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Honored to Serve Our Community

uniting our strengths to advance research and education

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.

Our college and campus have been my academic home for more than two decades. I came here to build a laboratory and a career as a scientist and educator. Over the years, I have had the privilege of teaching and mentoring our students and working alongside extraordinary colleagues. Stepping into the role of dean carries special meaning for me, as well as a deep sense of responsibility for the college and its future.

At the same time, I know that familiarity with the college is not the same as understanding every part of it. In the months ahead I will be listening and learning — from our faculty, staff, students, alumni, donors, and partners — about their aspirations for CBS, the challenges they face, and the opportunities they see ahead. I will spend time with units across the college to learn more about the remarkable work happening in CBS and to hear directly from the people who make it possible.

Those conversations will help us work together to define a shared set of priorities and a strategic direction for the next chapter of CBS. We have tremendous strengths upon which to build, and I believe we have an opportunity to bring those strengths together in new ways to advance our missions in research and education, and to position the college for continued excellence in the years ahead.

After more than twenty years as a member of this community, it is a tremendous privilege to begin this new chapter with all of you. I look forward to the conversations ahead — and to what we will build together.

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Frédéric Chédin, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Biological Sciences

Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology

Featured image above: The flowers of an avocado tree. All avocado trees are hermaphrodites, but new research shows how they alternate between male and female flowers throughout the day to optimize pollination.

Female researchers with tray of small plants

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A Native California Wildflower Isn’t Keeping Up with Climate Change

Department of Evolution and Ecology researchers are testing whether “assisted gene flow” could help the mountain jewelflower—and other California native plants—keep pace with climate change. By interbreeding plants from different elevations, they hope to combine gene variants suited to emerging mountain climates.

Research & Discovery

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Study Reveals How Avocados Reverse Sexes Throughout the Day

Male researcher in greenhouse with avocado plants

Department of Evolution and Ecology researchers identified a gene that has synchronized flowering in avocados and related trees for more than 42 million years. The discovery could help breeders develop higher-yielding, climate-resilient varieties years faster.

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Discovery Could Help Prevent Cancer Drug Resistance Before It Starts

Male and female researcher in laboratory setting

Drug resistance remains one of the greatest obstacles in cancer treatment. New research from the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics has identified a mechanism that may help explain why.

Research Spotlight

A woman standing outside next to a mini horse

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Just Three Minutes with Miniature Horses and Donkeys Improved Teens’ Mood

In a new study from the Department of Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, researchers found that adolescents felt calmer and less nervous, sad and lonely after spending just three minutes with miniature horses and donkeys. Those who recognized the animals’ behavioral cues experienced even greater emotional benefits—even when an animal chose to walk away.

Donors & Philanthropy

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2025-26 Record Fundraising Year for Life Sciences at UC Davis

Closeup photo of DNA sculpture's colorful glass hexagons and metal rods

CBS achieved a record-breaking fundraising year in 2025–26, raising more than $19.6 million from 872 donors. Among those supporters were 168 new donors—the largest number in college history—reflecting growing engagement and confidence in the future of biological sciences at UC Davis.

Meet the New CBS Dean

Man in a tan suit stands in front of a neutral background

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4 Questions for the New Biological Sciences Dean

Frédéric Chédin has been a faculty member and chair in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and said the college’s strengths are its singular focus on the life sciences and its exceptional faculty, students and staff. Having spent his career at UC Davis, Chédin credited the CBS community as the reason for his long tenure on campus.

Campus & Community

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Sean Burgess Named Chair of the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology

A woman in glasses with grey hair standing outside

Burgess, who began as department chair on September 1, studies how cells pass genetic information to the next generation, helping us better understand and address reproductive health challenges like infertility and birth defects.

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Philipp Zerbe Named Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies

Portrait of a man in light blue shirt outside

Zerbe, a professor in the Department of Plant Biology, studies how plants adapt to environmental stress. In this new role, he will guide the college's research enterprise while supporting graduate education across its five academic departments, eight graduate groups and three major interdisciplinary research centers.

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UC Davis Research Investment Supports Three College of Biological Sciences Core Facilities

Two people in doors examining a tray of small plants

Three CBS research core facilities received one-time awards to help sustain essential shared research infrastructure, supporting advanced imaging, plant growth facilities, and other specialized resources that enable discoveries across the biological sciences.

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Remembering Mariel Vázquez, Beloved Mentor and Renowned Interdisciplinary Scholar

Portrait of a woman in glasses standing in front of a teal background

Vázquez was an internationally recognized applied mathematician who held a joint appointment in the Departments of Mathematics, and Microbiology and Molecular Genetics. She passed away on July 5, 2026, at the age of 55.

Featured Laurel

Man in blue shirt sitting beside a computer screen displaying green micrograph

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American Society for Cell Biology Elects Cell Biologist Dan Starr as 2026 Fellow

Dan Starr, a professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, was one of 15 scientists selected for exceptional contributions to cell biology. His research explores how cells organize their internal structures, particularly the mechanisms that position nuclei and other organelles during development.

Awards & Laurels

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Plant Biologist Receives Early Career Award for Maize Research

Male researcher in glasses sitting in front of a computer screen

Xiaosa Xu, an assistant professor in the Department of Plant Biology, received $50,000 to support his research on how maize ear architecture changed during domestication from its wild ancestor, teosinte.

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