Jacob Strand and Yi Yang receive RSC undergraduate excellence awards

Strand and Yang in graduation regalia on an orange Block I background
Two senior undergraduates in chemistry, Jacob Strand and Yi Yang, have been selected as the 2026 recipients of the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC, United Kingdom) Certificate of Undergraduate Excellence Award.The RSC awards recognize students who have excelled in the chemical sciences and...

Jonathan Bajko receives 2026 Gary Schuster Mentoring Scholarship

Head shot of Jonathan Bajko
Graduate student Jonathan Bajko was one of the first Ph.D. students to join the research group of Joomyung “Vicky” Jun, who joined the Illinois Chemistry faculty in August 2024.“From day one, he had to be a mentor,” Jun wrote in her nomination of Bajko for a mentoring award. “Johnny has played a...

Vito Failla looking forward to medical school

Head shot of Vito Failla
 An aspiring physician who wants to do Alzheimer’s research, Vito Failla describes graduating as bittersweet.“Being able to make my family proud by reaching this milestone in my life feels great. It does feel a little sad with this chapter closing in my life, but I am excited to see what the...

Sky is the limit for Michaela Klein

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 A chemistry major in the Class of 2026, Michaela Klein won’t miss the Illinois campus after graduation, because she will be pursuing a second degree in Atmospheric Sciences at Illinois.“There are many routes my future can take, but currently, my career goals are becoming an aviation...

Abigail Calixto starting career as scientist at Eli Lilly

student in graduation regalia
In August, Abby Calixto starts her new job as a scientist for Eli Lilly and Company in the Manufacturing Science Department in Indianapolis.“I am so excited to be crossing the finish line of my undergraduate years here at Illinois,” said Calixto, a Class of 2026 chemistry graduate. “What once felt...

Mary Choy to pursue PhD at Carnegie Mellon University

head shot of Mary Choy
 Getting involved in research completely changed the trajectory of Mary Choy’s undergraduate experience at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.“I cannot emphasize enough how meaningful that experience has been for me,” Choy said. A senior majoring in chemistry and earth, society,...

Alumnus Soumitra Athavale (Ph.D., '19) featured in C&EN's "Talented 12"

Portrait of Soumitra Athavale
As an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at the University of California Los Angeles, alumnus Soumitra Athavale (Ph.D., '19) has been working to engineer iron-containing enzymes that could change the way drugs are made by using sustainable and environmentally friendly systems to...
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