Department News

We are excited to announce the recipients of the 2026 MCB Outstanding Postdoc Awards! Each year, the department honors postdocs for excellence in research, leadership, and service. 

Research from the labs of Professors Gloria Brar and Elçin Ünal offers new insight into the mechanisms underlying gametogenic rejuvenation.

Fyodor Urnov, Professor of Molecular Therapeutics, was honored with the 2026 UC Regents Innovation Gamechanger Award. The Gamechanger Award, recognizing the most impactful product brought to market, went to Urnov for pioneering custom gene therapies for children with rare diseases.

Hernan Garcia, Associate Professor of Genetics, Genomics, Evolution, and Development, has been named a 2026 Schmidt Science Polymath by Schmidt Sciences. Garcia is among seven other scientists who received the award to pursue novel directions beyond their established areas of research.

Congratulations to Gokul Upadhyayula on his promotion to MCB Associate Professor in Residence of Cell Biology, Development and Physiology!

MCB is pleased to welcome our newest PhD graduate students to the department! Learn fun facts about their favorite model organisms, childhood career aspirations, and more. 
 

Photo credit: Shoey Sindel Photography
 

Interested in becoming a UC Berkeley faculty member in MCB? We are now accepting applications for Assistant Professor positions across three divisions in MCB:
 

Jennifer Doudna, Professor of Molecular Therapeutics, was recently named a 2026 American Chemical Society (ACS) fellow. The ACS Fellows Program recognizes ACS members who have demonstrated outstanding achievements and made substantial contributions to science, the chemical profession, and the American Chemical Society.