Awards & Laurels

A man and woman stand together outdoors on a sunny day, both smiling slightly. The man wears a dark suit with a white shirt and a blue tie, while the woman wears a dark outfit with a colorful yellow and blue scarf. They appear relaxed, with trees and green grass in the background.

Wolf Dietrich-Heyer Among UC Davis Community Members Honored as Good Stewards

  • by Stella Chung

Wolf Dietrich-Heyer, a Distinguished Professor and chair in the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics was among three members of the UC Davis community recognized for their remarkable efforts to steward donors and raise the culture of philanthropy across the university. 

The Office of Development and Alumni Relations and the UC Davis Foundation presented the 2024 Faculty and Staff Stewardship Awards during a ceremony on Oct. 19. The recipients are:

John Clark Lagarias has spent more than four decades at UC Davis. He is an expert in the way plants sense light. (Gregory Urquiaga/UC Davis)

When Plants Step Out of the Shadows

  • by Cody Kitaura

A flowering plant might not be able to tell how many fingers you’re holding up, but it can tell whether it’s light or dark outside and might grow differently if it suddenly finds itself in the shade of another plant.

Plants do that through photoreceptors, which are a major focus of research for John Clark Lagarias, a distinguished professor emeritus of molecular and cellular biology.

Photoreceptors have important uses, like measuring the length of the day; plants can tell when seasons change because the days get longer or shorter.

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CBS Graduate Group Faculty Among Those Recognized for Commitment to Grad Students

  • by UC Davis Staff

Commitment. Passion. Empathy. These descriptors were just a few of the plaudits the winners of the 2024 Graduate Program Advising and Mentoring Award received in their nomination letters.

“[This professor’s] mentorship is always the perfect balance of pushing you to your full capacity, while also supporting at a level that fosters independence, creativity and self-ownership.”

“[This professor] combines a deep sense of empathy with a steely commitment to student development.”

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NPB Professor Lee Miller Awarded UC Davis STAIR Grant to Advance Solutions in Human Health

  • by Neelanjana Gautam

The University of California, Davis, is awarding over $480,000 to help scientists advance compelling research and innovations toward commercial applications through the Science Translation and Innovative Research (STAIR™) proof-of-concept grant program. The program plays an important role in helping campus innovators bridge the early-stage hurdle of access to funding during one of the most challenging phases in new technology development.

Brie Tripp (left), an assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior has been named a 2024 Chancellor’s Fellow for DEI for her support of students from underserved and underrepresented backgrounds. She is pictured here with members of her lab. From left: Tripp, … (TJ Ushing/UC Davis)

Brie Tripp Named 2024 Chancellor’s Fellow for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

  • by Evan White

Brie Tripp, an assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior is among this year’s cohort of five new Chancellor’s Fellows for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. The prestigious fellowships reflect the campus priority of creating and maintaining a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for all members of the UC Davis community.

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