pm

116 RAL
- Seminar/Symposium
Minsoo Kim (Stadtmueller Lab) - "TBA"

4:30 pm

116 RAL
- Seminar/Symposium

Thursday, April 16, 2026

Final Defense: Alex Shuppara (Sanfilippo Lab) - “Flow boosts antimicrobial effectiveness and patterns bacterial population gradients”

10:00 am

419 RAL (Rose Room)
- Seminar/Symposium
CHBE 565-International Paper Co Seminar-Prof. Styliana Avraamidou, University of Wisconsin (Host: Prof. Paul Kenis)

2:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
Materials Seminar, "Interfaces as Architects of Emergent Matter", Professor Sarah King, University of Chicago

3:30 pm 12/02/2025

Chem Annex 1024
- Seminar/Symposium

Friday, April 17, 2026

9th Annual Biochemistry Graduate Student Awards Symposium

12:00 pm

Charles G. Miller Auditorium, B102 CLSL
- Seminar/Symposium

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

Final Defense: Anu Sharma (Sanfilippo Lab) - "Combined effects of flow and hydrogen peroxide on bacteria."

10:00 am

419 RAL (Rose Room)
- Seminar/Symposium
Prof. Tianquan Lian, U Penn, "Electrochemical Control of Static and Ultrafast Electrode-Induction Effects: From Electrochemical Stark Effect to Plasmon-driven Mode-selective Adsorbate Excitation"

2:00 - 3:00 pm

CLSL B102
- Seminar/Symposium
Piyush Sharma (Sanfilippo Lab) - "Shear force counterintuitively enhances surface colonization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa"

4:00 pm

116 RAL
- Seminar/Symposium
Pelham Kogut (van der Donk Lab) - "TBA"

4:30 pm

116 RAL
- Seminar/Symposium
Faculty Research Webinar "Putting a New Spin on Oxygen Intermediates: Radical Reactivity in Unexpected Places" Prof. Joaquín Rodríguez-López

5:30 - 6:30 pm Central Time
- Lecture

Thursday, April 23, 2026

CHBE 565-International Paper Co Seminar-Prof. Siddarth Krishna, University of Wisconsin (Host: Prof. Elizabeth Rogers) "Tuning the Dynamic Structure and Reactivity of Metal-Zeolites for Sustainable Catalytic Chemistries"

2:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
Materials Seminar, "Structuring functional materials across scales with polymers and electrochemistry", Professor Joerg Werner, Boston University

3:30 pm 12/02/2025

1024 CHEM ANNEX
- Seminar/Symposium
Documentary Screening of "Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution"

4:00 pm

Beckman Institute Auditorium

Join the Cancer Center at Illinois for a screening of "Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution." The documentary chronicles the life and career of Nobel Laureate and Illinois alumnus, Phil Sharp, who will attend the event. The film is narrated by Mark Ruffalo and part of the PBS Independent Lens documentary series.
- Film Screening
Prof. Christina (Tina) Wang, University of Wisconsin-Madison, "Identification of Protein (Mis)Folding Modulators Through Directed Evolution"

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium

Friday, April 24, 2026

Biochemistry Seminar: Dr. Joe Sanfilippo (UIUC) - "Bacterial stress responses and surface adhesion in shear flow"

12:00 pm

Charles G. Miller Auditorium, B102 CLSL
- Seminar/Symposium
TBD, Professor Henry White, The University of Utah

4:00 pm

RAL 116
- Seminar/Symposium

Monday, April 27, 2026

Biological Physics Seminar: Minsu Kim (Emory University) ""

11:00 am

Rhondale Tso Seminar Room, Loomis 236
- Lecture
2025 John C. Bailar, Jr. Lecture: "Understanding Catalysis, one Atom at a Time", Dr. Christophe Copéret, ETH Zurich

5:00 pm

B102 Chemical and Life Sciences Laboratory (CLSL)
- Seminar/Symposium
Inorganic Seminar, 2026 John C. Bailar, Jr. Lecture: Understanding Catalysis, one Atom at a Time, Professor Christophe Copéret, Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule Zürich, TBD

5:00 pm

CLSL B102
- Seminar/Symposium

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Wednesday, April 29, 2026

Prof. Tom Truskett, University of Michigan, TBD

2:00 - 3:00 pm

Chemical & Life Sciences Lab, 601 S Goodwin Ave, B-102
- Seminar/Symposium
Dr. Nick Carruthers, NDC Medchem Consulting LLC, "Serotonin, LSD and the Police"

4:00 pm

217 Noyes Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
Zixiao Li (K. Zhang Lab) - "TBA"

4:00 pm

116 RAL
- Seminar/Symposium
Katrine Dailey (Wu Lab) - "TBA"

4:30 pm

116 RAL
- Seminar/Symposium

Thursday, April 30, 2026

Lilly Lecture: Professor Lutz Ackermann, University of Göttingen, "Title: TBD"

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium

Friday, May 1, 2026

Biochemistry Seminar: Dr. Parisa Hosseinzadeh (University of Oregon) - "TBA"

12:00 pm

Charles G. Miller Auditorium, B102 CLSL
- Seminar/Symposium
TBD, Professor Robert Lazenby, Florida State University

4:00 pm

RAL 116
- Seminar/Symposium

Monday, May 4, 2026

3M Lecture: Dr. Rajdeep Kalgutkar, 3M, "Title: TBD"

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
3M Lecture: Professor Brent S. Sumerlin, University of Florida, "Title: TBD"

5:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium

Friday, May 8, 2026

Biochemistry Seminar: Dr. Juan Guan (University of Texas) - "TBA"

12:00 pm

Charles G. Miller Auditorium, B102 CLSL
- Seminar/Symposium
GF Smith Lecture, TBD, Professor Joseph Wang, University of California San Diego

4:00 pm

RAL116
- Seminar/Symposium

Tuesday, May 12, 2026

Piper Inorganic Thesis Award, TBD

3:30 pm

1024 CHEM ANNEX
- Seminar/Symposium

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Final Defense of Haisu Kang, TBA

10:00 am 03/06/2026

TBA
- Seminar/Symposium
Klemperer Materials Thesis Award Seminar, TBD

3:30 pm

1024 CHEM ANNEX
- Ceremony/Service

Friday, May 15, 2026

TBD, Professor David Issadore, University of Pennsylvania

4:00 pm

RAL 116
- Seminar/Symposium

Sunday, May 17, 2026

CHBE 2026 Spring Convocation Ceremony

9:30 11:00 am

Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, Tryon Festival Theatre, 500 S Goodwin Ave, Urbana, IL 61801
- Ceremony/Service
ChBE 2026 Spring Convocation Reception

11:00 1:00 p.m.

Illini Union - room ABC, 1401 W Green St, Urbana, IL 61801
- Reception/Open House

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Prof. Nick Jackson, UIUC, TBD

2:00 - 3:00 pm

CLSL B102
- Seminar/Symposium

Monday, September 14, 2026

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

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
C.S. Marvel Lecture: Professor Melanie Sanford, University of Michigan, "Title TBA"

4:00 pm

Roger Adams Lab, 600 S Mathews Ave, Room 116
- Seminar/Symposium

Tuesday, September 15, 2026

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

4:00 pm

Roger Adams Lab, 600 S Mathews Ave, Room 116
- Seminar/Symposium
C.S. Marvel Lecture: Professor Melanie Sanford, University of Michigan, "Title TBA"

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium

Monday, September 21, 2026

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

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
R.C. Fuson Lecture: Professor Robert J. Phipps, University of Cambridge, "Title: TBD"

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

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

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
R.C. Fuson Lecture: Professor Robert J. Phipps, University of Cambridge, "Title: TBD"

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium

Monday, November 2, 2026

Inorganic Seminar, 2026 John C. Bailar, Jr. Lecture: TBD, Professor Alison Butler, University of California Santa Barbara

5:00 pm

CLSL B102
- Seminar/Symposium

Monday, November 16, 2026

Kenneth L. Rinehart Lecture in Chemical Biology, Professor Christopher J. Chang, Princeton University, "Title: TBD"

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium
Kenneth L. Rinehart Lecture in Chemical Biology, Professor Christopher J. Chang, Princeton University, "Title: TBD"

4:00 pm

116 Roger Adams Lab
- Seminar/Symposium