Molecular and Cell Biology

Congratulations to Michel DuPage on his promotion to MCB Associate Professor of Immunology and Molecular Medicine! The DuPage Lab focuses on epigenetic control of the functional plasticity of T cells in disease. Read more about the DuPage Lab and their research here .

Congratulations to our MCB PhD, MBT, and BA Class of 2026 graduates! The MCB Department is proud of our newest graduates and all that they have accomplished! Please help us celebrate the 2026 MCB Commencement Honors awardees listed below. 2026 MCB PhD Commencement Honors The following are the recipients of our annual PhD graduate awards for research, academic, and community achievement.

Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology Eric Betzig and Assistant Professor in Residence of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology Srigokul “Gokul” Upadhyayula along with a team of microscopists, physicists, biologists and computer scientists in Berkeley’s Advanced Bioimaging Center are using high-resultion microscopes to train an AI model for living biological systems. Excerpt fr…

Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology, Jeremy Thorner , will serve on the Editorial Board of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS) journal . Thorner's three-year term with PNAS, one of the nation's most prestigious scientific journals, will commence on July 1, 2026 and end on June 30, 2029. Learn more about the Proceedings of the …

The MCB Transcript Spring 2026 newsletter is here! Learn about MCB's exciting research, new faculty, commencement speakers, biology of human cancer course, alumni and more! Read the Spring 2026 MCB Transcripthere.

The MCB Department is pleased to welcome ​​​​​​​ Michael Ward , Professor of Molecular Therapeutics, as our newest faculty member effective July 1, 2026. Dr. Ward is an internationally recognized scientist and physician with expertise in age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Read more about Dr. Ward's research and appointment to UC Berkeley here .

Congratulations to our faculty who received the departmental 2026 MCB Outstanding Faculty Awards ! Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology Nicholas Ingolia – Outstanding Contribution to Teaching Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology Kunxin Luo – Outstanding Contribution to Service

Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology, Rebecca Heald , has been elected to serve as the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) President in 2028. In her new role, Heald's priorities include "advancing dynamic, interdisciplinary scientific programming; expanding career development and mentoring opportunities; and reinforcing ASCB’s commitment to broadening participation in the li…

Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology, Gary Karpen and Professor of Immunology and Molecular Medicine, Russell Vance are among six UC Berkeley faculty newly elected to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). NAS members are selected in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research.

Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology, Andreas Martin , has received the 2026 Dorothy Crowfoot Hodgkin Award from The Protein Society. This award, sponsored by the Rigaku Corporation, honors outstanding achievements in protein science that significantly advance our understanding of biological systems. Read more about the 2026 Protein Society Award recipients here .

We sadly announce that MCB Professor Emeritus Fred Wilt died on January 30, 2026, at the age of 91, after 62 years on the faculty at UC Berkeley. Fred was born December 12, 1934, in Nappanee, Indiana. Some of Fred’s ancestors had come to this continent well before the American Revolution, while others came from Germany in the 19th century. Fred was a third generation (or so) Hoosier. His father a…

Professor of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology Abby Dernburg , Professor Emeritus of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology Edward Penhoet and Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development Noah Whiteman have been elected as 2025 Fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS).

Thank you to our incredible community for helping support our fundraising goals during Big Give! Your generosity, dedication, and participation were truly inspiring and are making a meaningful impact. Because of you, we can continue to advance scientific discovery, broaden research opportunities for students, and support the wellbeing of our community. This year was a great success — together, we…

Big Give is a university-wide day of giving when we come together as an entire community — alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff, and friends — to celebrate all the moments of Berkeley and show support for students, faculty, and research. Help us have a big impact on the MCB community and reach our ambitious goal of raising $40,000! Your support is vital to the continued success of our depart…

Professor of Molecular Therapeutics Jennifer Doudna is one of four UC Berkeley faculty elected to National Academy of Engineering (NAE). She was recognized for developing widely adopted DNA and RNA editing methods based on CRISPR-Cas9.

Learn about research from the lab of Distinguished Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology Daniel Portnoy .

UC Berkeley’s Molecular Therapeutics Initiative (MTI) has chosen three research groups to launch its first Parkinson’s Therapeutics Program, advancing promising academic discoveries toward potential treatments. Several MCB affiliates are among the research team awardees: Ross Wilson , Assistant Adjunct Professor of Molecular Therapeutics and Hanqin Li , Postdoc Hockemeyer Lab Eunyong Park , Assoc…

Professor of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Structural Biology, Susan Marqusee , has been elected to the leadership Council of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). The NAS Council serves as the organization’s governing board and is composed of five elected officers—president, international secretary, vice president, home secretary, and treasurer—along with 12 at-large members chosen from the mem…

We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2026 MCB Lisa Eshun-Wilson Community Award . This award recognizes outstanding contributions by MCB graduate students and postdocs who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a deep commitment to strengthening our department’s sense of connection and collaboration through community engagement and mentorship. We are proud to present this year’s award…