The Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (BMB) is an integral part of the School of Medicine and the Graduate School at KU Medical Center. Lectures and laboratory experiences are offered for students pursuing M.S., Ph.D., and M.D./Ph.D. degrees. Postdoctoral research scientists and visiting faculty members also contribute to the departmental activities.
Department News
May 2026
- Aria Triska (Roelofs lab) was recognized with the 2026 Dorothy Knoll Outstanding Student Leadership Award. This award recognizes students who have demonstrated exceptional leadership skills that impact the KU Medical Center campus, their community involvement and their ability to interact and work with a wide variety of students and student organizations.
April 2026
- Emily Daniel has been selected as a finalist for the KU Newmark Award for excellence in biochemistry research. She will give a presentation of her work to the University of Kansas Department of Molecular Biosciences on April 20, 2026.
- Carter Gray, a University of Kansas undergraduate doing research in the Swint-Kruse lab, was designated as a 2026 Goldwater Scholar.
- The 2026 Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Kimmel award winner is Spencer Thompson (Freudenthal lab).
- Aria Triska (Roelofs lab) was the Co-Chair for the campus-wide 2026 Student Research Forum.
- In their oral presentation sessions at the 2026 Student Research Forum, Spencer Thompson (Freudenthal lab) and Peyton Oden (Freudenthal lab) won second place awards.
March 2026
- At the Fusion DNA Repair/Replication Structures & Cancer conference, Abbey Vito (Freudenthal lab) received Best Poster Award and was designated as the Most Active Trainee.
February 2026
- Dr. Bret Fruedenthal is one of four recipients of the 2026 University Scholarly Achievement Award. The KU announcement describes this award as the “marquee award for our university...to recognize standout researchers who embody our mission to make discoveries that change the world”.
January 2026
- Dr. Joe Fontes received the Medical Student Assembly Illuminator award from the Class of 2028. The Illuminator award is given to a professor best at making difficult and complex concepts clear and understandable.