Susan Marqusee.

Chemist Susan Marqusee takes leading role at National Science Foundation

Susan Marqusee, a biophysical chemist who headed the UC Berkeley arm of the California Institute of Quantitative Biosciences (QB3) for 10 years, until 2020, has been chosen to lead the Directorate for Biological Sciences of the National Science Foundation (NSF) — the major funder of basic life sciences research in the United States. “I am excited for…

Collage of seven faculty portrait photos and the National Academy of Sciences logo.

Donald Rio elected to National Academy of Sciences

Seven UC Berkeley faculty members were among 120 new members and 23 new international members of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) announced this week, an honor that recognizes their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research. The seven new members are neuroscientist Marla Feller, herpetologist Tyrone Hayes, economists Hilary Hoynes and Emmanuel Saez, chemists Jeffrey Long and T. Don Tilley and biochemist Donald Rio. There…

Faculty member Daniel Fletcher on a grey graphic with the QB3-Berkeley logo on it.

Fletcher receives graduate student mentoring award

Professor Dan Fletcher has received the 2023 the Carol D. Soc Distinguished Graduate Student Mentoring Award, a campus-wide award that recognizes faculty for outstanding mentorship of UC Berkeley graduate students. Fletcher was nominated by his current and former graduate students and has long been a sought-after mentor of students and faculty of all levels.

Jim Hurley stands in front of a white building

Faculty focus on Jim Hurley

James Hurley is a professor of biochemistry, biophysics, and structural biology in the Department of Molecular and Cell Biology. The Hurley lab is interested in fundamental questions of how the interactions between proteins and membranes determine cell and organelle shape and the evolution of shape over time; how protein-membrane interactions turn on and off the…

Biological fluids are made up of hundreds or thousands of different proteins (represented by space filling models above) that evolved to work together efficiently but flexibly

Can synthetic polymers replace the body’s natural proteins?

Most life on Earth is based on polymers of 20 amino acids that have evolved into hundreds of thousands of different, highly specialized proteins. They catalyze reactions, form backbone and muscle and even generate movement. But is all that variety necessary? Could biology work just as well with fewer building blocks and simpler polymers? Ting…

Susan Marqusee named 2023 ASBMB fellow

The American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology today announced that 20 members have been named fellows of the scientific society. Designation as a fellow recognizes outstanding commitment to the ASBMB through participation in the society in addition to accomplishments in research, education, mentorship, diversity and inclusion, advocacy, and service to the scientific community. “We…

Lewis receives AAA R.R. Bensley Award in Cell Biology

Assistant Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology, Samantha Lewis, received the R.R. Bensley Award in Cell Biology from the American Association of Anatomists (AAA). This award recognizes early-career investigators who have made important contributions to biomedical science through their research. Read more at mcb.berkeley.edu

Aaron Streets receives Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence and Equity

This week, Chancellor Carol T. Christ and Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion Dania Matos announced that Aaron Streets has been awarded this year’s Chancellor’s Award for Advancing Institutional Excellence and Equity. Read more about Streets and the award in this campus message from Christ and Matos below: Dear campus community, For the past 16…