November 2019
Rishidev Chaudhuri and Kate Laskowksi are the newest faculty members of the College of Biological Sciences.
David Slipher/UC Davis
A Message from the Dean: Welcoming new faculty

We’re excited to welcome two rising stars to the college.

Rishidev Chaudhuri, assistant professor of neurobiology physiology and behavior, develops mathematical models of neurological phenomena. His research explores spatial mapping, memory retrieval and the effects of sleep on the brain.

Kate Laskowski joins us as an assistant professor of evolution and ecology. She works with the Amazon mollie, a fish that naturally reproduces clonally. Since each fish is genetically identical to its mother, Laskowski can use these clones to explore the complex roles development plays in shaping behavior.

We look forward to the value these two will contribute to the world-class tapestry of biological sciences research and instruction present at UC Davis.

And in case you didn’t receive your copy of Bios, the magazine of the College of Biological Sciences, in the mail, you can view and download the PDF version.

Go Ags!


Mark Winey, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Biological Sciences
Distinguished Professor of Molecular and Cellular Biology 
P.S. Support our outstanding students and programs in the College of Biological Sciences by making a charitable gift TODAY!
CALLING ALL ALUMNI: The “Germ”-ination Alumni Science Project with Jonathan Eisen
Jonathan Eisen and undergraduate Ivy Yuson inspect tomato seeds at the Science Lab Building.
David Slipher/UC Davis
Unless you’ve been hiding under a very clean rock, you’ve probably heard of microbiomes. But for all of their popularity, there's still a lot to learn. Take for example a seed. Where does its microbiome originate and how do these micro-environments change during germination, growth and reproduction?

This is where you come in. We need your help designing and collecting the results of an experiment on seeds. You’ll help us accumulate a tapestry of knowledge and together, we’ll move beyond crowdsourcing to true, distributed community science. You’ve just been recruited.

"Most people already think like a scientist some of the time. That’s why this is so exciting; we’re getting people to think more about the importance of microbes, and their help is extremely useful for driving science research.

– Jonathan Eisen , professor of evolution and ecology
News Highlights
BIG QUESTIONS: What You Should Know Before Getting Personal with Genomics
Did you know that more than 26 million Americans have had a personal genomics test performed? And within the next two years, the number is expected to grow rapidly.

You might wonder what the implications are for your future. What should you anticipate? And what should you be cautious about? Population biologist Graham Coop offers tips on what to expect when you're expecting DNA profile results.
VIDEO Summers at the Bodega Marine Laboratory with UC Davis Marine and Coastal Sciences Major Michael Brito
Every summer, the UC Davis Bodega Marine Laboratory offers classes to undergraduate students. As a first-generation college senior studying marine and coastal sciences, Michael Brito knew had to check out this life-changing experience.
Climbing the Ladder of DNA with Francesca Miller Undergraduate Research Award Winner Madeline Bright
Our DNA is built of base pairs, a spiral ladder of adenines, cytosines, guanines and thymines. Undergraduate researcher Madeline Bright is trying to figure out just how damage to our DNA at the molecular level leads to disease-causing mutations.
Discovering Curiosity: The Tangled Fate of Math and Biology with Professor Mariel Vazquez
Explore how a passion for science propelled our faculty on the path to research
Professor Mariel Vazquez, along with members of the Vazquez-Arsuaga Lab, explores the knotty problems of DNA.
David Slipher/UC Davis
Knots are a part of nature. From pocketed headphones to carelessly packed garden hoses, they find ways to manifest in strings and loops. This isn’t just a truth of mathematics; it’s a truth of biology. In fact, DNA molecules can also get tied into knots.

Professor Mariel Vazquez applies her training in mathematics to fundamental questions about DNA structure and functionality.

“The ultimate goal of my research is to uncover the multiple shapes of DNA and to achieve a deep understanding of the contributions of DNA topology to a healthy cell.”

– Mariel Vazquez ,
professor of microbiology and molecular genetics

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