Each year, the College of Biological Sciences honors its top undergraduates at a special awards ceremony attended by friends, family, mentors, and donors. The 2025 recipients were recognized for their academic excellence, commitment to building community, service to campus and peers, and exceptional achievements in research.

The college’s undergraduate awards are made possible through philanthropy. Support from alumni, parents, and friends—through the CBS Annual Fund, Dean’s Circle, and endowed gifts—directly funds hands-on research opportunities in the lab, classroom, and field. The breadth of awards reflects the wide-ranging interests, disciplines, and aspirations within the college, as well as the generosity of our donor community.

This year’s honorees, formally recognized on Saturday, May 31, embody the talent, curiosity, and dedication that make the College of Biological Sciences—and UC Davis—a remarkable place to learn and grow.

Meet this year’s recipients:

Rost Family Biology K-12 Education Scholarship

Nicole Burye
Biological Sciences

Nicole Burye is committed to making biology engaging, accessible, and inclusive for the next generation of students. Burye has excelled in rigorous coursework and hands-on lab experiences at UC Davis, including a capstone project on mycorrhizae in plant anatomy. Her passion for STEM education was sparked through years of involvement with Science Olympiad, where she progressed from middle school competitor to high school president and lead coach for younger students. These formative teaching experiences—combined with a love for the creativity and adaptability of science instruction—cemented her goal of becoming a high school biology teacher. Burye has been admitted to San Diego State University’s Single Subject Teaching Credential Program where she plans to begin her training in 2025.

“Nicole exemplifies the best of our student body. She’s supportive, kind, and patient with her peers, and I have no doubt she will be a fantastic teacher.” — Joel Ledford, associate professor of teaching, Department of Plant Biology

The Rost Family Biology K-12 Education Scholarship supports undergraduate students who promote biology education in K-12 settings. This scholarship recognizes those dedicated to inspiring and educating future generations in the field of biology.

Ronald and Lydia Baskin Research Award

Sydney Becker
Biological Sciences

Sydney Becker’s undergraduate career has been defined by her drive to understand the molecular basis of disease and her commitment to expanding research access for others. Becker joined UC Davis eager to explore the promise of protein engineering in therapeutic design. She contributed to de novo enzyme research in the Siegel Lab, developed new protocols to study brain aging at the Buck Institute, and currently investigates host-virus protein interactions in the Shah Lab. Her work on Zika virus and the neurodevelopmental protein ANKLE2 has resulted in co-authored publications, conference presentations, and an independent project funded by two UC Davis research fellowships. Becker also serves as a student mentor and teaching assistant for Design2Data, helping underrepresented students gain hands-on lab experience at institutions across the country. In fall 2025, she will begin a Ph.D. program to further her training as a biomedical researcher and mentor.

“Sydney has the aptitude, drive, and independence to excel in research at the highest level. Her contributions have already advanced multiple lab projects. Sydney is so articulate that she has become an ambassador for the lab—presenting her work at conferences and often mistaken for a graduate student.” — Priya Shah, associate professor, Departments of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, and Chemical Engineering

Shih-Na Liu
Evolution, Ecology and Biodiversity

Shih-Na Liu’s undergraduate research has spanned biology education, marine paleontology, and macroevolutionary biology. Her work integrates phylogenetic comparative methods, R programming, and evolutionary modeling to investigate how traits evolve across large vertebrate clades. In the Wainwright Lab, Liu analyzed body shape evolution in Neotropical fishes and led an independent, award-winning project on how diet influences morphological diversity in reef fishes. This work earned her an Honorable Mention at the 2024 SICB conference and recognition as a 2024 Goldwater Scholar. She has also contributed to biology education research and marine paleontological studies of otoliths, and has shared her findings through national conferences, symposia, and manuscripts currently under review. Liu plans to pursue a Ph.D. with the long-term goal of developing new methods to better understand organismal evolution.

“Shih-Na is one of the most impressive and promising undergraduate researchers I have mentored in 35 years as a professor. She is already functioning at the level of an advanced Ph.D. student, and her mastery of comparative phylogenetic methods is unmatched.” — Peter Wainwright, professor and chair, Department of Evolution and Ecology

The Ronald and Lydia Baskin Research Award is given to undergraduate students who demonstrate exceptional research achievements in recognition of their contributions to advancing knowledge and understanding in their respective fields.

College of Biological Sciences Undergraduate of the Year; Social Justice and Inclusion Award

Rhea Bains
Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior

Rhea Bains is graduating summa cum laude and completed her degree in under two and a half years while earning double honors from both her major and the University Honors Program. Passionate about cancer awareness, Bains has dedicated her undergraduate career to advancing cancer research and community education. In the Carraway Lab at UC Davis Health, she conducted an independent honors thesis project investigating how the drug hexamethylene amiloride (HMA) induces necrosis in breast cancer cells—a study that contributed novel insights to the field and will be included in an upcoming manuscript. Bains also published a literature review on lung cancer vaccines, presented her research at major conferences, and served as a trainer with the Emergency Medicine Research Associate Program. As the founder and president of SPARK Health, a nonprofit that delivers free cancer prevention workshops across Northern California, she has led more than 180 volunteers in outreach to at-risk communities. Bains was selected as a Dean’s Scholar for Master’s students at Harvard Medical School, and is currently preparing for medical school.

“Rhea’s intellect, leadership, and resilience are extraordinary. Of nearly three dozen undergraduate students who have conducted research in my lab, I would rank Rhea as easily among the top ones. She is already thinking and working at the level of an advanced graduate student.” — Kermit Carraway, professor, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis Health

The College of Biological Sciences Undergraduate of the Year Award honors students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance, leadership, research, and service within the biological sciences.

The Social Justice and Inclusion Award honors a graduating student who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to social justice in the areas of leadership, scholarship, and service.

College of Biological Sciences Medal

Kush Narang
Individual Major in Biological Sciences

Kush Narang is a dedicated student researcher and public servant with a strong focus on computational biology, pediatric medicine, and health equity. As an individual major in computational human biology, Narang has contributed to multiple interdisciplinary research projects spanning protein design, eating disorder screening, and pediatric trauma diagnostics. In the Yarov-Yarovoy Lab, he played a central role in developing artificial ion channel-based therapeutics—advancing efforts to create safer treatments for pain and autoimmune diseases. He has co-authored several peer-reviewed publications, presented at national conferences, and earned recognition through competitive research and travel awards. Alongside his research, Narang serves as a senior EMT with the UC Davis Fire Department, where he leads training initiatives and responds to medical emergencies. He plans to pursue an M.D.-Ph.D. to continue integrating scientific research and clinical care, particularly in underserved communities.

“Kush is an exceptional undergraduate with incredible potential. He has demonstrated technical leadership and intellectual curiosity far beyond his years, and I believe he will become an accomplished and respected scientist.” — Vladimir Yarov-Yarovoy, professor, Department of Physiology and Membrane Biology

The College of Biological Sciences Medal is the college’s highest honor. It is awarded to an outstanding graduating senior in recognition of significant contributions to the college community and potential for future success in the biological sciences.

University Medal

Avantika Gokulnatha
Genetics and Genomics

Avantika Gokulnatha was named by campus the 2025 University Medalist—the highest honor for a UC Davis undergraduate. Her research on aging and epigenetics, conducted in the Knoepfler Lab and through internships at the NIH and the National Institute on Aging, reflects her commitment to advancing health in later life. Outside the lab, Gokulnatha revived and led Breaking Barriers, a student organization that helps seniors learn digital skills, and served as a volunteer leader at the Joan Viteri Memorial Clinic. She also supported patients through hospice care and helped investigate the links between diabetes and mental health in pediatric patients. Gokulnatha will take a gap year to pursue a Fulbright at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing before applying to medical school, where she plans to train as a physician-scientist focused on aging and geriatric health.

“Out of more than 100 undergraduate researchers I’ve worked with over the past 18 years, Avantika ranks in the very top. She is proactive, insightful, and one of the most driven students I’ve had the pleasure of mentoring.” — Paul Knoepfler, professor, Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy

The UC Davis Medal is the highest honor the University presents to individuals in recognition of extraordinary contributions that embody the campus’s Vision of Excellence. Medalists inspire and support the success and engagement of our students, faculty, staff and alumni, and foster a bold and innovative spirit in teaching, research and public service.