News & Events

Two students from the College of Biological Sciences have been awarded the UC President's Pre-Professoriate Fellowship. The highly competitive fellowship supports professional development in exceptional Ph.D. candidates who are alumni of California-based Hispanic Serving Institutions as part of the UC-Hispanic Serving Institutions Doctoral Diversity Initiative. 

Interacting with animals can make people feel calmer and less lonely and anxious. A new study from the University of California, Davis, shows that animals play an active role in shaping these interactions and their outcomes. 

The University of California, Davis, raised more than $676 million in philanthropic support during fiscal year 2025–26, more than doubling the university's previous giving record and marking the strongest fundraising year in its history.

Donors’ unprecedented level of investment in UC Davis will expand opportunities for students, strengthen faculty excellence, accelerate discoveries that improve lives, and support new facilities and programs that elevate the university’s impact across California and beyond.

Plant biology is the study of how plants grow, function and respond to their environments. Plant biologists address challenges like food security, climate change and sustainable agriculture. It’s no exaggeration to say that all life relies on plants. 

“Plants feed the world,” says Danielle Levi, my labmate in the Zerbe Lab and a third-year plant biology major. “Climate change is threatening global food security, and we need to find more sustainable ways to feed our growing population while minimizing environmental impacts.” 

As I begin my tenure as Dean of the College of Biological Sciences, I want to start by saying how honored I am to have the opportunity to serve this remarkable community.

I also want to express my deep gratitude to Mark Winey for his stewardship over the past decade. The college is stronger because of Mark’s leadership and because of the extraordinary dedication and resilience of our faculty, staff, students, and supporters. I am grateful for all that has been accomplished thus far, and excited about the opportunities ahead.