Distinguished Professor Walter Leal has made history as the first UC Davis faculty member to be honored by the Academic Senate with all three of its awards, which celebrate outstanding teaching, public service and research.

In 2020, the Academic Senate awarded Leal the Distinguished Teaching Award for undergraduate teaching, and in 2022 Distinguished Scholarly Public Service Award. Known internationally for his groundbreaking work in insect olfaction and chemical ecology, Leal's achievements have now earned him the 2024 Faculty Distinguished Research Award.

Leal, a distinguished professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, attributed the honor to the collaborative efforts of his team. He emphasized the importance of balancing teaching, service, and research responsibilities, comparing it to the “teamwork within a honey bee colony.”

A distinguished record of excellence

“I've long admired Walter’s rigorous research programs,” said Bruce Hammock, a Distinguished Professor of entomology and nematology who nominated Leal. “His generosity in helping others succeed, and his finely honed sense of humor.”

Hammock also noted that Leal’s contributions to entomology have been multifaceted. Ranging from fundamental research supported by the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health, and U.S. Department of Food and Agriculture, to applications in agriculture and human health, Leal’s discoveries include elucidating the mode of action of the insect repellent DEET and uncovering the circadian rhythm of sex pheromone reception in scarab beetles.

Leal's impact extends beyond the university, as evidenced by his inclusion and leadership roles in international scientific organizations. His colleagues praise Leal's creativity, productivity, and transformative research, highlighting the influence of many of his publications.

Of his 2013 review on odorant reception in insects, published in the Annual Review of Entomology, May Berenbaum, a professor of entomology at the University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign and editor of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, noted that the paper’s 1,000-plus citations attest to “Leal’s stature as an intellectual leader in this critically important field.”

Committed to the next generation of scientists

Described as an "amazing teacher, mentor, and researcher" by colleagues, Leal's dedication to academia and enthusiasm for his work have earned him recognition as a Fellow of several prestigious scientific societies, including the Entomological Society of America, American Association for the Advancement of Science, and the National Academy of Inventors.

Throughout his career, Leal has remained committed to advancing the field of entomology while nurturing the next generation of scientists. With the recognition by the UC Davis Academic Senate, Leal is poised to continue his legacy as a pioneering researcher and mentor who will continue to inspire colleagues and students alike, further solidifying his position as a leader in the scientific community.

Leal is a newly elected trustee of the Royal Entomological Society, the 13-member council that governs the 190-year-old international organization. He is the first UC Davis scientist to be elected a trustee.