May is a busy time of year here at UC Davis. Commencement is just around the corner, so our students are hard at work getting through midterms and preparing for finals and life after school. Many will go on to graduate programs, others will enter industry positions. All of them will have accomplished a great deal by the time they cross the commencement stage. You will be able to celebrate them with us next month when we share the names of our award recipients, many of whom are in the graduating class of 2024, on the college website.

In the meantime, I am pleased to share the news that the National Academy of Sciences has inducted not one but three CBS-affiliated researchers into its highly prestigious ranks this year. My congratulations to Savithramma Dinesh-Kumar (Plant Biology), Walter Leal (Molecular and Cellular Biology) and Richard Michelmore (founding director, Genome Center) for their remarkable and well-deserved achievements. Truly, it is an honor to count them as colleagues.

Finally, with all that is happening across the country at universities, I think it is appropriate to remember that our students are here to learn and explore. In CBS, we are committed to ensuring that they are safe, respected, and enjoy the freedom to express themselves. Though events beyond our campus and indeed even our country shape many parts of campus life, they do not diminish our shared commitment to the wellbeing and success of our students.

When we focus on our differences, we are weakest. So, I invite you to join me in focusing on all that unites us, including being Aggies.

Go Ags!

______________



Mark Winey, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Biological Sciences

Distinguished Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology 

Featured image above: New research from the Department of Plant Biology shows that specific receptors allow petunias to perceive signals sent out by their developing flower buds, which are critical to the development of the petunia’s reproductive organs, pictured here. (Benôit Boachon / Purdue University)



This year's QS World Rankings, widely considered one of the most influential authorities on university rankings, placed campus 35th in the broad category of Life Sciences and Medicine, up from 38th in 2023.

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Siobhan Brady, Department of Plant Biology, and Mariel Vázquez, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, were among this year’s new fellows of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

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Researchers in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology harness an area of mathematics called topology in tandem with machine learning and computational modeling to investigate how diseases like breast cancer spread.

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To communicate with themselves, plants emit and perceive volatile organic compounds, tiny molecules that are often associated with distinct smells. These compounds play a crucial role in how the plants develop.

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PREP@UC Davis fosters diversity in the biomedical sciences by preparing scholars for success in Ph.D. programs. Supported by the NIH, the program embodies the UC Davis spirit of collaboration and mentorship. 

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Our DEIJ Leader Fellowship program empowers students dedicated to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice. Their innovative projects range from supporting underrepresented STEM students to planning inclusive fieldwork. 

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