By Date

Portnoy receives Outstanding Faculty Advisor award

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology - Wed, 01/14/2026 - 12:48

Dan Portnoy receives  2025 Excellence in Advising Outstanding Faculty AwardDistinguished Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology, Dan Portnoy, received the 2025 Excellence in Advising Outstanding Faculty Advisor award from Berkeley’s Council on Advising and Student Services.

Joy Ahn named Outstanding Advisor

Department of Bioengineering - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 11:38
Congratulations to bioengineering’s Master’s Programs Manager Joy Ahn! Joy has been received a 2025 Excellence in Advising and Student Services Award for her outstanding support of our master’s students.
Categories: Science News

Arkin Lab uses the microbiome to combat lung pathogens

Department of Bioengineering - Tue, 01/13/2026 - 10:46
Researchers from Adam Arkin's lab, funded by a grant from the Dept. of Health and Human Services, have engineered colonies of good bacteria that can be inhaled to crowd out pathogenic bacteria and combat lung infections without antibiotics.
Categories: Science News

Postdoc Joseph Lobel receives RNA Society Award

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology - Tue, 01/06/2026 - 14:09

Joseph Lobel receives 2026 RNA Society Scaringe Young Scientist AwardCongratulations to MCB postdoc Joseph Lobel (Ingolia Lab) on receiving the 2026 RNA Society Scaringe Young Scientist Award. This internationally competitive award honors one postdoc annually who has made a significant contribution to the broad area of RNA research. Read more about the 2026 RNA Society Scaringe Young Scientist Award here

This Diminutive Reptile Plays Rock-Paper-Scissors

Department of Integrative Biology - Fri, 01/02/2026 - 15:23
 Ammon Corl

Ammon Corl, a Post-Doctoral researcher at the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, is highlighted in The New York Times for leading research that revealed the genetic variation behind the side-blotched lizard's unique rock-paper-scissors evolutionary game. Read the full article here

Categories: Science News

Happy Holidays from all of us at MCB!

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology - Thu, 12/18/2025 - 16:59

As the year draws to a close, we want to take a moment to express our deep gratitude for our MCB community of students, postdocs, staff, faculty, alumni and friends. 2025 has been a year marked by exciting discoveries, shared successes, and the remarkable resilience and dedication of our community. We hope you enjoy our year-end video highlighting some of our 2025 memories together. 

 

 

 

Portnoy lab microbiologists create “Microbe Circuit” at the local elementary school

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology - Thu, 12/11/2025 - 11:54
MCB microbiologists from the Portnoy lab team up with BASIS to run a microbiology outreach workshop at the Ellerhorst Elementary School. 

 

Learn more about the BioE MEng

Department of Bioengineering - Thu, 12/04/2025 - 12:22
BioE Master of Engineering student Smrithi explains the career potential of a bioengineering degree.
Categories: Science News

Alice Tang named to 30 Under 30

Department of Bioengineering - Thu, 12/04/2025 - 11:50
Congratulations to bioengineering MD/PhD candidate Alice Tang, named to the 2026 Forbes 30 Under 30! Tang has pioneered methods to analyze millions of health records using AI, uncovering revelations about complex diseases like Alzheimer’s. 
Categories: Science News

All life copies DNA unambiguously into proteins. Archaea may be the exception.

Department of Molecular and Cell Biology - Mon, 12/01/2025 - 15:38

Methane-producing archaea from the species Methanosarcina acetivorans. The microbes are stained with a fluorescent dye that specifically binds to the membranes of archaea. Alienor Baskevitch/UC BerkeleyLearn about research from the lab of Assistant Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development Dipti Nayak.

Excerpt from UC Berkeley News: "A study finds that one microbe, a member of the Archaea, tolerates a little flexibility in interpreting the genetic code, contradicting a 60-year-old doctrine." Read the full Berkeley News article here