Four written works by College of Biological Sciences’ undergraduates were selected for inclusion in Prized Writing 2017-2018. The publication collects exemplary essays written for a UC Davis class by undergraduates.

Rachael Bay and colleagues will investigate how the Willow Flycatcher deals with rapid environmental change, with the goal of linking physiology, morphology and genomics to create a comprehensive map of the species’ adaptation.

Researchers at UC Davis and the University of Alberta, Canada, have made preliminary discoveries about how Zika and hepatitis C viruses reproduce at the cellular level, providing new insight into a family of viruses that also includes West Nile and dengue.

At the 57th Annual Meeting of the Phytochemical Society of North America (PSNA), Philipp Zerbe received the PSNA/Elsevier Young Investigator’s Award for his work.

With a grant from the National Science Foundation, Assistant Professor Celina Juliano will help develop genomic tools that will promote regenerative research and hopefully increase the number of researchers using Hydra as a model system.

For outstanding work in the marine sciences, two Bodega Marine Laboratory graduate students have received NOAA’s Dr. Nancy Foster Scholarship.

This year, members of the College of Biological Sciences received three special recognitions: the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Research and two Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Mentoring Undergraduate Research. Earlier this month, the recipients gathered with UC Davis Chancellor Gary May to receive their awards.

Pew Charitable Trusts has announced Kassandra Ori-McKenney as a 2018 Pew Biomedical Scholar, one of the most prestigious honors of its kind. With a four-year grant totaling $300,000, Ori-McKenney will investigate the role of a protein called tau in the development of neurodegenerative disease related to traumatic brain injury.

During her second year of undergraduate research in the lab of Aldrin Gomes, Emily Eijansantos felt ready for a solo project. She’d spent her sophomore year learning the lab’s techniques and shadowing more experienced undergraduates. She felt prepared. But like many things in life, the project—studying ibuprofen’s effects on heart cells—had its hurdles.

Last year, UC Davis undergraduate student Kelsey Klein began a project close to her heart. With assistance from the National Society of Leadership and Success, her idea to create a nonprofit organization benefiting prostate cancer research took shape. For her outstanding community service, research activities and scholarship, Klein is recognized with the College of Biological Sciences Medal.

Soon-to-be-graduate Connor Grant will leave UC Davis with one of its highest honors, the Veloyce Glenn Winslow Jr. Award, which recognizes a graduating male student for outstanding leadership and scholarship.

Graduating senior Bita Shahrvini will leave UC Davis with two of the College of Biological Sciences undergraduate research accolades, the Ronald and Lydia Baskin Award and the Undergraduate of the Year Award.

For excellence in biological sciences research, senior biochemistry and molecular biology major Benjamin Mallory is one of two recipients recognized with the Ronald and Lydia Baskin Award.

John and Lois Crowe, pioneering scientists and philanthropists, are among this year's recipients of the UC Davis Medal, the highest honor the university bestows on individuals.

For her long-term contributions to the plant biology field, Sinha was recently honored by the American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) with a Fellow of ASPB Award, which recognizes distinguished members who have contributed to the society for at least 10 years.