As a university system with a $1.2 billion research impact, we know a thing or two about breaking barriers. From science to the humanities to healthcare, women researchers across our three universities have made discoveries, launched innovations, and driven change — not just throughout our history, but right now.
Read on for spotlights on just a handful of the women powering some of the top discoveries to come out of the University of Illinois System in the last five years.
University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
An epidemiology professor and public health policy expert, Becky Smith was a leading voice during the 2020 COVID-19 shutdowns. Her work on infectious disease preparedness and surveillance continues to shape what effective — and ineffective — public health policy looks like.
University of Illinois Chicago
Besma Smida has built her career bridging communication, sensing/radar, and electromagnetic theory to improve wireless technology. Her expertise in computer and electrical engineering has earned her multiple prestigious National Science Foundation grants, including the CAREER award, as well as funding from the Department of Defense and the U.S. Army.
University of Illinois Springfield
Assistant professor of biology Natalya Zinkevich co-authored a groundbreaking study finding that sitagliptin, a common diabetes drug, does more than regulate blood sugar — it also protects blood vessels and supports heart health. Her findings open promising new avenues for preventing heart disease-related complications.
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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Mina Raj studies health and kinesiology with a focus on caregiving for underserved populations, including those from different cultural groups. Her research challenges the limitations of the current healthcare system, pushing for policies that better support family caregivers.
University of Illinois Chicago
At UIC’s Department of Accounting, Rong (Irene) Zhong researches corporate disclosure, innovation, and environmental, social, and governance frameworks. Her work illuminates how the flow of information shapes organizational behavior across capital and labor markets.
University of Illinois Springfield
Jessica Madrigal’s research centers on population health, with a current focus on bringing lung cancer screening and radon awareness programs directly to local communities. Looking ahead, she hopes to expand her work to explore exercise, health, and wellness for people with disabilities and aging populations.
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University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
A pioneer in breast cancer research, Zeynep Madak-Erdogan investigates the relationship between hormones, metabolism, and cancer risk as a professor of food science and human nutrition and associate director for education at the Cancer Center at Illinois. Her work helps identify lifestyle practices linked to long, healthy lives.
University of Illinois Chicago
Mary Maryland, a UIC alumna, brings a “leap of faith” mindset to a career that spans nursing, global speaking, education, and administration. In addition to her role as a primary care provider at WellBe Senior Medical, she co-authored a $380,000 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation grant and secured a consulting contract with NASA.
Xueli (Shirley) Huang
University of Illinois Springfield
As a cybersecurity-focused computer science professor, Xueli (Shirley) Huang challenges her students to think critically about real-world security threats. Her research keeps pace with a rapidly evolving field, equipping University of Illinois Springfield students with the tools to identify and mitigate security risks while encouraging them to think about the ethical dimensions of emerging technologies such as AI.
