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.
Two University of California, Davis, juniors are among the winners of what is the nation’s premier undergraduate award of its type in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering. Honoring the late U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the federally endowed Goldwater Scholarship Program was designed to encourage outstanding students to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.
There’s a lot to see on the UC Davis campus, and Department of Evolution and Ecology faculty Sharon Strauss and Laci Gerhart-Barley designed “Wild Davis” with a simple goal: to connect new students, regardless of academic discipline, with the plants and animals that also call UC Davis home.
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.
UC Davis Health's Department of Emergency Medicine serves approximately 80,000 patients each year. Through the UC Davis Emergency Medicine Research Associate Program, undergraduate students are getting hands-on experience in the Department of Emergency Medicine.
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.
For anyone struggling with the decision to double major, UC Davis undergraduate Harris Niazi has some sage advice. “Don’t ever ask yourself what if,” he said. “Just go for it. Even if it doesn’t pan out, you’re at least stuck with one major that you love.”
For the past five years, the Biology Academic Success Center has been a one-stop shop for all academic advising needs for undergraduate students on campus. This week, the center celebrated its fifth-year anniversary.
