News: Molecular Biosciences

Read the latest news from the College of Natural Sciences at The University of Texas at Austin

Announcements

NSF Grant Establishes Center to Develop Self-Replicating Materials

These non-living materials will have capabilities including self-healing, adaptation, growth and programmability.

A gloved hand holds a liquid dropper inserted into a glass vial

Research

Researchers Find Hidden Link Between Plants’ Growth and Immunity

A new study shows how plants balance growth and defense, offering insights for stronger, more resilient crops.

Microscopic imaging of stomata cells in plants. The cells are stained pink on a black background and look like tiny mouths.

Announcements

UT Vaccine Scientist Will Be Inducted Into National Inventors Hall of Fame

McLellan, who will be inducted in Washington, D.C. on May 8, is among the youngest new inductees in hall of fame history.

A man with glasses and a beard stands in front of a window on a sunny day

Accolades

Molecular Biologist Receives TAMEST O’Donnell Award

Ilya Finkelstein’s research focuses on improving gene editing, understanding DNA repair and finding disease treatments.

Portrait of Ilya Finkelstein

Research

This Enzyme Plays a Key Role in Protecting Cells from Aging and Disease ​

Researchers from UT Austin have discovered insights about an enzyme that can protect cells from oxidative stress.

A representation of a n enzyme and a blob with a glowing reaction sparked by it

Features

Turbocharging Protein Engineering with AI

Biotech advances from UT’s new Deep Proteins group are changing the game with help from artificial intelligence.

Three people stand silhouetted  in front of a wall-sized video display that shows several large colorful illustrations of molecules

Research

AI Trained on Evolution’s Playbook Develops Proteins that Spur Drug and Scientific Discovery

EvoRank offers a new and tangible example of how AI may help bring disruptive change to biomedical research and biotechnology more broadly.

A colorful ribbon with twists and turns represents the three-dimensional structure of a molecule

Announcements

Natural Sciences Welcomes New Faculty Across the College

Familiar faces and newcomers alike are among the 13 newest tenured and tenure-track faculty members joining the college.

New faculty members 2024-2025

Research

Newly Discovered Antimicrobial Could Prevent or Treat Cholera

Natural antimicrobials called microcins are produced by bacteria in the gut and show promise in fighting infection.

There are two images side-by-side. In the image on the left, a dark ring separates a blue disk in the middle from a field of grey surrounding the disk. The image on the right is similar, except there is no dark ring.

UT News

Newly Discovered Antibody Protects Against All COVID-19 Variants

Researchers have discovered an antibody able to neutralize all known variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, as well as similar coronaviruses.

An artist's rendering of identical virus particles, spheres with protruding proteins, floating in a space.